c 1965, Junior 3, Miss Swan's class, a dramatised Odyssey on BBC schools' radio. I have not read the story since but last night saw the new film and was delighted by how closely it matched my memory. Beowulf, Achilles, Horatius on the bridge, Leif Ericsson, Troy.. The BBC gave us cultural history.

The sad loss of Kevin Keegan reminds me of what I consider one of the great education quotes of all time. The head of his primary school (Sister Mary Oliver, a nun) noted too much football was harming Kevin's academic work. Nevertheless, she insisted, "the football is to be encouraged."

From today's edition of PM came words I never imagined I would ever hear on Radio 4. Asked about Andy Burnham's pledge to end rough sleeping, the correspondent referred to the role played in our new Prime Minister's thinking by "Catholic Social Teaching."

There's an article in the Express about funding for PE. In it, a Tory Shadow Minister laments cuts to the Sports Premium and claims these will cost us future soccer stars. He clearly has no idea how our elite footballers are nurtured and developed. johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2024/07/14/w...

Can The “System” Bring Football Home…?

…and what are the lessons for education if it does? Or if it doesn’t? To coincide with this summer’s World Cup, the BBC broadcast a new adaptation of ‘Dear England,’ J…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

Is the Tide Turning? Short 🧵 The Academy Trust I wrote about in February 2025 (below) will be disbanded, it has been announced. To my knowledge, no MAT has previously been wound up over too strict behaviour policies. johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2025/02/23/t...

THE ROGUE MAT

Three schools were responsible for almost half the exclusions of secondary aged pupils across Cornwall according to the most recent Government figures. In the Autumn term of 2023-24, Camborne Scien…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

Is there a walk anywhere in England with more stunning views than the coast path from Loe Bar to Gunwalloe? We refreshed ourselves in the Halzephron Inn whose name, "Cliffs of Hell" in Cornish, comes from the many wrecks near here, but the cliffs didn't look particularly hellish today.

So, as we officially enter the silly season, we can all be grateful to Nigel for sacrificing himself as the nation's laughing stock: the perfect foil for the latest tilt at The Establishment by the people's champion, Count Binface.

In his resignation video, Nigel Farage says he's done nothing wrong. "Why should I be judged by Sky News and their ilk?" But it's not Sky News, it's the judgement of the Parliamentary Standards Watchdog he's trying to pre-empt. This is all very odd, if he really has done nothing wrong.

As we build up to tomorrow's big match, perhaps take a break from the endless punditry to think about how those élite footballers were nurtured and developed. If it works, could it be a pattern for other professions? (2024 Blog post largely re-written.) johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2024/07/14/w...

Can The “System” Bring Football Home…?

…and what are the lessons for education if it does? Or if it doesn’t? To coincide with this summer’s World Cup, the BBC broadcast a new adaptation of ‘Dear England,’ J…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

Key Stage 2 SATs in chaos; Monday likely a washout; 3 weeks still to go for local schools; the thermometer climbing again; you can almost feel potential conflict building... Without wishing to sound smug, today seemed a very good day for a former head to be retired.

Seeking success, England's elite footballers are nurtured in a ruthless system, which has changed radically in recent times. Will it succeed against DRC today? And are there lessons for schools and Education more broadly? (Blog recycled from 2024) johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2024/07/14/w...

Can The “System” Bring Football Home…?

…and what are the lessons for education if it does? Or if it doesn’t? To coincide with this summer’s World Cup, the BBC broadcast a new adaptation of ‘Dear England,’ J…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

Please, everyone interested in teaching, young people or schools, listen to this. Listen and weep, and please, please, let's return to every school putting the interests of children first. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

File on 4 Investigates - Strict schools: Taking discipline too far? - BBC Sounds

Are some schools are taking strict discipline too far?

bbc.co.uk

The World Cup shows off the results of England's academy system of football development. Does it work? And if it does, should we nurture future politicians, business leaders, scientists, artists... in the same way? (Blog recycled from 2024.) johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2024/07/14/w...

Can The “System” Bring Football Home…?

…and what are the lessons for education if it does? Or if it doesn’t? To coincide with this summer’s World Cup, the BBC broadcast a new adaptation of ‘Dear England,’ J…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

Marina Purkiss, "Nigel Farage said 'up the Ra' for £86, What do you think he's willing to do for £5,000,000?

This morning, I walked into town. On the way I was greeted by 5 people who wanted to talk about the heat. Beating 4 snow themed chats in 2011, this is the largest number of weather related conversations I have had on a 10 minute walk since records began.

After a lot of thought, Neville has managed to adapt his daily routine to the extreme heat.

There's an interesting article by @moremorrow.bsky.social in Schools Week about how the now inevitable Labour leadership contest might affect Education. I agree with much of what Dan writes, but where he sees threat, I sense opportunity. My take is here: johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/06/19/n...

Napoleon Burnham v Louis Starmer

I see Keir Starmer this weekend like Louis XVIII, just returned from an International summit, waiting with his advisers and watching to see if Napoleon, who has stepped off the boat from Elba, will…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

Could there be opportunities for Education in an Andy Burnham premiership, or would children, families and schools be better off with Starmer? My thoughts ... (Oh and don't forget to have your say in the consultation about what to do with £160 billion.) johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/06/19/n...

Napoleon Burnham v Louis Starmer

I see Keir Starmer this weekend like Louis XVIII, just returned from an International summit, waiting with his advisers and watching to see if Napoleon, who has stepped off the boat from Elba, will…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

Burham or Starmer? Which will be better for Education? johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/06/19/n...

Napoleon Burnham v Louis Starmer

I see Keir Starmer this weekend like Louis XVIII, just returned from an International summit, waiting with his advisers and watching to see if Napoleon, who has stepped off the boat from Elba, will…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

Epitaph for the schoolgirls of Minab. "Mistakes are made," he said. "War is nasty."

Today, after school, grandson (Y6) offered to take me for a walk along the cliffs behind his house. It drizzled and he chattered the whole way. He pointed out swifts, wrens, bullfinches... he recounted the book his class is reading. We got very wet and it was brilliant.

Tomorrow’s Independent front page:

"Again and again, young people described a system that responded to struggle with isolation rather than support, including repeated use of isolation rooms..." The Milburn report found education bears some of the blame for the NEET crisis. johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/06/07/t...

There’s no simple NEET solution, but…

“More and better careers education.” “Reduce National Insurance!” “Ban smartphones for teenagers!” Numerous solutions have been offered following the publication of “Young People and Work,” Alan Mi…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

“institutions ... designed for a different era ... are now escalating rather than defusing the NEET crisis.” Who to blame for a million NEET young people? The Milburn review says, in part, Ofsted and schools with Draconian behaviour policies... johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/06/07/t...

There’s no simple NEET solution, but…

“More and better careers education.” “Reduce National Insurance!” “Ban smartphones for teenagers!” Numerous solutions have been offered following the publication of “Young People and Work,” Alan Mi…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

Disengaged by default, linked to the idea of "pre-NEET", seemed to sum up elements of this discussion. Recent curricula, designed to be testable, result in a focus on "delivery", reducing engagement and interaction to formalised "stages" in a lesson, which can be observed and judged, eg, Ofsted.

John Cosgrove@johncosgrove.bsky.social · 2mo ago

So many responses to Alan Milburn's review of NEET young people missed the point, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony, dressed as a shepherdess, waving a copy of the report shouting: “Let them eat cake!” johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/06/07/t...

The Gove curriculum killed off vocational pathways, swiping away funded careers advice, work experience & funded apprenticeships, plus academic requirements for apprenticeships was seismic. None of this is rocket science if we want more trades & less NEET. Get kids on those pathways from age 14

John Cosgrove@johncosgrove.bsky.social · 2mo ago

So many responses to Alan Milburn's review of NEET young people missed the point, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony, dressed as a shepherdess, waving a copy of the report shouting: “Let them eat cake!” johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/06/07/t...

All of this. Our secondary system seems to have become about control.I’m 60 - we used to be told jump through the hoops and the rewards will come - and to some degree it did. But this is no longer true. By repeating that untrue mantra we are eroding their self esteem. Time for change.

John Cosgrove@johncosgrove.bsky.social · 2mo ago

So many responses to Alan Milburn's review of NEET young people missed the point, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony, dressed as a shepherdess, waving a copy of the report shouting: “Let them eat cake!” johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/06/07/t...

So many responses to Alan Milburn's review of NEET young people missed the point, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony, dressed as a shepherdess, waving a copy of the report shouting: “Let them eat cake!” johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/06/07/t...

There’s no simple NEET solution, but…

“More and better careers education.” “Reduce National Insurance!” “Ban smartphones for teenagers!” Numerous solutions have been offered following the publication of “Young People and Work,” Alan Mi…

johncosgrove55.wordpress.com

The Government is supposed to be promoting inclusion and better provision for pupils with SEND, but the reality is that inclusive schools are still being punished and nothing persuades me things might change soon. share.google/2bb8vuUkAvff...

How pupils with special educational needs are more likely to see their schools close

How pupils with special educational needs are more likely to see their schools close

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Alan Milburn asks, why are so many young people mentally fragile? He could start with the fact that too many state schools have become traumatising demoralisation zones for both children and staff. Why are OFSTED still in place, 3 years after this, for eg? yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...

‘We felt like criminals’ – teachers talking Ofsted

Over 3,000 teachers have contributed to a spreadsheet laying bare the anguish of Ofsted inspections

yorkshirebylines.co.uk