Shout out to praise #Helm, by #SarahHall. It’s a blustery, gusty, forceful & bloody brilliant book about a mischievous wind, the only named wind in Britain, and about the people that Helm observes and interacts with across millennia. My words can’t praise it right, just a wonderful #Autumn #novel.

Can’t get enough of this. @raskin.house.gov rubbing Nigel Farage’s nose in his self-confessed love of Putin as he’s forced to sit & watch is delicious beyond words

Defo worth a read.

It's sad that our government isn't celebrating the amazing multilingualism and diversity in the UK. Schools still do though. Keep on keeping on. ✊🏻

Just over 2,000 more signatures needed to get us to 10k. Help us get there. Anyone you know who wants fair coverage, pass them this way to sign. Democracy matters and our broadcasters need to report on ALL parties! They’re currently failing us. Here’s the link. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

Great Yarmouth is set to host the biggest neo-nazi music festival in over a decade. The Home Office has the power to block entry of overseas bands, which will scupper the promoters plans. But they won’t act unless we demand it. Email the Home Office now: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/28/g...

This is great - two chaps attempt to recreate Tomorrow Never Knows. Hats off!

youtu.be/pw7twrFqFw0?...

Really enjoying these, Martin. Thank you. Jimmy Mulville is class, a gentleman from another era. Hard to believe he too gets imposter syndrome. A cold shower every morning is going a bit far, mind.

1 in 6 people living in England and Wales were born overseas.

1 in 3 doctors were born overseas.

1 in 2 builders were born overseas.

1 in 6 nurses were born overseas.

1 in 4 transport workers were born overseas.

1 in 7 UK business founders were born overseas.

1 in 5 university academics were born overseas.

The UK would be screwed without them.

That would be really lovely to read, genuinely. Your audience is a headteacher English teacher who also still teaches, wishes he could make time to write more but, as you say, has a school to run, and who had a comparable childhood. Oh, and who bloody loves Donne, even though he’s a big show off!

@clairestoneman.bsky.social @bethgg.bsky.social I’ve found the beachball analogy relevant so often in recent years that I need a new analogy. As Head I cannot stop experiencing two people viewing the same thing from a different perspective and so seeing different things. Both sides contain truth.

This is a great read, Claire. A topic that definitely merits further exploration. As you say/suggest what he does with spatial references, temporal references, scale & exaggeration is distinct & more extreme than his contemporaries. Your suggestion of his desire for permanence is an interesting one.

This point is also highly relevant.
Marking pupils who are 30 minutes late as absent is not helpful.

Great points. The culture & practice to aspire towards: “Everybody’s business” and “safeguarding”.

Safeguarding is far broader than we once believed. It includes attendance, and all aspects of SEN and DEI. It is safeguarding and it is the responsibility of all of us working with young people.

🧵The education select committee is holding a session on school attendance this morning.

While green shoots of improved absence rates are appearing, its still a persistent issue for school leaders and policy makers alike - esp for severe absence, which remains high.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

How is mental health linked to attendance? Why are girls more likely to suffer wellbeing challenges? What can schools do to support pupils who have suffered trauma? Find the answers in Tes' 5 articles on pastoral care from the past year

This is fab. It will be incredible for the pupils to use and learn from. Do you offer GCSE Astronomy at your place?

Teachers have three loves:
love of learning,
love of learners,
and the love of bringing the first two loves together.

#education #teachers #EduSky