📕Our pre-Budget briefing is out Next week, the government faces unavoidable trade-offs between political demands and economic reality. With it likely the Chancellor takes a 'smorgasbord' approach of smaller tax rises - we look at the risks, tax options, and other policies to feature next week -

I have no doubt that someone, somewhere is ruining this is a win because of “engagement” It isn’t. This is tone deaf and really Irritating

“Some of the rhetoric we’re hearing – racist rhetoric, divisive rhetoric – that frankly I thought we had dealt with decades ago is returning to politics and it makes people feel very scared,” Says PM who in May sounded like the unlamented Enoch Powell with his "island of strangers" speech 😡🙄

Finally got round to writing about this. We're not making enough progress with challenging educational disadvantage. We should pick key areas that face wicked problems, suspend how we normally do things, and try radical collaboration: open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...

It is utter bullshit that the mistaken splicing of two bits of his January 6th 2021 speech on Panorama in October 2024 had any significant impact whatsoever on the reputation of Donald Trump in Britain, or globally, and the claim for $1 billion damages is bullshit and bullying by the US president

Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?

Nice response to the curric & assess review. In case it’s paywalled for you, @missgoodyear.bsky.social & @samgibbs.bsky.social conspicuously don’t go down the ‘implementation’ of ‘what works’ (ie data-farming) path, but instead go with attuning to & meeting actual needs. Happy #neuroqueering! 🦋

ICYMI: Government has accepted the Francis review recommendation to introduce RE to the national curriculum - but has said the sector must 'reach consensus on whether this is achievable'

Wow, quite the day! Thanks to all of you that have supported, engaged with, and input to, the Curriculum and Assessment Review. Having the different sources of evidence, including the experiences and wisdom 'from the ground' from teachers and school leaders, has been pivotal. Many thanks again!

📢 Join us on Friday for Under the CAR Bonnet - a free Schools Week webinar on the curriculum and assessment review We'll interview review chair Professor Becky Francis to get behind the headlines of her landmark report, followed by audience Q&A Sign up: events.zoom.us/ev/AofhjYOxI...

"We do, though, recognise that there could be unintended consequences with this, and we’re certainly not thinking of them as KS3 Sats." Becky Francis on the introduction of new Y8 examinations (or 'diagnostic checks') - and more - below

Congratulations to @beckyfrancis.bsky.social and everyone else involved in the curriculum review. There's bits I'd quibble on (oracy focus an issue unless defined) but I found myself nodding and going "yeah sensible" to almost all of it. Also I agree with the tests in Y8 too.

Which of the curriculum and assessment review proposals has the DfE rejected or will not implement as prescribed? There are only a few areas of disagreement - @cerysturner.bsky.social has the lowdown below www.tes.com/magazine/new...

The final report of the independent curriculum and assessment review is OUT. Deep gratitude to the thousands who participated. One thing that’s clear is that there’s abundant expertise and passion across our system. You can read the full thing here: www.gov.uk/government/p...

I want to pass on my sincere thanks to Professor Becky Francis and her expert panel. I knew from opposition that Prof Francis was the person I wanted to revitalise & renew our curriculum. She has been unflinching in her drive for high standards for all. www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Today the curriculum and assessment review is published. Please do read the executive summary and recommendations. Thank you to everyone who gave evidence and who came and spoke to us. I really appreciated you all giving your time and expertise. 👉 www.gov.uk/government/p...

The Francis Review is out. Huge congratulations to @beckyfrancis.bsky.social and the panel for a thorough and thoughtful review which is (1/4):

Thanks so much again to the expert panel, including @cassiebuchanan.bsky.social @jonhutchinson.bsky.social @jo-annebaird.bsky.social and the others for their wisdom

There is lots to like in the final report from the Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) thanks to @beckyfrancis.bsky.social and her panel of experts. However, the Government's response to the CAR contains a *massive* red warning sign.... My new post on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/tdrich...

We are so pleased that @beckyfrancis.bsky.social has made these big recommendations. There is more we want the Government to do, but this is a massive step forward. 👏 See what else needs to be done to support the two million children struggling to talk and understand words ⬇️

'Contrary to some critical commentaries, this is not ‘dumbing down’ – quite the opposite', says Sir Hamid Patel 'The review safeguards core knowledge and achieves the shifts necessary as we hurtle through the 21st century' schoolsweek.co.uk/the-curricul...

Please have a read and share- I hope that it is helpful and encapsulates the real positives that the CAR and the work of @beckyfrancis.bsky.social and team

The curriculum review ‘treats teachers as the experts they are, acknowledges what’s working before rushing to dismantle it, and grounds every recommendation in evidence’, writes MAT chief @moremorrow.bsky.social

Congratulations to @beckyfrancis.bsky.social and team for producing a curriculum and assessment review that's evolutionary rather than throwing all the achievements of the last few years overboard. Lots of sensible recommendations. www.gov.uk/government/p...

Professor Becky Francis has published her final curriculum and assessment review report. She spoke to Schools Week about some of its key recommendations and the thinking behind them https://schoolsweek.co.uk/interview-becky-francis-on-the-big-ideas-in-her-curriculum-review/

The CAR is an excellent piece of work and this approach- whilst not exactly what was recommended- is an excellent step forward to redress breadth and balance. This is neither evolution nor revolution but devolution; putting more emphasis back into schools on offer by liberalising accountability.

I’m really starting to suspect that most of the tech bros haven’t actually read Tolkien, as they certainly don’t understand it. The gentle hobbits save the “hard men” of Gondor, largely through compassion and selflessness. Not the other way around. The Christian parable is barely hidden!

We're now at "black people aren't British". Open sewer racism. Look forward to seeing him on QT again soon.

After a week of faffing around the @dailymail.co.uk have agreed to apologise. Here it is. Fingers crossed for fewer lies/smears dressed up as news in future

I'm running a webinar on adaptive teaching next Wednesday. Lots of practical advice about inclusive approaches to teaching. Pay what you can to attend. Very grateful for shares. Thank you! #EduSky www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-ultima...

One in twenty Reform councillors elected in May 2025 has left by the Autumn - half expelled/suspended - a quarter resigned from council - some defected An "unusual rate" of attrition in 6 months, says Tony Travers www.politicshome.com/news/article...

New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social "Trump and the Test Ban" This week Trump said he was going to restart nuclear weapons tests. Did he mean it? And what would the consequences be if he did? (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/trump-and-...

I've written a couple of things over the last days about how the government and much of Westminster remaining on X as the platform becomes increasingly toxic is having consequences for our politics...

"The next time someone says they’d like to see animal husbandry or knitting taught in schools, ask them what subject they think we should sacrifice in exchange. Ask them what trade offs they’d make." No, We Can’t Just Keep Adding Stuff To What’s Taught In Schools (scroll down)

This is why I go though?

Wait, I thought we could save all the money we needed by cutting diversity hires and reducing unspecified "waste"?

Why is racism in Britain getting worse? I did not want nor expect to be asking that in 2025. I'm used to making progress against racism in our country. So I write in The New World about how we understand what's going on + what needs to change to turn this around www.thenewworld.co.uk/sunder-katwa...

A majority of voters, and a plurality of white voters, think that Reform is a racist party with racist policies.

'Now is the opportunity for a once-in-a-generation reset of how our education system shapes the values of the kind of society we wish to be,' says Geoff Barton Here's his five principles to get it right schoolsweek.co.uk/5-principles...

... V levels will let young people keep options open for longer which is really positive. But (as ever) the real Qs will be in the implementation, including if colleges get the funding needed for high quality delivery.

Skills white paper - more details, inc: 🔴Students with grade 2 in Eng/maths to sit new qualifications in Year 12 before taking resits the next year 🔴'Duty' on schools to support students post-16 🔴Enrichment framework working group looking at how to 'support schools' to develop offer

Lovely walk in beautiful Cornwall today and came across this beauty

We started Myatt & Co five years ago and the goal was to provide ongoing, conversational professional learning during the lockdowns. There were 50 recordings and 20 contributors when we started. Now, there are over 500 resources from over 200 contributors. /1

Nb/ I actually said we need to move away from an inflexible approach to resits. Certainly young people need better support and a more nuanced approach to support success

Happy Saturday and enjoy the gorgeousness of Obi

As yes British football in the 1980s. Well known for its good-natured fun. He's a ridiculous person.

After 14 months heading the government’s curriculum review, Becky Francis reflects on control, compromise – and finding the right balance between ‘firebrand’ and ‘technocrat’ schoolsweek.co.uk/i-dream-the-...

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