There is nothing new, or original, in this blog. It is just more about what would have helped me as a new teacher. I don't know why I'm bothering with these blogs really, maybe it is my age... philsalisbury.wordpress.com/2026/02/22/w...

We go again

We go again At the start of every new half term, and especially the start of a new year, we put aside some time to remind teachers about the importance of ‘starting again’.  I pinched the phra…

philsalisbury.wordpress.com

If AI is being used extensively in office jobs, then should we be letting students use AI in the classroom? No - here's why. With reference to 3 papers that show what you do in a job isn't the template for what you do in the classroom. substack.nomoremarking.com/p/education-...

The people who think students will find a curriculum based on workplace training more engaging should go into schools and deliver a drop-down day, leading sessions on writing an application, interview skills etc.

*Of course* school prepares children for their futures, but not by being a mini workplace. It’s by giving them a breadth of foundational knowledge and experience across the big, enduring disciplines and human pursuits. The kinds of things they won’t get chance to learn about or experience at work.

After Virtue one of the books that most influenced my thinking on teaching.

Prof Bob Davis@rokewood.bsky.social · last yr.

#AlasdairMacIntyre 1 of the handful of philosophers whose impact upon me has been transformative & lifelong—upon me as a person (educated in the charisms of the SNDs & the Dominicans); an academic; a teacher; a writer; a reader. The most studious & humane of thinkers. RIP.

Thrilled to be receivin first copies a real team effort by so many great history teachers and educators @victoriacrooks.bsky.social @lauralondo1017.bsky.social @paulalobo.bsky.social @danlyndon.bsky.social @mrmayhew.bsky.social @michaelfordham.bsky.social Dedicated to the great Helen Snelson

Alex Ford@apf102.bsky.social · 2y ago

Exciting day! It’s arrived and with a beautiful dedication to the inimitable and deeply missed Helen Snelson. What an impact she continues to have. Here’s to being more like Helen. Well done @dankeates.bsky.social Matt Stanford and Corinne Goullée on getting this into the world.

Just in case anyone else is looking for recommendations for books to read to young children.

Michael Fordham@michaelfordham.bsky.social · 2y ago

Grabbing a few favourites off the shelf (ours are now 7 and 4 but all of these were being used from 2 up to about 5). First up is an absolute favourite.

5 different emails from recruitment agencies today, offering me ECTs - PLEASE don’t come via agencies, just come and drop in - we welcome visitors. We aren’t the polished, slick school yet but we’re great to work for, full of heart and keen to get better. I won’t waste public money on finders fees!

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

We are entering a critical 5th year. Our first year of GCSEs for our founding cohort. We are hiring across all depts as we look to scale up and expand our work. Check us out! arksoane.org/jobs/vacancies

"“Leaders continually monitor the progress of their pupil premium strategy and make helpful and proactive adaptations, as appropriate" Define 'continually'. Annually? Monthly? Weekly? Daily? Hourly? Or should we take that literally? "Can you watch the PP strategy for me? I'm busting for a wee!"

I strode confidently into this thinking that I was a well-versed decipherer of edu-mumbo-jumbo but I scored just 2/5. The Ofsted reforms really are comically bad.

John Dickens@johndickenssw.bsky.social · 2y ago

So, nearly 400 people have done our Ofsted Grade Confusion quiz The average score is 3 out of 5 - meaning people are on average getting TWO wrong! Question 3 (below) is causing particular problems - just 37% got it right!! I only know one person so far who has got full marks …

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.

Laura McInerney@missmc.bsky.social · 2y ago

Schools Week have devised a quiz! Higher or Lower! Can you spot which statement in the Ofsted framework is for the higher grade?! schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-quiz-...

These are the examples that Ofsted need to be bombarded with over the consultation. Anyone with half an ounce of sense will see that it is a nonsense that one of these is better than the other.

Michael Tidd @michaelt1979.bsky.social · 2y ago

Which is better? "Teachers have the expertise and knowledge to make well-judged adaptations to overcome barriers to learning" OR "Appropriate and well-judged adaptations help pupils to overcome the most significant barriers to learning"

Which is better? "Teachers have the expertise and knowledge to make well-judged adaptations to overcome barriers to learning" OR "Appropriate and well-judged adaptations help pupils to overcome the most significant barriers to learning"

I recently said that the current Ofsted framework is the most intellectually rigorous one we’ve had and several people disagreed, but looking at what’s come out today I’m all the more convinced that it’s true. You don’t have to like it, but it’s intelligent. The new one? Don’t know where to start.

We're gonna need a Bigger Listen.

Final thought on Ofsted for now: the section on Developing Teaching is predictably a dog's breakfast. I can't even work out what it's about. More importantly, it will have dire consequences in schools.

Already amusing myself with the "guess which of the descriptors is meant to be better" game for the new Ofsted toolkits.

The idea you need more subject knowledge to teach children who find learning easier just isn't true. To prioritise the most important material for those who find it harder teachers usually need to know the content even better.

This is why you don't design curricula around "jobs of the future". We can't predict the future but we do know what general skills and knowledge will be valuable whatever job you do.

James Bloodworth@jamesbloodworth.bsky.social · 2y ago

‘Learn to code’ Should’ve done a proper degree like sociology or political science

A few years ago it was pointed out you ‘can’t see learning’, yet now we see videos of performative class teaching as if we can now see learning… it’s still the case that we can’t… so proxies for learning now are…?

Took students this evening to see Jacob Collier with the Britten Sinfonia. Quite a remarkable eclectic performance.

Sure, there's still lots of nonsense out there, but my opinion is that we are living in an education golden age. Exciting and evidence based approaches to T&L, groundbreaking resourcing, innovative approaches to CPD. What more could you want? We are blessed.

The impact of the “PowerPoint-ification” of teaching is even more notable in subjects like history, geography or psychology. Reading actual texts survives in English, but in many other subjects there are plenty who don’t see point in reading when you could stick a few bullets on a slide.

Colin McCormick@colinmccormick.bsky.social · 2y ago

"PowerPoint slides have been used to erase more complex reading from textbooks or worksheets in many subjects." Alex is spot on here. @michaeldoron.bsky.social and his team expertly tackle this. PPs images only, pupils read challenging texts

"PowerPoint slides have been used to erase more complex reading from textbooks or worksheets in many subjects." Alex is spot on here. @michaeldoron.bsky.social and his team expertly tackle this. PPs images only, pupils read challenging texts

Alex Quigley@alexjquigley.bsky.social · 2y ago

My new @tesmagazine.bsky.social column on 'Why making reading easier may be a bad choice'. Looking forward to all those AI created extracts, lovely and easy graphic summaries, or 'Shakespeare made easy'? Perhaps think again. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

Although I sometimes have a pop at the 16th century, I think it worth pointing out that there is no such thing as a “dull” or “irrelevant” topic on a curriculum. Whether it is seen as such is entirely dependent on its relationship to the rest of the curriculum and how teachers join the dots.

History teachers! The part-time MSc in Learning and Teaching at the University of Oxford offers history-specific strands. Applications are now open for 2025. Scholarships available; apply before March to be eligible. Find out more at bit.ly/OxfordMLT or let me know if you have any questions.

HISTORY TEACHER ROLE! Our pupils love History at Ark Soane – from Year 7 all the way up to our first Year 10 cohort, 80% of whom do History GCSE. We’re expanding and looking for another History teacher to join us next September. Could this be you? Details below! 🙂

The line up for this conference is amazing - get those last remaining tickets before they are gone!

Mike Hill@michaeldoron.bsky.social · 2y ago

If you have a ticket for our #Soane25 History teacher conference, then you'll very soon get the full programme and workshop options – exciting!! Meanwhile, here is a sneak peak (with more to be revealed). 👇👁️ There are just a handful of tickets left. Link below!