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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · 8h

Belatedly - thank you!

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · 9h

Those Covid months remembered ...

John Roberts @johngroberts.bsky.social · 17h

Shortly after this conference "things started to shift more dramatically" Sir Gavin adds. You can read former ASCL general secretary @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social's recollection of this turn of events here www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Geoff Barton: How the week that ‘changed education forever’ unfolded

Five years ago this week, Covid closed schools across England and Geoff Barton, then ASCL general secretary, was at the heart of the process. He explains how it happened and what it taught us

www.tes.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · 9h

"This volume lets us see Heaney’s work, whose ripples we are still learning to navigate, for the colossal achievement it is, and reminds us that Heaney is not only a keeper but an enricher of the word-hoard": the definitive new Heaney poetry collection: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

The Poems of Seamus Heaney review – collected works reveal his colossal achievement

The complete works, including previously unpublished poems and expert notes, are brought together in one volume for the first time

www.theguardian.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · 13d

The fundamental role of language in inclusive education, and the importance of early intervention & support: my conversation for our @ippr.org ‘Talking Inclusion’ podcast with Jane Harris, CEO of @speechandlanguk.bsky.social:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

"Every teacher is a language t…–Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton – Apple Podcasts

Podcast Episode · Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton · 29/09/2025 · 31m

podcasts.apple.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · 13d

“He leaves the world alight with his words": farewell to one of my favourite contemporary poets, Brian Patten: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'Force of nature' Liverpool poet Brian Patten dies aged 79

Brian Patten rose to prominence as one of the Liverpool Poets behind The Mersey Sound anthology.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · 17d

On art education: “Starmer’s ‘new, hopeful, modern story of Britain’ is still waiting to be written. And unless we rescue art from the margins of the curriculum, there may soon be no one left who knows how to sketch it out” … observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Children starved of art lose their creative spark – and t...

You can’t buy a crayon with the amount spent on arts education in some schools – leaving pupils without the skills for tomorrow’s jobs

observer.co.uk

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · 17d

Ah, sorry. I don’t have a website any more, so tend to post on LinkedIn. G

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · 17d

My blog’s on LinkedIn

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · 17d

In which I ask where the idea came from that young people’s reading skills and enjoyment will be improved by stuffing a compulsory reading test into Year 8 … www.linkedin.com/posts/geoff-...

Year 8 state school pupils in England could face mandatory reading tests | Geoff Barton

Baffled Barton of Suffolk: Where on earth did the idea come from that we need a new Year 8 reading text? We know from PISA tests that our primary pupils do pretty well in reading. PISA 2022 reported...

www.linkedin.com

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Reposted by Geoff Barton

Institute for Public Policy Research @ippr.org · Sep 11

Too many vulnerable children are sent miles from their communities, while parents face a low-trust SEND system as they fight for years for support.
@childrenscomm.bsky.social, Rachel de Souza says: “We must do better for our children.” On Talking Inclusion... With @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social

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Reposted by Geoff Barton

Institute for Public Policy Research @ippr.org · Sep 10

In episode 7 of Talking Inclusion... with @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social, Rachel de Souza (@childrenscomm.bsky.social) talks to Geoff about her new #ChildrensPlan and what it means for more inclusive education.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/6qaz...
📄 www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/resource/the...

“We must do better for our children” with Dame Rachel de Souza

Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Sep 2

Learning from others:

In our latest @ippr.org ‘Talking Inclusion’ podcast, it was my privilege to talk to global expert Professor Mel Ainscow about what we might learn from some other countries’ approaches to inclusive education:

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

"Reforming Inclusion" with Pro…–Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton – Apple Podcasts

Podcast Episode · Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton · 02/09/2025 · 21m

podcasts.apple.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Sep 2

Update on AI and student literacy: interesting new research from @literacy-trust.bsky.social: literacytrust.org.uk/research-ser...

Young people and teachers’ use of generative AI to support literacy in 2025 | National Literacy Trust

These reports share findings on young people and teachers' use of generative AI to support literacy in 2025.

literacytrust.org.uk

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Aug 30

“For a limited season this autumn, Christopher Marlowe will become a star of the London stage again. Enjoy it while you can …” says @theguardian.com.

Can’t wait to see the RSC’s ‘Born With Teeth’ at this week’s official opening …

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view on Christopher Marlowe: it’s time to read him and honour him | Editorial

Editorial: England’s second most famous playwright is the star of a new play. But his own works should be staged more, and he should be commemorated better

www.theguardian.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Aug 29

'How might the narrative around special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) move away from deficit & barriers towards joy, belonging & opportunity?': our latest @ippr.org 'Talking Inclusion' podcast is with the inspiring @katieghose.bsky.social: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

"A dose of optimism" with Kati…–Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton – Apple Podcasts

Podcast Episode · Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton · 29/08/2025 · 15m

podcasts.apple.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Aug 23

“Seven leading Jane Austen experts make their case for who is her ultimate heroine …”

theconversation.com/who-was-jane...

Who was Jane Austen’s best heroine? These experts think they know

We’re pitting her much-loved heroines against each other in a battle of wit, charm and sass

theconversation.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Aug 22

Introducing our new series of brief (15-min) @ippr.org podcasts looking at different aspects of what inclusion in education means now … and how it could look in the future. First conversation is with national SEND expert @mmulholland.bsky.social: open.spotify.com/episode/5G7A...

"Every learner matters and matters equally" with Margaret Mulholland

Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Reposted by Geoff Barton

Institute for Public Policy Research @ippr.org · Aug 19

Today, we're announcing the members of IPPR's Inclusion Taskforce, chaired by @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social.

We have brought together leaders from education, policy, and politics — alongside parents — to find solutions for a system at breaking point.

Find out more here: www.ippr.org/the-ippr-inc...

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Aug 17

“Everywhere, negative stories about Russia were quietly downplayed or suppressed and positive ones megaphoned. In this climate, 5 major publishing houses turned down Animal Farm as an inappropriate attack on a vital wartime ally”: the origins of a brilliant book:
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

‘Animal Farm was my parents’ teamwork’: Orwell’s son on 80 years of the satirical classic

Richard Blair on the role his mother played in developing the 1945 political fable – and how it nearly didn’t get published

www.theguardian.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Aug 14

“In this multitalented cast of 10, only Lossi the dog doesn’t play an instrument”: lovely, witty review of the RSC’s charming, family-friendly production of ‘Two Gentlemen’ now playing in Stratford-Upon-Avon: www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/a...

The Two Gentlemen of Verona review – less smut, more mutt in RSC’s delightful dog day afternoon

Lossi the lurcher is the only cast member not playing an instrument in this summer production aimed at younger audiences

www.theguardian.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Aug 9

“For it’s when we feel ourselves plunged into the abyss, when our despair at our fellow human beings pulls strongest, that we most need to look upward – and glimpse the stars”: a timely dose of optimism from @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The world’s in flames. But these are the ways I’ve found hope this summer amid the gloom | Jonathan Freedland

Tentatively, I want to make a moral case for escapism – for allowing oneself a break from world events, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland

www.theguardian.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Aug 5

“Do you get irritated by how young people speak? Or are you like, chill … ?”: entertaining, informative piece on language change in @thenewworldmag.bsky.social app.thenewworld.co.uk/story/139578...

Why we need to be more chill about language change

It appears that our vocabulary is entrained with the Zeitgeist, whether we like it or not

app.thenewworld.co.uk

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Aug 2

The @theguardian.com obituary of that wonderful curator of childhood worlds - Allan Ahlberg: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

Allan Ahlberg obituary

Writer of books such as Each Peach Pear Plum and Peepo! capturing a child’s outlook with his illustrator wife Janet

www.theguardian.com

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Aug 1

Love this calm, thoughtful analysis of the likely impact of a policy proposal …

Alex Thomas @alexgathomas.bsky.social · Aug 1

Eye-catching story about civil service interns needing to come from a lower socio-economic background

Some thoughts!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Civil service interns must all be working class, government says

Internships will only go to students from poorer families in a push to make Whitehall more working class.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Geoff Barton @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social · Jul 31

ICYMI:

John Roberts @johngroberts.bsky.social · Jul 31

A really interesting development. @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social to lead a new taskforce on inclusion which will make recommendations in the autumn as the govt is expected to announce key SEND reforms. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Geoff Barton to lead inclusion task force

Former heads’ leader tells Tes the group will look at how funding for SEND is used, the role of special schools and the accountability system

www.tes.com

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