100% agree with @steverollett.bsky.social's points. What exactly is the conversation that is supposed to happen between Ofsted and MAT leaders? What if one MAT has a tiny central team, while another is more top-heavy? What does 'quality' even mean? Do inspectors have a clue how MATs work? etc etc

In my latest podcast, Professor Alison Wolf explained the importance of BTECs in the context of debates and discussions over the proposed new 'V level' qualifications. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

Some very interesting counter arguments here to the idea that trusts should include various different types of school (e.g. SEND, UTCs). This question doesn't feel like something that should be left unanswered by the DfE. Will the White Paper look at this?

"trending towards profitability" Sure, in the same way that Manchester United are 'trending towards managerial stability'.

It's 'Back to School' week! To kick off the new term, I've got a thought experiment for you. It is time to wind back the clock to your 15-year-old self..... My new post on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/tdrich...

This was excellent.

Yes, it's that time of year when I look back at every episode of my 'Inside Your Ed podcast from the last 12 months to see which proved to be the biggest hits with listeners. Here is the top 10 for 2025! /Thread

Yes, it's that time of year when I look back at every episode of my 'Inside Your Ed podcast from the last 12 months to see which proved to be the biggest hits with listeners. Here is the top 10 for 2025! /Thread

Festive spirit is in short supply in the White House, as they announce plans to start seizing the wages of some borrowers who have defaulted on their student loans. The Government can legally dock tax refunds, Social Security benefits and even disability payments. www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025...

"The whole thing was just embarrassing." Any school using AI detector tools to stop students cheating clearly has no idea what it is doing. Then again, any school still setting unsupervised essays for students clearly had no idea what it is doing to start with. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...

I don't care who you are or how long you've been working in FE and skills: repeatedly claiming to have a PhD and MA when you have completed neither is disgraceful.

Tests banned in the early years of primary school. Only one exam allowed per term. Most secondary school exams banned too. No more ranking of schools based on exam results. China has decided it's time to 'alleviate excessive testing and academic pressure'. global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202512/17/...

"We definitely don't think students should be using ChatGPT to outsource work". Says the company who are obviously delighted that more and more students are using their product to outsource work. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Seeing as every radio station is churning out the festive tunes, here is a spectacularly tenuous link between classic Christmas songs / carols and a major new education policy - can you guess what it is?.... My new post on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/tdrich...

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 To V or not to V - that is the question.... Professor Dame Alison Wolf and Shaun Hope - CEO at Bishop Auckland College - join me to discuss the opportunities and risks created by the new 'V level' qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds. Listen here: insideyoured.com

In my latest podcast, @rstephenson123.bsky.social from @hepi-news.bsky.social explained why the international student levy could have serious consequences for the financial stability of many HE providers, including large universities. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

In my latest podcast, @chrishavergal.bsky.social - editor of @timeshighered.bsky.social - said the decision to delay the international student levy until 2028 could leave this policy vulnerable to future changes in the HE landscape. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

In my latest podcast, @chrishavergal.bsky.social - editor of @timeshighered.bsky.social - said the decision to delay the international student levy until 2028 could leave this policy vulnerable to future changes in the HE landscape. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

Great project, great outputs - if you want level-headed and detailed analysis of how other countries tackle these hugely significant questions then this is a fantastic resource!

Doesn't surprise me. Arts entries fell in Wales as well as England, even though Wales does not have the EBacc. That suggests to me that funding pressures are a major factor in whether schools are able / willing to offer more arts subjects (which can be expensive due to smaller class sizes).

Ah, I think Eton got 'elite' confused with 'selective'.

@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social and Jacqui Smith are pushing ahead with the international student levy, but what impact will it have on the HE sector, and will the new maintenance grants make a real difference to students from low-income households? My latest podcast takes a closer look....👇

Remember those old TV adverts from HMRC: "tax doesn't have to be taxing"? It's a great soundbite, but the education sector can be forgiven for feeling rather sceptical about this slogan. My latest on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/tdrich...

Remember those old TV adverts from HMRC: "tax doesn't have to be taxing"? It's a great soundbite, but the education sector can be forgiven for feeling rather sceptical about this slogan. My latest on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/tdrich...

"The goal is to reward the reasoning, not just the answer." Exactly. The tech bros just don't seem to understand that the process of learning leading up to an assessment is what matters. (the eye tracking stuff that Becky describes is horrifying in this context)

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 Is the new international student levy going to be taxing for the HE sector? @chrishavergal.bsky.social and @rstephenson123.bsky.social join me to explore the thinking behind the controversial levy and its potential impact across a range of institutions. Listen here: insideyoured.com

Hugely enjoyed this conversation with @rstephenson123.bsky.social. Thanks for having us on, @tom-richmond.com!

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 Is the new international student levy going to be taxing for the HE sector? @chrishavergal.bsky.social and @rstephenson123.bsky.social join me to explore the thinking behind the controversial levy and its potential impact across a range of institutions. Listen here: insideyoured.com

I'll be chatting with @alexisconran.com on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social shortly after 1pm to talk about the Government's new plan to reduce youth unemployment. Spoiler: I'm very sceptical it will make a serious dent in the 1 million young people who are NEET.... www.thetimes.com/radio/live

“Students are more present when their devices are out of sight" From January, secondary school students in Singapore face a complete ban on using smartphones and smartwatches throughout the school day, including break times and extracurricular activities. Good for them. azat.tv/en/singapore...

Interesting dive into the problems that AI is causing for new entrants into prestigious professions, which are necessarily built around facts and precision. Medicine, teaching and many others are now facing a similar wave of potential deskilling by AI tools. Are we ready for this?

I'm not a comms expert but normally government announcements are either 'politically astute' or 'the right thing to do'. Opting for a policy that is neither astute nor correct is, errrr, novel.

In my latest podcast, @eleanorrrlouise.bsky.social from @thedifferenceed.bsky.social explained why it is essential that the Government works hard to show parents they will be better off as a result of any reforms to the SEND system. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

As @mrjlauder.bsky.social explains, 'more specialist places in mainstream schools' sounds lovely in theory but it really might not be lovely in practice.

In my latest podcast, @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social said that inclusion should be a shared responsibility in each local area, but this is hard to achieve without also considering school admissions practices. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

The Government and Opposition both have a case here. Ministers are clearly insisting that the schools budget will not be affected, which sounds like good news, but it is reasonable for the Opposition to keep up the pressure until the Goverment says where the £6 billion *is* coming from.

"of the 90 billion euros earmarked for schools [in France] next year, more than a quarter will go to retired teachers rather than under-resourced classrooms" 😳😳😳😳😳 That's one hell of a financial hole. Good luck getting out of it. www.reuters.com/world/europe...

Fascinating study. Fascinating findings. Higher starting salaries for teachers must be part of the conversation about improving recruitment. Simples.

They are without a doubt diluting the assessment of apprentices. You cannot switch components from mandatory to voluntary, and switch from assessing all knowledge to some knowledge, then claim nothing has changed.

GIven the huge announcement on SEND in yesterday's Budget, my new podcast was even more timely than I realised!

Here's a strange one. In the 203-page OBR report accompanying the Budget, the 'international student levy' gets mentioned a grand total of..... once. No information on forecast revenues, how the levy will operate or the assumptions behind it. Has the Government not decided what the levy is yet?

Holy smokes: the apprenticeship levy is forecast raise £5 billion by 2029/30. There's your spare pot of cash for 'Growth and Skills Levy' flexibilities right there.

Big news on SEND in today's Budget! Government pumping in more money to keep the system float.

Oh wow....

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 Everyone agrees the SEND system is broken, but how do you fix it? @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social and @eleanorrrlouise.bsky.social joined me to talk through the analysis and proposals in their new @ippr.org report on reforming SEND. Listen here: insideyoured.com

When grappling with unacceptably high levels of youth unemployment, this is a crazy policy decision. We need to be doing everything possible to give employers a reason to hire young people, particularly those facing the greatest barriers to work. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What do teachers lose in terms of subject and pedagogical knowledge when they don't plan curriculum and lessons themselves? One of many great questions posed by @carlhendrick.substack.com in this super review of the not-so-super offering from ChatGPT.

In my latest podcast, @marymyatt.bsky.social said the recommendations in the Curriculum and Assessment Review's final report could make Key Stage 3 the 'intellectual powerhouse' of secondary schools. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

*rolls eyes* The insistence among some HE folk on using a distorted funding baseline is really something to behold. Per-student HE funding is now the same as in 2011-12 before tuition fees were tripled. Over that same period, colleges, adult learning and school sixth forms have been pummelled.

In news that will shock absolutely no-one, top universities in Korea have been left reeling after being hit by a huge AI-fuelled cheating scandal. Apparently the course and final exams being fully online was not enough to make anyone spot the possible risks.... www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/southkor...