Why is England not particularly successful in addressing equity and inclusion? Isn’t it about time we considered the opinions of those who have been considering these issues for 30 or more years? Latest Frank and Stan Chat does this with a SPOTLIGHT chat with Prof Mel Ainscow. youtu.be/GfOb0Vt3w6I

Frank and Stan Chat delighted to have @laura-mcphee.bsky.social as their weekly guest. We consider DfE guidance on violence against women and girls, the way some citizens are digitally excluded, why banning mobile phones might be wrong and why the north needs better railways. youtu.be/Ppd5wdgLQOE

Just seen 'Singing in the Rain' at The Royal Exchange @rxtheatre.bsky.social in Manchester. Absolutely top quality. Standing ovation and fully deserved. More, more, more.

The amazing @adrianbethune.bsky.social was a guest on this week’s Frank and Stan Chat. He makes leadership decisions and priorities very straightforward. He has a realistic approach to pupil and staff wellbeing. Find out for your self here www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isdc...

First Frank and Stan Chat of 2026 is one of the best. We were fortunate to have @KathyAugustDBE as a guest and we covered 'survivor bias', the govt's early plans for MAT inspections and a quote from Neil Jurd about 'false leadership'. A real privilege. youtu.be/NNbOIuFJK1o

The final Frank and Stan Chat of 2025 took place in the week leading up to Christmas with Jan Allen. A former secondary school HT, Jan now works in Gt Manchester area supporting charities and govt in addressing social disadvantage. An uplifting chat. youtu.be/XysnGY13zEI

Festive greetings from the Frank and Stan Chat. We have one episode to upload before we close down for the Christmas break. We are back on 5 January with our review of the 2025 editions.

Always a joy to have Eric Craven 'The Scouse Poet' back as a guest on the Frank and Stan Chat. His fifth visit includes four of his poems as well as one from Stan. It isn't all poetry, cos we cover some topical education and leadership issues. Enjoy. youtu.be/XeI4yqNvj_Q

Did Ofsted model the likely grade profile and inform DfE?

Sometimes the small note of gratitude makes all the difference. Thank you @innovateher.bsky.social for all of the amazing work you do to encourage more female students to follow a career in STEM and specifically digital. Reaching 100k students is an amazing milestone. Now for the next 100k.

The way things are progressing you could be the guest on the 250th edition

Latest Frank and Stan Chat with amazing Lois McClure is now available youtu.be/qeGmDfpcjaA?.... The chat acts as an inspiration to those young people who choose not to go to university and follow an apprenticeship route. Stan gets into psychology, and Frank thanks EarlyYearsAlex for their support .

Delighted to have Lois McClure as a guest on @frankwnorris.bsky.social and Stan Chat. She explains why she didn't choose to go to university and preferred the apprenticeship route. She also reveals how you remains positive and upbeat. Worth sharing with older students. Will be uploaded shortly.

The latest weekly Frank and Stan Chat with Henry May, founder of Coschool and Huracan Foundation now available youtu.be/siXz-2oXEw0. Fascinating chat about the importance of character development and wellbeing from a former @teachfirst.bsky.social graduate and social entrepreneur based in Bogotá.

This week's Frank and Stan Chat with Mark Philips is now available youtu.be/ujDSLijGRT8. We discuss unintended consequences of EBACC, carousels, and how generic whole-school teaching strategies can stifle music teaching/learning, the wonderful city of Manchester and Martin's Law.

I met @rosieclayton.bsky.social and Neil Smith for a coffee chat last week. Rosie mentioned this blog. Perceptive piece that captures a few of the issues I'm interested in, namely devolution, tech, exams and the botrom third. fed.education/the-5ds-of-t...

My first blog for the Chartered College of Teaching was published today. I do write about a range of things but this one is close to my heart. chartered.college/news-blogs/o...

It is always a great pleasure to spend some time chatting with a significant and influential figure in education as part of the Frank and Stan Chat SPOTLIGHT series. The latest is with Les Walton, Chair of Assoc of Education Advisers and in an earlier life adviser to PMs. youtu.be/e1PS4RF7EPc

I’m working with colleagues to set up first independent evaluation of Ofsted. We aim to raise £26K to run the project for 3 years, we will be working pro bono. More details can be found in the link. Please contribute and pass on to others www.crowdfunder.co.uk/experiences-of-ofsted-inspections

Safeguarding/child prot is important for all staff, so this week's Frank and Stan Chat should have record viewing figures. We're joined by Carolyn Eyre who says legislative changes afoot are 'the calm before the storm'. Stan considers Goodhart's Law and Frank internal isolation youtu.be/P_3Ow3XelZI

Over 200 views and less than a day since I uploaded the video of five former HMI chatting about the positive (not many) and negative (many) aspects of the 'renewed' inspection framework. We hope it proves useful for school staff and inspectors. youtu.be/ZTV5dK13UpM

What do five former HMI think of Ofsted's new school inspection framework? This chat reveals some positives but quite a few negatives. With the launch tomorrow, we hope it proves helpful for schools and inspectors. Let us know what you think. youtu.be/ZTV5dK13UpM

Latest weekly Frank and Stan Chat with Alex Howarth now available. It covers how regulators often get written messages wrong, Alex's interest in teaching mortgages and Frank's respect for Francis Review with a warning on oracy. We also predict The Ashes result. youtu.be/xc5WLxicG88

With half term arriving for many next week, we're uploading early the latest Frank and Stan Chat (educ and leadership) with Chris Zarraga Dir. at Schools NE. youtu.be/achbrKyB9Vs Chat covers Martin's Law, importance of relationships for successful leadership and why CPD should be a personal issue.

Adrian Gray askes an important question about self evaluation in the proposed Ofsted Framework. Self Evaluation: A case of the Hokey Cokey?https://thealternativebiglisten.co.uk/f/self-evaluation-a-case-of-the-hokey-cokey

The fascinating chat with Rosie Clayton as part of the Frank and Stan Chat SPOTLIGHT series is now available youtu.be/rGh4Xp5g7kU. If you’re interested in new ideas on assessment and how AI may play a bigger part in the future then this one's for you. Enjoy.

We continue to receive calls in regard to the new inspection framework. Call us in confidence if you need support and a friendly ear. It’s completely free.

I've offered a personal reflection on the Education Select Committee meeting with Ofsted on Tuesday. You can find it here. thealternativebiglisten.co.uk/f/recent-edu...

Recent Frank and Stan Chat with Chris Jones, CEO of Smart Curriculum. youtu.be/cnKLPXKF6-c now uploaded. Includes consideration of CEO salaries and trust structures, some hopeful signs on academic/vocational front. Chris prefers 'professional' and the School Curriculum Award.

Stan let's rip over the proposals for a nominee to be involved in school inspections on the latest Frank and Stan Chat weekly discussion about education and leadership issues. We’re joined by former HMI Dave Rzeznik youtube.com/clip/UgkxpPR...

This week's Frank and Stan Chat includes former HMI Dave Rzeznik. We chat about the role of nominees during inspections, the problems in creating best practice centres for SEND pupils and the need for a genuine challenging view as part of self-evaluation. youtu.be/1i1dfX1rziI

I would love Chelsea Slater, CEO of InnovateHer to be invited on to the government's Women in Tech Taskforce. Anyone know how we can make this happen? Clip from latest Frank and Stan Chat :The Chelsea Slater Returns Edition youtube.com/clip/UgkxoqW...

The 235th edition of the weekly Frank and Stan Chat with Chelsea Slater, CEO of @innovateheruk is now available youtu.be/VpgzEImwGs8?.... Chat covers Chelsea's leadership journey and how she got into social justice, Stan's view on school context and Frank on why secondary HTs are leaving.

In search of wisdom? try this… ⬇️ @frankwnorris.bsky.social Frank and Stan Chat

Stan draws attention to Goodhart's Law and considers its impact on education policy and local decision making on the latest Frank and Stan Chat with Ian Coulson 'Self Evaluation' Edition youtube.com/clip/Ugkx9Or...

Really enjoyed listening to Frank, Stan and Ian on Friday ⬇️ Much food for thought!

Stan draws attention to Goodhart's Law and considers its impact on education policy and local decision making on the latest Frank and Stan Chat with Ian Coulson 'Self Evaluation' Edition youtube.com/clip/Ugkx9Or...

The latest weekly Frank and Stan Chat that focuses on self-evaluation, the Good Hearts Law and the importance of community with Ian Coulson is now available youtu.be/O7W9CEyNJAQ. Ian explains how schools/trusts can undertake self-review in an inclusive manner.

What image did Generative AI produce when it was asked to create an African superhero? Dr Ronda Zelezny-Green explains some research she has been reviewing on the latest Frank and Stan Chat. Fascinating. youtube.com/clip/Ugkxgpe...

Quite. It turns out that 'The Big Listen' has not involved much listening.

Frank and Stan Chat delighted to be joined by Dr Ronda Zelezny-Green to chat about Generative AI and other issues. Ever wondered what AI delivers when asked to produce an image of an African Superhero? Or what some inspectors think of Ofsted's proposals? youtu.be/tExHwy2_dBE

Frank and Stan Chat delighted to share the 17th SPOTLIGHT Edition where Juliet Caunt, HR Consultant, was our guest. So, it's all things HR, retention, recruitment, culture, supporting senior education leaders so they avoid mistakes down the line etc. youtu.be/1SMft0Ezhps

Latest weekly edition (232) of @FrankStanChat with Paul Cherpeau, CEO of LIverpool Chamber of Commerce now available youtu.be/JM13oqpEmss. He explains how The Chamber, currently celebrating 175 yrs, evolved and is continuing to play a crucial role in regenerating the city incl improving education.

@FrankStanChat now release weekly chats on Wednesdays, so in case you missed the latest with @noookophile chatting about Ofqual, Stan raising concerns about claims 45 days are lost to poor behaviour and Frank considering PREVENT data, here is the link youtu.be/ZkWiRiXPg_w

Frank and Stan Chat is back! The 231st weekly chat as we enter 7th academic year. We discuss whether 45 days of learning are lost through poor behaviour, whether Ofqual's complaint system is fit for purpose and what the most recent PREVENT data is actually saying. youtu.be/ZkWiRiXPg_w

Read @andyburnham.bsky.social & Lord Jim O’Neill on Manchester - the productivity growth capital of Britain by @rjpartington.bsky.social

I've been prepping for next term's Frank and Stan Chats. A wide range of guests to consider education and leadership issues. We are booked up well into 2026. If you fancy joining us, then please reach out.

And thank you...delighted! 😊 It is coming canoeing on the weekend!

You were a wonderful guest. Looking forward to another chat in 2026

Latest Frank and Stan Chat SPOTLIGHT (No. 16) is with Anne Morris CEO of Yipiyap. Anne discusses how her 10 year business shifted from tutoring to one supporting schools to deliver PSHE through Peerscroller, a currently free online bank of short video clips. youtu.be/vucDmFphWpQ