Elderly laptop crashed on the home straight. Lost a few words. Spent three hours working out which words and 15 minutes re-writing them. #phdlife #minorcorrections #majormeltdown

iT to0K thr33 G0e5 2 6eT It ➡️

Today’s work not helped by my internet provider deciding that I needed a new router for no apparent reason. So I have to re-connect everything to the internet with an implausibly long password, including the printer 😱

Today I will be mostly trying to not over-think minor corrections so much that they become major ones.

My favorite mother’s day cartoon from the stupendous @rosemarymosco.com

New report: Governing in 4D is out now. It celebrates strong governance and how we build consistency as we move to a universal MAT system. It sets out governance in four dimensions: board, members, local tier, exec. Read it: www.nga.org.uk/knowledge-ce...

“The NGA’s annual survey data shows that 97 per cent of trusts already operate some form of local governance” - *what* form matters. Is it always governance? #UKEdGovs #EduSky #UKEd

Well yesterday I had my viva and passed (with minor amendments). It still doesn’t feel real; but maybe this will help! #UKEdGovs #phdlife #phdstudent #whatnext #EdD

How depressing that this isn’t surprising.

Really interesting @belmasoffice.bsky.social Research Interest Group yesterday Thanks to Sam Henson @ngauk.bsky.social - 'The Case for Governance' & @danigov.bsky.social for her research - great discussions ... we needed more time! My takeaway - How do we talk about governance? #UKEdGovs

A week ago, I ran a personal best in my local half marathon. I have one last goal: To hit my £500 goal for raising money for Berkshire Women's Aid, which supports victims of domestic abuse. I'm only £59 away from my goal. Help me make it across this finish line. www.justgiving.com/page/kevin-a...

Despite the giant spider invasion I have managed to submit my thesis! A year later than planned due to… well, life etc. But all the words have been sent. Didn’t expect the last bit to be quite so exhausting… #phdlife #EdD #yay

On #WorldBookDay, we're sending a huge THANK YOU to all the teachers, school librarians and other educators helping to foster a love of reading! Check out our Impact Report to discover how we support schools to make a difference: https://bit.ly/4sj2EkY

Being able to fit 7 out of 8 chapters of a draft thesis on the complicated nature of school governance onto the back of a copy of the 2020 edition of the DfE’s guide to the role is an irony not lost on me.

🫣 There is a huge spider crawling across my emotional support seaside webcam 😱 This is a worrying development

Final push to finish my doctoral thesis. Featuring my emotional support lava lamp and my emotional support seaside webcam browser tab. And coffee. #phdstudent #phdthesis #phdlife

Podcast alert! In this episode I'm talking with Philip Rowe whose doctoral research is focused on the HT/Chair relationship - rather like my research ... but different! #UKEdGovs #UKEd #Governance #PhDSky LISTEN: Talking Research Podcast Part 3 from the Gov RIG @belmasoffice.bsky.social

Now published… We Reject the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Reflexive Qualitative Research - Tanisha Jowsey, Virginia Braun, Victoria Clarke, Deborah Lupton, Michelle Fine, 2025 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

I started a thing called The Big Green Books 500 Club on July 25th (my birthday!). I'm asking people to chip in £1 each week so we can get books into schools. Every time we reach £500, I send £500 of books to a different school. Details HERE. www.biggreenbookshop.com/big-green-bo...

I swear this updates itself every time I look…

It's #buyastrangerabook day. To celebrate Bluesky being back online I'll give out a book. FOR FREE. If there's one you'd like, let me know what it is. Also, if you'd like to #BuyAStrangerABook too, let me know. Here's what it's all about. www.biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi... UK only

This is the first time in 15 years that I'm running Ada Lovelace Day without also putting on a big event in London, and I have to admit, it feels kinda weird. If you have a minute, please share a story of your favourite woman in STEM with the hashtag #ALD25.

Autumn days when the grass is jewelled

when I worked in an independent bookstore, the owner told me the most stolen book was one about getting your first period and if I saw anyone walking out with it, I should just let them go.

In related news, a certain government white paper is now forever known in my head as Education Excellence Everywhere All At Once (DfE, 2016).

This is probably a mad thought but what if there was an opportunity here to run an experiment on the impact of smaller class sizes for a couple of years before closing some schools?

A bit late but… Worth considering you might need to thank people twice. If you’ve spent time with a member of staff thank them for that time and their wisdom in supporting your role. But also it is an opportunity to thank them for the job they’re doing every day. Acknowledge both. #BigQuestions

Pupils feeling that they belong isn't just nice to have. So how do great governing bodies support an inclusive school culture? #BIGQuestions #Inclusion @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @danigov.bsky.social @rachelj47127149.bsky.social @sallyfarsley.bsky.social @forrishilier.bsky.social

This probably isn’t actually answering the question but I think it’s worth GBs understanding that if their accessibility plan *isn’t* making a difference for SEND pupils then it needs revisiting ASAP. #BigQuestions

Reminds me of an old joke… I do not like referencing, not et al. #EdD #PhDSky #PhD

Back to our #BIGQuestion. How do governing bodies and school leaders ensure their accessibility plan makes a difference to SEND pupils? @danigov.bsky.social @rachelj47127149.bsky.social @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @sallyfarsley.bsky.social @simonknight100.bsky.social @forrishilier.bsky.social

This is a lovely thing. I’ve signed up. Gone for monthly. It is was really easy (unless I did it wrong of course). 📚❤️

During my review of literature on school governance I stumbled upon this gem. A puzzle on every page (and not much else). What does this say about the role for the uninitiated? 🤔🤔🤔

Although, juggling all the hats is very much a part of school governance… #ukedgovs

Celebrate #ALD25, 14 Oct, this year by organising your own event to support women in STEM. You can do anything – a talk, a networking event, a panel discussion, yarn bombing, cream teas, Wikipedia edit-a-thon. The options are endless! Let us know what you do: findingada.com/world..#ALD25

Do not punish the behaviour you want to see.

This week I dropped my youngest off at Bristol Uni to begin a degree in Education and Psychology. Packed up some essentials for him: saucepan, lamp, plates, cutlery, towel, and John Holt’s How Children Fail.

I’ve set up a new account because @academicgifts.bsky.social had too many hats. Follow me here if you are interested in sharing thoughts and ideas about school governance, academia and education. Or even better feel free to follow both of me!