💡 Powerful and important discussions on the SEND system took place yesterday at our panel event on the government's proposed reforms. The event marked the launch of our research analysing the relationship between disadvantage and SEND in school admissions 🧵

A fascinating discussion this morning. I especially enjoyed the debate between where accountability should sit and how we change the narrative of 'different'.

It hasn’t been talked about too much yet today but the education white paper also had some pretty interesting stuff in about school admissions and seeing the work I am involved with at The Sutton Trust referenced specially has been a career highlight! @suttontrust.bsky.social (1/9)

A huge thank you to @danfrancis02.bsky.social, @charleyo.bsky.social, @anyasizer.bsky.social and @danihpayne.bsky.social for a thoughtful and wide ranging discussion at today's @smfthinktank.bsky.social panel event on SEND reform.

🚨 EVENT TOMORROW🚨 On Wednesday, our panel will discuss how to fix our broken SEND system: @beckymontacute.bsky.social @alistrathern.bsky.social @charleyo.bsky.social @anyasizer.bsky.social @danihpayne.bsky.social See more here: buff.ly/DWaWiQG

Really looking forward to this event and chatting with the other panellists!

🗣️ "They're facing the disadvantage of their low-income and the potential challenges that brings, as well as having to navigate that SEND system." @charleyo.bsky.social touches on the double disadvantage facing low-income pupils with SEND on BBC Woman's Hour 📻

This has been one of those reports that makes you feel worse and worse as you uncover the layers of a system that just isn't working. Change is desperately needed so that all children can thrive in education without having to rely on parents spending money they may not even have to get support.

This morning at Labour Party Conference, our panel is looking at the attainment gap and asking why disadvantaged pupils are behind their peers. Chaired by @nickharrison73.bsky.social, we are joined by @sarahsmithlab.bsky.social, @childrenscomm.bsky.social, and @danielkebedeneu.bsky.social

Today we are at the Labour Party Conference to explore findings from the Sutton Trust's latest report, Elitist Britain. We are joined by @lindseymacmillan.bsky.social, @peter4bracknell.bsky.social, @lewisgoodall.com, Lord David Evans, and our own @carlcullinane.bsky.social. ⬇️ Follow updates below

🆕 We recently polled almost 7,000 teachers with @teachertapp.bsky.social to better understand how the education sector sees the issue of school admissions. Our Senior Schools Engagement Manager, @charleyo.bsky.social, discusses what we learned 👇 www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

💫 The First 100 Days as a School Middle Leader💫 I love supporting and coaching new leaders. As we approach September, I hope to do a weekly post to support you in your first 100 days as a new leader. If this isn’t you, perhaps there will be still be something interesting along the way! (1/7)

Great blog! @claireharley.bsky.social is so relatable and brings the 'Instagram Sunday Reset' into something we can all achieve ❤️‍🔥

💫 GCSE Results Day was the most nerve-wracking day of my first year as Head of Science.💫 I was so worked up that I opened the spreadsheet without a clear plan and couldn’t figure out whether I should be celebrating or worrying. In later years, I went in with a clear plan of action and... (1/8)

We can become more resilient. Its not a fixed component. The Roberston-Cooper model is great place to start thinking about this. (1/10)

📢 #ResultsDay2025 for Level 3 qualifications (A Level and equivalent) is here! Students receiving their results today have endured significant disruption to their education since Year 8. Here’s our analysis of what we know about the results so far ⤵️🧵

Focus Time is the literal best. I get so much more done when I set myself to be as productive as possible. 5 minutes of planning allows my brain to really fly. If you haven't tried it before, give it a go over the summer holidays. (1/10)

I first started using my outlook calendar when I was Head of Science. I wanted my team to know where they could find me. Over time it evolved into my most powerful tool for productivity by utilising time/calendar blocking. If you aren't already using it, give it a go in September! (1/11)

A week in Greece with my family has completely re-energised me. I feel like I have more clarity and motivation than I have done in years. I am even more excited to share my knowledge about how to maximise what you can get done in a day in order to have the time you need to just be you! (1/10)

If you are starting the summer feeling exhausted I'm hoping this will give you some food for thought.

Another great report from my awesome colleagues. Absolutely fascinating to see how quickly this divide has appeared. School leaders need more support to make sure all their students reap the benefits of this technological shift.

I originally posted this on a different platform last week but thought there might be some useful hints for school leaders here too. Sorry its a little bit on the late side! Hope its helpful! (1/10)

✨We've made it to over 100 schools recruited for the Fair School Admissions Pledge ✨ It isn't too late to join us. Deadline for applications is THIS FRIDAY. Please do reach out if you have any questions, we would love to hear from you! www.suttontrust.com/fair-school-...

Cannot get enough of 'Building a Second Brain'. We are knowledge workers but we aren't curating our knowledge as though it is our most valuable asset....

🎺 Our team will be speaking at Ed Fest this week! Our Research and Policy Manager, @kevinlatham.bsky.social, and our Senior Schools Engagement Manager, @charleyo.bsky.social, will be discussing our research from this year as well as our ongoing work to reform school admissions ⤵️

I really need to remember that in 3 weeks time I will be lying by the pool in Rhodes and absolutely loving this weather! 😎

@suttontrust.bsky.social Fair School Admissions Awards applications have started arriving and it really is an absolute joy to read them. Tangible impact from schools dedicated to serving their whole community - a great way to end the school year!

Really looking forward to EdFest this year! My awesome colleague @kevinlatham.bsky.social and I will be presenting on @suttontrust.bsky.social research focussing on our new reports from this year and our Fair School Admissions Pledge. Do come and say hello!

That feeling when you read a book and it is literally describing an experience you have been chasing your whole life. Offering you the solutions to problems that have been wearing you down, itching at you for years. Yeah - that's this book.

Today's win is epic.

🚨 Applications for our Fair School Admissions Award 2025/26 are open! Awards are given at bronze, silver and gold level for schools, multi-academy trusts and local authorities who are taking steps towards fairer school admissions. Apply now ⤵️ www.suttontrust.com/fair-school-...

💬 "We need to bring class into the conversation. If we don’t, DEI initiatives in the UK risk going the same way as their US counterparts." Our Head of Research and Policy, @beckymontacute.bsky.social, on the need to include class in the diversity conversation 👇 www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

If I take a step back and remember life from two years ago.... My working life today is unrecognisable. You just don't know how life is going to twist and turn.

I recently did some work with colleagues on the cost of distraction - 23 minutes to get back into a state of flow. And that's for adults... Interesting stats here for classrooms and how severe the effect could be.

12 Week Year Update! 1️⃣Half term threw me off course... I should have thought about that and taken that into account when planning. 2️⃣On the other hand having a pre planned list of tasks and goals meant I probably did more this week than I would have otherwise done. (1/2)

"A little empathy for all can go a long way" A great read on the reality of how complex leadership can be. A former SLT I was in used the ATB approach. Assume The Best. It helped us all to remember that there was probably a good reason behind something even if we couldn't see that straight away.

Half term has been rough with bad weather and manic kids BUT there have been some wins. Previous Fair School Admissions Award winners reaching out asking how to make even more changes this year to increase access further has made my heart sing 🥰

I don't care what anyone says... Zodiac Academy might be the single greatest book series I have ever read. Is it ridiculous, completely over the top, unnecessarily complicated and have some problematic themes - yes. Is it great literature that will become a classic - no. Am I obsessed - 💯yes!

To create a genuinely inclusive school system, the government needs a definition of what inclusion looks like in practice – that’s why @cfyounglives.bsky.social has come up with one, writes executive chair Anne Longfield

📢 Two exciting announcements about the @suttontrust.bsky.social School Admissions work. 1️⃣We've decided to squeeze in a final Fair School Admissions Pledge cohort before we move onto the next phase of the project. I would LOVE to get to 100 schools this year! www.suttontrust.com/fair-school-...

Ok. I'm literally obsessed with Amy Landino. The last month or so has been manic and frantic and I have not been feeling productive. 20 mins of Amy sets me straight. Raring to go again. youtu.be/R44qS9vV_-0?...

12 week year update. Week 3 : Progress is being made! First point - Oh my god I ❣️LOVE ❣️Notion - why did it take me so long to join the gang? It's a beautiful and flexible mash up of One Note and Excel and I am here for it! (1/3)

Having grown up in and having spent my school career in Kent I instinctively knew that opportunities in my part of the country weren't the same as elsewhere. Upsetting but strangely validating to see that confirmed so clearly. 📢Opportunity isn't equal.📢

"Some of those areas are likely to have less robust evidence to follow, but that does not make them less important" Great insight here - sometimes we just need to trust leaders when they tell us what's happening on the ground.

✨Just about to start the first session with our Fair School Admissions Pledge : Summer Cohort✨ This is our largest cohort yet. I never fail to be impressed and emotional at how many leaders are taking time out of their incredibly busy days to join this mission. www.suttontrust.com/fair-school-...

🚨 We're looking for a Head of Research & Policy! This is a key role in our integrated Communications, Research and Policy team, and it's a great opportunity to play a meaningful part in effecting change for disadvantaged young people. Apply by 21st May ⤵️ recruitment.suttontrust.com/jobs/5909323...

Collaboration between mainstream schools and special schools can be transformative for inclusion, helping to shift the focus from managing behaviour to adapting pedagogy, writes @mmulholland.bsky.social

Nearing the end of week 1 of the 12 week year. Main takeaways so far: + really enjoying ticking off my tasks and having a highly detailed and short term plan is keeping motivation sky high. - I think I have given myself too many tasks to do each week, might need to do so streamlining...

Summer mornings mental health boost unlocked ☀️❤️

I’ve struggled with the ebb and flow of the year since leaving schools so I’ve spent the last few days setting up a ’12 Week Year’ (which incidentally is the number of weeks until my next holiday). Four goals with tasks set out for each week in advance. Started today and already making progress 🫶