@mshelsj.bsky.social
Ethical School Leader, dog mum, increasingly long of tooth and slightly grumpy. Personal account not representing my workplace. All likes, follows, views and opinions are personal.
Reposted
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
September 27, 2025 at 6:37 AM
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-...
Reposted
Among the 100 schools with the highest % of disadvantaged pupils and lowest % of EAL pupils, just 7 have a positive P8 score.
Nick Gibb claims it shows teaching needs to "improve"; the schools say P8 is broken.
@ellencph.bsky.social gets behind the numbers
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Nick Gibb claims it shows teaching needs to "improve"; the schools say P8 is broken.
@ellencph.bsky.social gets behind the numbers
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
The ‘impossible situation’ of Progress 8 in white, working-class schools
Just seven of the 100 schools with the highest rates of disadvantage and the lowest rates of English as an additional language have a positive P8. With the metric on pause, is it time to rethink it?
www.tes.com
September 11, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Among the 100 schools with the highest % of disadvantaged pupils and lowest % of EAL pupils, just 7 have a positive P8 score.
Nick Gibb claims it shows teaching needs to "improve"; the schools say P8 is broken.
@ellencph.bsky.social gets behind the numbers
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Nick Gibb claims it shows teaching needs to "improve"; the schools say P8 is broken.
@ellencph.bsky.social gets behind the numbers
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Reposted
The reason I ask is about definitions of inclusion. Can a school giving preference to some kinds of families or children ever be considered inclusive? Can a school covertly or openly ‘putting off’ some people who don’t fit the mould ever be termed inclusive? I don’t think so.
July 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
The reason I ask is about definitions of inclusion. Can a school giving preference to some kinds of families or children ever be considered inclusive? Can a school covertly or openly ‘putting off’ some people who don’t fit the mould ever be termed inclusive? I don’t think so.
Reposted
Here’s a great video of a ‘Day in the Life’ of one of our primary SCITT teachers. Laura is currently in her final stage as an apprentice at @appletonacademy.bsky.social #teachertraining #exceedscitt #bradford #weexceed #primary #newcareer #apprenticeteacher #handsonlearning #newcareer
May 21, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Here’s a great video of a ‘Day in the Life’ of one of our primary SCITT teachers. Laura is currently in her final stage as an apprentice at @appletonacademy.bsky.social #teachertraining #exceedscitt #bradford #weexceed #primary #newcareer #apprenticeteacher #handsonlearning #newcareer
Reposted
Exclusive: Planned Ofsted inspection report cards have been 'cobbled together at ridiculous speed' with no underpinning research and concerns by experienced officials ignored, whistleblowers have claimed
buff.ly
January 31, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Exclusive: Planned Ofsted inspection report cards have been 'cobbled together at ridiculous speed' with no underpinning research and concerns by experienced officials ignored, whistleblowers have claimed
Reposted
🎱 'P8 is unfair to many hard-working schools, lets questionable performance go unchallenged, and hampers efforts to get under the bonnet of school improvement'
schoolsweek.co.uk/accountabili...
schoolsweek.co.uk/accountabili...
Progress 8 is a deeply flawed way to hold schools to account
Any reform of school accountability must include changing a headline measure that acts as a perverse incentive
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 11, 2024 at 6:01 PM
🎱 'P8 is unfair to many hard-working schools, lets questionable performance go unchallenged, and hampers efforts to get under the bonnet of school improvement'
schoolsweek.co.uk/accountabili...
schoolsweek.co.uk/accountabili...
Reposted
A bit later than usual, but, 🚨🚨 LONG SATURDAY MORNING POST WITH CUPPA ALERT 🚨🚨
I apologise in advance that this one has gone weird. Blame it on a very, very, very long week.
I apologise in advance that this one has gone weird. Blame it on a very, very, very long week.
Fear and Privilege: The Timeless Playbook of the Elite
The elite’s scare tactics endure, convincing the public that what hurts them hurts us all.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
November 23, 2024 at 11:13 AM
A bit later than usual, but, 🚨🚨 LONG SATURDAY MORNING POST WITH CUPPA ALERT 🚨🚨
I apologise in advance that this one has gone weird. Blame it on a very, very, very long week.
I apologise in advance that this one has gone weird. Blame it on a very, very, very long week.
I love trees in winter at the best of times but the snow makes them truly beautiful.
November 19, 2024 at 6:19 AM
I love trees in winter at the best of times but the snow makes them truly beautiful.
Reposted
Teaching is a job that is never done, stop killing yourself try to complete it, because you can’t… and that’s okay.
November 17, 2024 at 7:07 PM
Teaching is a job that is never done, stop killing yourself try to complete it, because you can’t… and that’s okay.
Reposted
I see ofsted bashing this morning but clearly we should be focusing on the need for a graphic designer first.
November 16, 2024 at 7:43 AM
I see ofsted bashing this morning but clearly we should be focusing on the need for a graphic designer first.
Reposted
I have never found any discredited institution that is capable of reforming itself. They are institutionally programmed for self-protection; their thinking is always narrow & simply compounds their own failure.
I feel it more strongly than ever tonight.
I feel it more strongly than ever tonight.
Ofsted's new inspections: a summary
🚨 Tes reveals sector concerns at plans to inspect teaching as a separate category
🚨 Ofsted could assess new areas inc attendance & preparation for next steps
🚨 FT reports Ofsted plan a five point scale for schools
🚨 Heads' union warn plans are too complicated
🚨 Tes reveals sector concerns at plans to inspect teaching as a separate category
🚨 Ofsted could assess new areas inc attendance & preparation for next steps
🚨 FT reports Ofsted plan a five point scale for schools
🚨 Heads' union warn plans are too complicated
Exclusive: Ofsted could assess teaching as a separate category in inspections under draft plans for its new inspection framework, the watchdog has told sector leaders
November 15, 2024 at 5:47 PM
I have never found any discredited institution that is capable of reforming itself. They are institutionally programmed for self-protection; their thinking is always narrow & simply compounds their own failure.
I feel it more strongly than ever tonight.
I feel it more strongly than ever tonight.
Reposted
Any school leaders on here?
November 14, 2024 at 9:26 PM
Any school leaders on here?
One of our CYP to a reviewer today ‘relationships are everything here - we don’t make it easy for them but they’re always there&don’t give up. They just get us.’
Worth much more than league tables&outstandings.
So very proud of our CYP&amazing staff team.
(My wrinkles back up their 2nd point!)
Worth much more than league tables&outstandings.
So very proud of our CYP&amazing staff team.
(My wrinkles back up their 2nd point!)
November 12, 2024 at 9:06 PM
One of our CYP to a reviewer today ‘relationships are everything here - we don’t make it easy for them but they’re always there&don’t give up. They just get us.’
Worth much more than league tables&outstandings.
So very proud of our CYP&amazing staff team.
(My wrinkles back up their 2nd point!)
Worth much more than league tables&outstandings.
So very proud of our CYP&amazing staff team.
(My wrinkles back up their 2nd point!)
Reposted
I started a starter pack for Primary/EY but ran out of space so might need to start up a second one! Let me know if you think you should be on it :-) go.bsky.app/5qTTDcV
November 11, 2024 at 10:00 PM
I started a starter pack for Primary/EY but ran out of space so might need to start up a second one! Let me know if you think you should be on it :-) go.bsky.app/5qTTDcV