My new @tesmagazine.bsky.social feature on ‘Why we need to rethink secondary reading assessment’. We can do lots of charting reading ages, but not really change teaching on the basis of that data. How can diagnostic assessment offer us the missing link? Find out… www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

When leaders focus on helping staff and pupils to flourish, everyone benefits. Evidence shows it’s not a trade-off with outcomes, but a catalyst for improvement, says Ambition Institute’s Hilary Spencer. Read more: https://twp.ai/9PXKs1

Had an interesting conversation about inclusion in our SEND/AP schools yesterday that concluded with us suggesting that whilst we're proper hot on what you'd traditionally think of as 'inclusive practice', for us, ensuring access to a knowledge-rich curriculum for ALL is our inclusion focus.

Great job alert: work with me and a fabulous group of Trust and school leaders as a Trust Executive Leader. Exciting opportunity to make an impact in a trust which prizes continuous improvement, ambitious goals and experiencing joy in these pursuits! mynewterm.com/jobs/4362/ED...

Great day yesterday at #ResearchED. Thank you @saysmiss.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social @mrsball.bsky.social @natashaporter.bsky.social for fab sessions. Lots to reflect on as well as concrete actions to take. Exciting times.

Teachers are so often a glue that holds society together.

First day at school for our first born. Momentous in our little world.

Absolutely delighted to be chosen as the Teacher Tapp blog of the day! This blog is about how I make working, studying and parenting manageable during term time. www.researchtoclassroom.com/post/the-sun...

For more, check out our discussion paper (co-authored by the crazy smart @Barker_J & @Josh_CPD): resources.steplab.co/content/fil... Would love any suggested improvements. 👊

London Calling!! This Saturday morning at 10am... #WomenEd London are celebrating a decade of empowering women in education with a look back and forwards, informative community circles and a keynote talk from Kathleen Cushnie! Get your summer off to a great start! womened.com/events/women...

Did you miss #ClipsFromTheClassroom? Don't panic. You can still access them here researchschool.org.uk/clips-from-t...

Churchill cried multiple times in the chamber. Including after the "blood, toil, tears and sweat" speech appropriately.

Some amazing people honoured in education and I am particularly thrilled that it includes @counsellc.bsky.social. She’s brought so much wisdom and sharpness of thought to the sector. I’ve been so lucky to work with her and the impact she has had for me personally has been profound.

It isn't possible to design a school system where everyone leaves with the skills needed for the workplace because *they're all going to do different jobs*. Workplace training needs to be done by employers.

NEW BLOG: Managing attention in classrooms is a social justice issue hobbolog.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/m... #UKEd #Edusky #EduBlogUK

Column here!

Cracking discussion in the thread below between @bennewmark.bsky.social and @samfr.bsky.social that shows why doing nothing and doing something are both fraught with risk.

The 2.8% isn’t fully funded and based on this assumption many schools and Trusts are facing the prospect of having to lower staffing numbers. 4% without additional funds will be an unmitigated disaster

Thought provoking session today with @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social and @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social, who explored the impact of social media and smartphones on children and young people. It was lovely to see so many of you at our first CST Talks event. With thanks to Community Playthings for sponsoring.

When you look across a school staffroom, there are all kinds of people who draw respect from the rest of the staff, no matter what subject they teach. @missdcox.bsky.social was someone who drew an enormous amount of respect from all around this staffroom. My thoughts are with her family and friends.

Nicole and Nimish from Creative Education Trust talking powerfully about co-constructing aligned practices across the trust 👏 😀

So many in #TeamRE and the wider #edutwitter community have been shocked to hear about Dawn’s accident. A fund has been created to support her and her family at this time. It might be something you consider giving to or sharing. www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Today I will be playing the role of Cassandra. I've posted my responses to the Ofsted consultation on my blog in case they're helpful to others. Feel free to make use of them or ignore as you see fit, but make sure you respond. occamshairdryer.wordpress.com/2025/03/08/m...

This is an important issue to raise,@schoolsweek.bsky.social - thank you, it’s utterly draining and demoralising. Much harder to hold the umbrella for staff when under attack in aggressive, personal and abusive ways with little recourse. Some of it utterly vile. 😞 schoolsweek.co.uk/calls-for-sc...

Two very useful blogs from David Thomas on SEND policy. Part 1: The SEND Crisis Why children are getting worse care, more slowly at greater cost open.substack.com/pub/thingsda...

New blog! ‘The Teachers’ knowledge that has no name’. What should we call this knowledge? heatherfblog.wordpress.com/2025/02/23/t... With special thanks to @michaelfordham.bsky.social

Heartbreaking piece looking at how NHS cracks lead to needless deaths—and the fear that if people know their rights, the system will be overwhelmed. I read it this morning and felt physical pain for the family.

Well done to Schools Week for digging in to what might look like a technical issue, but in reality will be what makes this framework fall apart.

It was wonderful to talk to some fantastic leaders working in the east of England yesterday. We have another info webinar tonight at 18:00. Please do share with your networks in the east of England!

My favourite new substack is Beyond the Frame, from my incredibly talented colleague and friend @sam-fitzpatrick.bsky.social Sam offers genuinely unique perspectives on so many aspects of education and leadership. First up: narrating the story 👇🏽 samfitzpatrick.substack.com/p/whats-the-...

What a photograph.

I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this guide on pupil motivation and engagement 👇 It tackles the constant tension between wanting children to achieve AND thrive & presents an easy to read, research-based approach that shows you can definitely do both! www2.ambition.org.uk/l/330231/202...

We’re looking for our next cohort of east100. Leaders from the east of England ready to take the step into headship. Committed to eradicating the disadvantage gap. And excited about doing it as a team. Read more about it and apply here 👇🏽 www.reachfoundation.uk/insights/joi...

Really enjoyed this blog on the problems of diagnosis and labels in schools. Does it end up making us lazier than if we looked at each child’s needs individually?

Appalling 👿👿👿#WomenEd

A lot of discussion lately about the reasons for the decline of Eng Lit A-level. Are the Gove curriculum & exam reforms to blame? I don't think so, because the decline of Eng Lit / the humanities more broadly is a global trend. More here.

Do you remember when we stopped using levels and for a while lots of schools went mad creating even worse versions of levels but with colours and bizarre labels, and measuring things that shouldn’t be measured? Seems a fitting time to mention that happened.

Ofsted is proposing judging schools on a five point scale in ten different poorly defined areas. If you're keeping your head while all around you are losing theirs you may not have adequately understood the situation.

Let’s just remind ourselves of the research that helped put a nail in the coffin of Ofsted going round judging “quality of teaching”. www.cem.org/blog/classro...

"if we are going to do a quiz badly then we might as well go back to handing out a wordsearch" @ensermark.bsky.social on the quiz-ification of lesson starts. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

Fantastic news both in terms of the reform and appointing @tomrees.bsky.social to lead.

Wish I had something reassuring to say. The possible consequences are just a spectrum of different levels of bad. Let's hope it's at the manageable end of bad.

Another thoroughly depressing day to be a woman.

A headteacher and still a superb blogger. @clairestoneman.bsky.social is v admirable.

Thanks @beckyfrancis.bsky.social & panel for running this event. Was quite an eye opener in terms of the diversity of views about future direction of curriculum and assessment. Largest divide seemed (perhaps unsurprisingly) between those working in schools & those in school-adjacent organisations.

Great political campaigning videos are rare. This one is a beauty. #WeWontGoBack

NEW POST Leader says "please do x" Staff then don't do x It's not because they are lazy, incompetent or deliberately undermining. So why is it? achemicalorthodoxy.co.uk/2024/10/30/y...

Preparing my mind for the curriculum and assessment review roadshow on Monday. Where do you start if you want to challenge yourself to think powerfully without cynical restrictions? With @counsellc.bsky.social of course: schoolsweek.co.uk/what-a-natio...

Excited to be hosting this at Sewell Park - one of our wonderful schools in Norwich.