Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 1h

👏👏👏 to the woman on Radio 4 this morning who is being interviewed about spies in the foreign office while nursing her baby. Contented baby noises in the background. Articulate insightful comment from mum.

Awesome normalisation of parenthood.

Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 1d

Before 8.15am, I'd stopped traffic so school trip bus could park, moved luggage to bus so it could be stored & acted as lollipop lady. I'm not going on the trip.

My qualifications for the role? The assertiveness of a grizzled teacher & a bright yellow coat.

Thank you teacher trip-goers everywhere

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 2d

What a lovely day for the @uonsoe.bsky.social open day. Really good to have met so many prospective #ITT #TeacherTraining applicants.

If you're thinking about how you can #GetIntoTeaching this may help you think through your choices.

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2025/10/01/g...

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Reposted by Victoria Crooks

Greg Jenner @gregjenner.bsky.social · 4d

Just to say that teachers do an incredibly difficult job, with all the right intentions, and can be the defining influence on a young person's life. They are the exact opposite of poisoners because good teaching provides the antidote to so many dangers

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 4d

Nigel Farage says UK teachers are ‘poisoning our kids’ and predicts strikes as PM

Exclusive: Reform UK leader, speaking at event for private US college, also claimed the ‘Marxist left’ controls education Nigel Farage has predicted teachers would go on strike within weeks of a Reform UK government, and accused them of “poisoning our kids” by telling them that black children are victims and white children oppressors. The Reform UK leader set out his view on British schools in an event for a private US Christian college in Michigan, claiming the “Marxist left” was “now in control of our education system”. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 4d

The first #ITT applications have dropped!

Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 12d

As the Teacher Training application window opens for 2026/27, here is a blog to answer a question I am regularly asked as an admissions tutor. #GetIntoTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherTraining #ITT #ITE #EduSky #UKEd #UKTeaching #Applications

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2025/10/01/g...

Get into teaching: Selecting the teacher training course that is right for you

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com In recent years, the proliferation of initial Teacher Training (ITT) routes has made the landscape baffling for the uninitiated. I am often approached by people who a…

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 5d

And another on the challenges some #ITT beginning teachers face when #TeacherTraining is not quite what they expected and they don't feel how they anticipated they would feel about their new endeavour...

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2025/10/08/r...

#TeacherEducation #EduBlogUK 2/2

Recalibrating Your Teacher Identity: When Your Past Success Doesn’t Fit Your Current Experience

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com I feel like a failure At some point every year I will have a conversation with a beginning teacher who confesses that they feel like a total failure. “…

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 5d

I'm in a bit of a blog writing frenzy atm. Here are two new ones today for #TeacherMentor s working working with #ITT beginning teachers in this early phase of their #TeacherTraining year.

First up, Effective #Mentor Meetings: uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2025/10/08/u...

#EdublogUK 1/2

Unlocking the Power of Mentor Meetings for ITT Beginning Teachers

Photo by Los Muertos Crew on Pexels.com Mentor meetings are the cornerstone of support for beginning teachers, shaping their early experiences and helping them make sense of both the theory behind …

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog

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Reposted by Victoria Crooks

History Teacher Educators' Network @htenuk.bsky.social · 7d

Yet again DfE have failed to respond to the need for a subsistence level bursary for all #ITT training teachers. Prospective applicants are facing financial barriers to entry to the profression. JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN
www.history.org.uk/ha-news/news...

@schoolsweek.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Subject lottery for ITE bursaries: please write to your MP

www.history.org.uk

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 6d

I obviously go on about it a lot because when I picked my eldest up tonight they asked why I looked glum, and when I said it was bursary announcement day they commented "Oh no, not even £500 so they can buy a bus pass and feel like someone cares".

From the mouths of babes, eh?

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 6d

Are you suggesting I 'go on a bit' or am a bit of a 'stuck record' ? 😂

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 7d

Yes, it's the same for all the subjects/ primary phase that don't have a bursary & it's heartbreaking. They struggle their way through trying to juggle a job with a high demand course & placement. It inevitably impacts their outcomes. It is such a diservice to them & to our children & young people.

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 7d

We are needlessly losing really bright, committed people from #ITT #TeacherEducation because the lack of a substistence bursary is pricing them out of the market. It sends a message that teaching is only for the privileged. 3/3

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 7d

Even higher proportion of my #ITT #historyteacher s are working this year-15hrs+/wk jobs alongside 40hrs/wk #PGCE. Travel pass costs are up & pre-9am travel means ineligiblility for student discount. I interviewed many who wished to stay in E.Mids (shortage area) post degree but £ prevented this.2/

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 7d

The lack of training bursary for ALL #ITT beginning #teacher s is highly problematic. It is a significant barrier to entry into the profession. It creates geographical cold spots & prevents those without funds to self support from training. 1/2
uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2024/07/19/i...

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 7d

#ITT apply opens this week. Here is a bit of support for people considering making an application to #TeacherTraining.

Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 12d

As the Teacher Training application window opens for 2026/27, here is a blog to answer a question I am regularly asked as an admissions tutor. #GetIntoTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherTraining #ITT #ITE #EduSky #UKEd #UKTeaching #Applications

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2025/10/01/g...

Get into teaching: Selecting the teacher training course that is right for you

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com In recent years, the proliferation of initial Teacher Training (ITT) routes has made the landscape baffling for the uninitiated. I am often approached by people who a…

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog

Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 8d

Completely understand schools feel adrift in navigating this, especially in the context of community. However, school leaders can do worse than head to their #Humanities departments where this complexity is part of every day practice.

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2024/08/15/r...

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 8d

Catching up on last night's #Strictly with my youngest means only one thing... It's time to share the Anton, Motsi, Shirley and Craig model of giving feedback to novices for the #Mentors of #ITT #ECT beginning #teachers

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2021/09/27/s...

Strictly Come Teaching: Giving feedback to novices

Photo by Marko Zirdum on Pexels.com Watching Strictly Come Dancing this past weekend I was struck by the way the judges gave feedback to the contestants in week 1 of the competition. Unsurpri…

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog

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Reposted by Victoria Crooks

Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 12d

As the Teacher Training application window opens for 2026/27, here is a blog to answer a question I am regularly asked as an admissions tutor. #GetIntoTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherTraining #ITT #ITE #EduSky #UKEd #UKTeaching #Applications

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2025/10/01/g...

Get into teaching: Selecting the teacher training course that is right for you

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com In recent years, the proliferation of initial Teacher Training (ITT) routes has made the landscape baffling for the uninitiated. I am often approached by people who a…

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog

1

Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 10d

Today saw launch of our subject knowledge enhancement programme. 4 rooms of #ITT beginning #historyteacher s engaging in discussion on EQs linked to C20th & Partition. A wonderful display of history geekery 🤩

And homemade #CakeyFriday from a group member who hasn't baked since yr9 food tech!👏🏻

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Reposted by Victoria Crooks

Sasha Smith @sashasmith.bsky.social · 12d

TES article on our ESIS report after Natasha and I were interviewed, and featuring great examples of curricula change from history teachers across the country. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

Why are women missing from school history?

The extent to which history lessons ignore female figures has been revealed by new research. Here, teachers share the changes they are making to address this gender imbalance

www.tes.com

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 12d

As the Teacher Training application window opens for 2026/27, here is a blog to answer a question I am regularly asked as an admissions tutor. #GetIntoTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherTraining #ITT #ITE #EduSky #UKEd #UKTeaching #Applications

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2025/10/01/g...

Get into teaching: Selecting the teacher training course that is right for you

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com In recent years, the proliferation of initial Teacher Training (ITT) routes has made the landscape baffling for the uninitiated. I am often approached by people who a…

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog

1

Reposted by Victoria Crooks

History Teacher Educators' Network @htenuk.bsky.social · 13d

#historyteacher s get your #ITT #ITE beginning teachers to sign up for this webinar happening tomorrow!
#TeacherEducation #UKEd #UKTeaching #HistoryEducation #TeacherMentoring

History Teacher Educators' Network @htenuk.bsky.social · Aug 14

📢 Calling all #ITT #iTE #PGCE #SCITT #TeacherEducation colleagues

Please tell your new #historyteacher beginning teachers about a FREE @histassoc.bsky.social webinar on 1st October. They need to register. Pop it in welcome presentations now before you forget!

www.history.org.uk/events/calen...

HA Webinar: Survive and thrive in your initial teacher education

Calling all those beginning their initial teacher education! In this session you’ll hear from and be able to ask questions to both teacher educators and those who have just completed their initial tea...

www.history.org.uk

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 14d

🚨NEW BLOG🚨
Hopefully a helpful one for #TeacherEducation #ITT #ITE #TeacherMentoring #Mentors who are trying to support new #preserviceteachers to understand the importance of professional communications in school.

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2025/09/29/g...

Getting email right: Learning to communicate professionally with colleagues in school

Every school has its own culture, ways of being and patterns of interaction and communication. I learnt this sage lesson when starting a new post in my second school. I entered the profession in a…

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog

Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 15d

For #historyteacher s who love a podcast, this is great. Ostensibly about Amber Heard/ Johnny Depp libel trial, it's actually about the danger of social media manipulation for society and democratic 'norms'. Really worth reflecting on implications for our discipline.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Tortoise Investigates - Who Trolled Amber? - Introducing... Who Trolled Amber? - BBC Sounds

Alexi Mostrous investigates what happened to Amber Heard and who was responsible.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 15d

I received a notification today announcing I'd reached an #edublog milestone. When I tentatively started it (to support #TeacherEducation partnership #mentors with common #ITT #ECT #TeacherMentoring challenges), I never imagined it would grow to 93 blogposts!
uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog

Becoming a History Teacher

Support for mentors and beginning and early career teachers

uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog

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