School trip rule #1: Keep the kids safe. Asherton rule #1: Keep the silence. Part 13 of my #FolkHorror tale, The Dark Classroom, dropped today, and things get very dark, very fast. Subscribe today for free 👇 🔗 shorturl.at/NRW8p Next part coming tomorrow! #DarkAcademia

The Dark Classroom - Part 13

Eager to protect the students, Mr. Ellis tags along on the school’s annual trip to Mrs. Bowman’s farm. But nothing in Asherton goes as planned.

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Mr Ellis thought tagging along on the school farm trip would calm his anxiety. He was wrong. Seeing how the adults handle "mistakes" in Asherton Primary proved his worst fear: the children aren't well-behaved. They're terrified. 🌾 Read Part 13 of The Dark Classroom now: 🔗 shorturl.at/reOJT

The Dark Classroom - Part 13

Eager to protect the students, Mr. Ellis tags along on the school’s annual trip to Mrs. Bowman’s farm. But nothing in Asherton goes as planned.

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"It's dead." Mrs Bowman didn't say a word - she just dragged the newborn lamb into the dark by its hooves. Half the kids cried. The rest fell into that eerie Asherton silence. Part 13 of The Dark Classroom is live. 🔗 shorturl.at/lG6uE #FolkHorror #DarkAcademia

The Dark Classroom - Part 13

Eager to protect the students, Mr. Ellis tags along on the school’s annual trip to Mrs. Bowman’s farm. But nothing in Asherton goes as planned.

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A headteacher trying to save a young boy's spark in a village where everyone just wants to "be like the rest." Quiet, conformity-driven #FolkHorror set in rural England. Catch up on the newest instalment here 👇 shorturl.at/QJjj7 #Booksky

The Dark Classroom - Part 12

An exhausted mother surrenders her son's identity for the sake of conformity. As an annual farm trip looms, a lingering childhood phobia haunts Mr Ellis.

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Anyone who grew up in the UK watching 70s public safety films like Apaches knows they were pure nightmare fuel. 🚜🌾The dread is real on Asherton’s annual farm trip. Read the latest part of my #FolkHorror and subscribe for daily updates: shorturl.at/1p9Rr #DarkAcademia

The Dark Classroom - Part 12

An exhausted mother surrenders her son's identity for the sake of conformity. As an annual farm trip looms, a lingering childhood phobia haunts Mr Ellis.

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"If he spends more time on homework than doodling, that can’t be a bad thing, can it?" In Asherton, blending in isn't just encouraged. It's expected. But what happens when a child's creativity is silenced? Part 12 of my #FolkHorror serial is live 🕯️ 🧵👇 shorturl.at/0bsOP #Booksky #DarkAcademia

The Dark Classroom - Part 12

An exhausted mother surrenders her son's identity for the sake of conformity. As an annual farm trip looms, a lingering childhood phobia haunts Mr Ellis.

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Standing in an empty office after being betrayed by your own deputy head teacher. 🫥 Part 11 dives into the quiet horror of realising you’re completely alone in a village full of secrets. Slow-burn #FolkHorror at its most uncomfortable. shorturl.at/VXzFS #DarkAcademia

The Dark Classroom - Part 11

After a brutal dressing-down by the governors, James battles his own imposter syndrome. Meanwhile, Tom inexplicably abandons the chess club he begged for.

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How does a boy go from begging for a chess club to suddenly not caring at all? ♟️ In Part 11 of my #FolkHorror serial, Mr Ellis looks into Tom’s eyes and notices something unnerving... What is happening to the children at Asherton Primary? 👁️🔗 shorturl.at/g6g9a

The Dark Classroom - Part 11

After a brutal dressing-down by the governors, James battles his own imposter syndrome. Meanwhile, Tom inexplicably abandons the chess club he begged for.

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For 30 years, I lived by a golden rule: never watch television set in a school. Today, as an ex-headteacher, I broke it to watch BBC Panorama’s Britain's Strictest Schools. By minute 30, I was furious. Here is what forced "discipline" is really doing to schools 🧵👇 #Edusky

🧵“Everyone in Asherton is part of my flock, even you, Mr Ellis. I am your shepherd.” When the Chair of Governors corners the new head teacher in his office, it isn’t a polite chat; it’s a threat. #FolkHorror #DarkFiction

🧵Would you notice if something was off about your child's primary school? In Part 10 of The Dark Classroom, Susan Parker walks past a tied-up sheep and abandoned animal cages on her way to a parent-teacher meeting. #FolkHorror #DarkAcademia

“He is becoming much more like the sort of child we want at Asherton... he is ready for the next step.” Susan thought she was signing consent for extra after-school support for her son. 1/2 #DarkAcademia

A single ewe tied to a fence post. Two empty cages in the lane. A mother invited in for a "progress update". Tom enters the gates, wearing the same expression as that poor sheep. Part 10 of The Dark Classroom is live! ⬇️ shorturl.at/wyhRr #DarkAcademia #FolkHorror

The Dark Classroom - Part 10

A dark schoolhouse looms as Susan enters a battle with the staff. Pacified by good news, she unwittingly signs Tom up for a sinister new "therapy."

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"‘Eostre’ was written in red ink, with no explanation..." If you love slow-burn #FolkHorror, eerie British villages, and outsiders uncovering dark local secrets, you need to read 'The Dark Classroom'. Catch up on the whole story on my Substack for free shorturl.at/QWgRB #Booksky #DarkAcademia

The Dark Classroom - Part 9

The bizarre spring festival of Eostre arrives at school. When the Osterhase leaves the "bad" children empty-handed, Mr Ellis mounts his first open rebellion.

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How far would you go to protect your students from a creepy village tradition?When the "Osterhase" leaves a group of children crying and empty-handed, Mr Ellis decides he's done staying quiet.

A giant, tatty rabbit costume missing two fingers. A black lamb led on a string. A terrified caged rabbit. He knew being headteacher would involve boring staff meetings. He didn't expect the local spring ritual. Part 9 of my #FolkHorror: shorturl.at/8xyVD #DarkAcademia #Booksky

The Dark Classroom - Part 9

The bizarre spring festival of Eostre arrives at school. When the Osterhase leaves the "bad" children empty-handed, Mr Ellis mounts his first open rebellion.

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The story so far... A new head teacher takes over an imposing Victorian school in a Somerset village. He forms a quiet alliance with Tom, a lonely, artistic boy. But behind the gates, the walls are already closing in. (1/3) #Booksky #FolkHorror #DarkAcademia

"Argument two involved a child upset with another for using the word 'prawn' instead of 'pawn'; he wouldn't start the game until the other admitted his error." Before the #FolkHorror takes over, Part 8 of The Dark Classroom explores the humour of primary school life. shorturl.at/hTTiC #DarkAcademia

The Dark Classroom - Part 8

While the new chess club dissolves into comical schoolyard chaos, Mr Ellis experiences Asherton’s ancient Wassailing traditions. But dark rituals loom ahead.

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Most schools celebrate sports day or harvest festival. Asherton prefers frozen orchards, banging pots, and hanging juice-soaked toast in trees to "placate the spirits." Part 8 of my #FolkHorror thriller The Dark Classroom is live: 👇 shorturl.at/hTTiC #DarkAcademia

The Dark Classroom - Part 8

While the new chess club dissolves into comical schoolyard chaos, Mr Ellis experiences Asherton’s ancient Wassailing traditions. But dark rituals loom ahead.

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"Sing, my silent angels. Sing my beautiful flock!" Grounding #FolkHorror in the mundane world of school appraisals and late-night commutes. For lovers of The Wicker Man or The Stepford Wives. Subscribe for part 7 and catch up on the whole story here: shorturl.at/trVDW #DarkAcademia #Booksky

The Dark Classroom - Part 7

After facing down a mutinous staff, Mr Ellis spots the village choir gathered in the hall. But through the single-glazed windows, there is no sound at all.

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A big moment for me, the first review of my book on Amazon! It's a lovely one, too! #QuietLeadership

"Burke and Hare... present. Coward and Brooks... definitely present." Mr Ellis steps into a classroom that looks like a bloody battlefield of paint splatters to defend a child. Instead, his deputy head and SENCO launch an open mutiny. Part 7: shorturl.at/r6ZIY #FolkHorror #Booksky

The Dark Classroom - Part 7

After facing down a mutinous staff, Mr Ellis spots the village choir gathered in the hall. But through the single-glazed windows, there is no sound at all.

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You see the village choir gathered in the lit school hall. They are performing with passionate energy. But through the windows, there is absolute, suffocating silence. A new nightmare begins in Part 7 of my #FolkHorror thriller The Dark Classroom: 👇

A head teacher is supposed to run his school. But at Asherton, Mr Ellis discovers his staff are holding secret meetings behind his back. The hierarchy is tightening the net. Catch up on Parts 1-5 and read Part 6 of The Dark Classroom today: shorturl.at/Ecpox #BookSky #FolkHorror

The Dark Classroom - Part 6

Meet Mrs Bowman, Asherton’s ageless staff member with a strange ritual. As she initiates lonely Tom, Mr Ellis discovers his team is hiding secrets.

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Grandparents in the village swear Mrs Bowman was working at the school when they were young. Frail at first glance, but she has "farmer strength" from running her farm. She is the grandmother everyone loves. And she runs the trap. Part 6: shorturl.at/QdhtV #BookSky #FolkHorror

The Dark Classroom - Part 6

Meet Mrs Bowman, Asherton’s ageless staff member with a strange ritual. As she initiates lonely Tom, Mr Ellis discovers his team is hiding secrets.

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Inside a dark wooden cabin, the ageless school assistant lights a single candle. She opens a carved box and hands the children smooth, ancient stone tokens. Part 6 of my free #FolkHorror 'The Dark Classroom' is live on Substack 👇 shorturl.at/9FWIg #BookSky #WritersOfBlueSky #DarkAcademia

The Dark Classroom - Part 6

Meet Mrs Bowman, Asherton’s ageless staff member with a strange ritual. As she initiates lonely Tom, Mr Ellis discovers his team is hiding secrets.

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True horror doesn't start in a dark basement. It starts in a brightly lit school office with a fresh cup of tea and two custard creams on a saucer. If you love The Stepford Wives, The Wicker Man, or eerie British folklore, this primary school will give you chills. 👇

"With her colourful outfit and OTT makeup, Mrs Coward looked like a haunted Christmas tree." Inside a suffocating primary school classroom, two manipulative teachers sit in tiny plastic chairs, systematically eating cake and dismantling a mother's defences. 👇

Every parent knows the dread of the school phone call. But at Asherton, a playground squabble turns into a psychological ambush. By the time Susan leaves, she’s signed her son away and can't remember agreeing to it. Read Part 5 of 'The Dark Classroom' 👇 shorturl.at/irR3Q #FolkHorror

The Dark Classroom - Part 5

The Meeting. Susan Parker faces the "walk of shame" when a school incident puts Tom in the spotlight. Under intense pressure, she finds herself in a trap she never agreed to.

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Weaponising the mundane is the core of #folkhorror. A routine check under a cupboard morphs into a psychological ambush. The trap is slowly tightening around Mr Ellis. Catch up on Parts 1-3 of 'The Dark Classroom' and read the brand-new Part 4 today: shorturl.at/UCUl5

The Dark Classroom - Part 4

Hugo. Mrs Jarvis deals with an unsettling classroom pet, while Mr Ellis finds a kindred spirit. Can a new chess club help lonely Tom survive at Asherton Primary?

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