Claire Heald
@claireheald.bsky.social
CEO at the Cam Academy Trust, chair at Active Learning Trust, trustee at The Difference. Passionate about educational equity
Reposted by Claire Heald
Early years attendance sets the stage for lifelong learning and friendships.
But the latest EPI data is worrying: absence is rising, espec for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Find out how to make a difference in this new EEF blog:
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/attenda...
But the latest EPI data is worrying: absence is rising, espec for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Find out how to make a difference in this new EEF blog:
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/attenda...
October 15, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Early years attendance sets the stage for lifelong learning and friendships.
But the latest EPI data is worrying: absence is rising, espec for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Find out how to make a difference in this new EEF blog:
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/attenda...
But the latest EPI data is worrying: absence is rising, espec for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Find out how to make a difference in this new EEF blog:
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/attenda...
Some thoughts on the importance of teaching reading, post phonics, through key stage 3 and into secondary. We shouldn’t assume that because we’ve (mostly) fixed the start of the pipeline, we’ve cracked the system. At CAM we’re training all our pupil-facing staff as teachers of reading.
The latest phonics screening check data is encouraging in some aspects, but ‘we shouldn’t confuse decoding with reading’, warns trust CEO @claireheald.bsky.social
Beyond phonics: why England still has a reading problem
The latest phonics screening check data is further proof that teaching reading is not ‘done’ at the end of KS1, writes Claire Heald
www.tes.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Some thoughts on the importance of teaching reading, post phonics, through key stage 3 and into secondary. We shouldn’t assume that because we’ve (mostly) fixed the start of the pipeline, we’ve cracked the system. At CAM we’re training all our pupil-facing staff as teachers of reading.
@thewayofkueh.bsky.social says we need to see a joined up approach to education. It’s important for the government to set out how initiatives will connect. For example what will be the way that curriculum reform, following the review, will link up with promised SEND reforms? #EducationFest
July 4, 2025 at 10:03 AM
@thewayofkueh.bsky.social says we need to see a joined up approach to education. It’s important for the government to set out how initiatives will connect. For example what will be the way that curriculum reform, following the review, will link up with promised SEND reforms? #EducationFest
Listening to @camacademytrust.bsky.social’sown @thewayofkueh.bsky.social set out his response to the @beckyfrancis.bsky.social curriculum and assessment review.
July 4, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Listening to @camacademytrust.bsky.social’sown @thewayofkueh.bsky.social set out his response to the @beckyfrancis.bsky.social curriculum and assessment review.
Reposted by Claire Heald
Our CEO @claireheald.bsky.social launched our five year strategy, CAM30 at our conference yesterday. Our strategy pillars will be a commitment to 1. a pupil entitlement, 2. a people entitlement and 3. adopting a “stable core, disruptive edge” mindset. #CAM30 #community
April 23, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Our CEO @claireheald.bsky.social launched our five year strategy, CAM30 at our conference yesterday. Our strategy pillars will be a commitment to 1. a pupil entitlement, 2. a people entitlement and 3. adopting a “stable core, disruptive edge” mindset. #CAM30 #community
Reposted by Claire Heald
We had some really inspiring guest speakers at our Trust conference today. Huge thanks to Iesha Small, Catherine Berwick, Marc White, @ensermark.bsky.social @suchmo83.bsky.social, Roary Pownall, Shaun Brown and Ruth Murad. #community #CAM30
April 22, 2025 at 8:16 PM
We had some really inspiring guest speakers at our Trust conference today. Huge thanks to Iesha Small, Catherine Berwick, Marc White, @ensermark.bsky.social @suchmo83.bsky.social, Roary Pownall, Shaun Brown and Ruth Murad. #community #CAM30
Reposted by Claire Heald
Our own @thewayofkueh.bsky.social, writing in TES today, explains how religious education (RE) prepares young people for a complex world.
We agree! At CAM Academy Trust, breadth of educational experience is one of our core principles.
We agree! At CAM Academy Trust, breadth of educational experience is one of our core principles.
🛐 Religious education has such an important role to play in helping young people to understand the world – but it will only fulfil its potential with clear national standards, says @thewayofkueh.bsky.social
RE: the Cinderella subject that needs to go to the ball
Religious education is often an afterthought, but it’s a subject that can have a profound, important impact on understanding the world, says this former senior Ofsted inspector
www.tes.com
April 19, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Our own @thewayofkueh.bsky.social, writing in TES today, explains how religious education (RE) prepares young people for a complex world.
We agree! At CAM Academy Trust, breadth of educational experience is one of our core principles.
We agree! At CAM Academy Trust, breadth of educational experience is one of our core principles.
Reposted by Claire Heald
📣New post!
👡Time for Cinde-RE-lla to go to the ball?
🧩Religion today is complex. Intelligent RE prepares pupils for complexity
🌍Curriculum craves diversity; RE is inherently diverse
💭RE injects wisdom, sensitivity & reflection into world asking BigQs: AI💻, climate change🌡️ & living well together🖖
👡Time for Cinde-RE-lla to go to the ball?
🧩Religion today is complex. Intelligent RE prepares pupils for complexity
🌍Curriculum craves diversity; RE is inherently diverse
💭RE injects wisdom, sensitivity & reflection into world asking BigQs: AI💻, climate change🌡️ & living well together🖖
🛐 Religious education has such an important role to play in helping young people to understand the world – but it will only fulfil its potential with clear national standards, says @thewayofkueh.bsky.social
RE: the Cinderella subject that needs to go to the ball
Religious education is often an afterthought, but it’s a subject that can have a profound, important impact on understanding the world, says this former senior Ofsted inspector
www.tes.com
April 19, 2025 at 7:45 AM
📣New post!
👡Time for Cinde-RE-lla to go to the ball?
🧩Religion today is complex. Intelligent RE prepares pupils for complexity
🌍Curriculum craves diversity; RE is inherently diverse
💭RE injects wisdom, sensitivity & reflection into world asking BigQs: AI💻, climate change🌡️ & living well together🖖
👡Time for Cinde-RE-lla to go to the ball?
🧩Religion today is complex. Intelligent RE prepares pupils for complexity
🌍Curriculum craves diversity; RE is inherently diverse
💭RE injects wisdom, sensitivity & reflection into world asking BigQs: AI💻, climate change🌡️ & living well together🖖
This is brilliant. On the future of RE, from @thewayofkueh.bsky.social
🛐 Religious education has such an important role to play in helping young people to understand the world – but it will only fulfil its potential with clear national standards, says @thewayofkueh.bsky.social
RE: the Cinderella subject that needs to go to the ball
Religious education is often an afterthought, but it’s a subject that can have a profound, important impact on understanding the world, says this former senior Ofsted inspector
www.tes.com
April 19, 2025 at 10:39 AM
This is brilliant. On the future of RE, from @thewayofkueh.bsky.social
Reposted by Claire Heald
"As well as accountability, schools and teachers need support. The Difference is working today with 200 school leaders working towards the challenge of helping young people stay in school." Hear from our CEO @dkgill.bsky.social on why our new report is key for ending the crisis of lost learning 👇
🫥 'With the publication of our report today, we are calling for every school to have leaders with inclusion expertise'
@thedifferenceed.bsky.social CEO, Kiran Gill and @ippr.bsky.social research fellow, Efua Poku-Amanfo
schoolsweek.co.uk/tackling-inv...
@thedifferenceed.bsky.social CEO, Kiran Gill and @ippr.bsky.social research fellow, Efua Poku-Amanfo
schoolsweek.co.uk/tackling-inv...
We must have better oversight of 'managed' school moves
Our new report shows one in three children moved this way become altogether invisible to the system
schoolsweek.co.uk
March 18, 2025 at 3:12 PM
"As well as accountability, schools and teachers need support. The Difference is working today with 200 school leaders working towards the challenge of helping young people stay in school." Hear from our CEO @dkgill.bsky.social on why our new report is key for ending the crisis of lost learning 👇
Reposted by Claire Heald
🧵THREAD: There is a national school engagement crisis.
📑 Our new report offers 10 sector-backed recommendations to turn the tide on lost learning. We're calling on schools, trusts & government to act now. Read the full report: tinyurl.com/ybzr39t3 3 Key points 👇
#lostlearning #education
📑 Our new report offers 10 sector-backed recommendations to turn the tide on lost learning. We're calling on schools, trusts & government to act now. Read the full report: tinyurl.com/ybzr39t3 3 Key points 👇
#lostlearning #education
March 18, 2025 at 11:21 AM
🧵THREAD: There is a national school engagement crisis.
📑 Our new report offers 10 sector-backed recommendations to turn the tide on lost learning. We're calling on schools, trusts & government to act now. Read the full report: tinyurl.com/ybzr39t3 3 Key points 👇
#lostlearning #education
📑 Our new report offers 10 sector-backed recommendations to turn the tide on lost learning. We're calling on schools, trusts & government to act now. Read the full report: tinyurl.com/ybzr39t3 3 Key points 👇
#lostlearning #education
Great to see @dkgill.bsky.social kick off this evening’s launch for the Who’s Losing Learning solutions report. Great work from @thedifferenceed.bsky.social @impetus.org.uk @ippr.bsky.social @mission44.bsky.social
March 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Great to see @dkgill.bsky.social kick off this evening’s launch for the Who’s Losing Learning solutions report. Great work from @thedifferenceed.bsky.social @impetus.org.uk @ippr.bsky.social @mission44.bsky.social
Reposted by Claire Heald
The next stage of the Curriculum and Assessment Review will look to create a more inclusive and fair system, address subject-specific challenges, and assess available pathways beyond GCSEs.
Find out more ➡️ www.gov.uk/government/p...
Find out more ➡️ www.gov.uk/government/p...
Curriculum and Assessment Review: interim report
An independent review of the curriculum and assessment system in England, with statistical analysis.
www.gov.uk
March 18, 2025 at 2:34 PM
The next stage of the Curriculum and Assessment Review will look to create a more inclusive and fair system, address subject-specific challenges, and assess available pathways beyond GCSEs.
Find out more ➡️ www.gov.uk/government/p...
Find out more ➡️ www.gov.uk/government/p...
This is such an important report. It’s a privilege to support @thedifferenceed.bsky.social and see the impact of this work with @impetus.org.uk @mission44.bsky.social @ippr.bsky.social on solutions to #LostLearning
And today our friends @thedifferenceed.bsky.social @impetus.org.uk @mission44.bsky.social @ippr.bsky.social have published their new report building solutions to #LostLearning in collaboration with the school sector
www.ippr.org/articles/who...
www.ippr.org/articles/who...
March 18, 2025 at 8:37 AM
This is such an important report. It’s a privilege to support @thedifferenceed.bsky.social and see the impact of this work with @impetus.org.uk @mission44.bsky.social @ippr.bsky.social on solutions to #LostLearning
📣 Are you an English lead looking for your next challenge? Passionate about reading? Want to do transformative work and narrow the disadvantage gap? Up for being part of a great new curriculum team at @camacademytrust.bsky.social
Get in touch for an informal chat!
Get in touch for an informal chat!
📚Passionate about English? Committed to transforming lives through education?
👀We are seeking an expert leader of English to lead our English strategy across the Trust.
To read more about this role or to apply, please see the full advert mynewterm.com/jobs/2753/ED...
#EducationLeadership #edujobs
👀We are seeking an expert leader of English to lead our English strategy across the Trust.
To read more about this role or to apply, please see the full advert mynewterm.com/jobs/2753/ED...
#EducationLeadership #edujobs
March 13, 2025 at 8:29 AM
📣 Are you an English lead looking for your next challenge? Passionate about reading? Want to do transformative work and narrow the disadvantage gap? Up for being part of a great new curriculum team at @camacademytrust.bsky.social
Get in touch for an informal chat!
Get in touch for an informal chat!
Brilliant piece on the current issues around the position of RE in schools. And strong proposals for how we might sensibly address these. Also love this being framed through Yeats poetry!
🤓Get your geek on!!!
⁉️What does Yeats’ poetry have to do with England’s curriculum and assessment review??
🤯Maybe everything!
👩🏫Inspired by those English teachers who have helped me to think about education through different eyes
www.reonline.org.uk/2025/01/31/t...
⁉️What does Yeats’ poetry have to do with England’s curriculum and assessment review??
🤯Maybe everything!
👩🏫Inspired by those English teachers who have helped me to think about education through different eyes
www.reonline.org.uk/2025/01/31/t...
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold - RE:ONLINE
www.reonline.org.uk
January 31, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Brilliant piece on the current issues around the position of RE in schools. And strong proposals for how we might sensibly address these. Also love this being framed through Yeats poetry!
Reposted by Claire Heald
What should the NPQ and ECF reviews - announced last week - focus on?
@cerysturner.bsky.social and @ellencph.bsky.social have talked to providers, schools and trust leaders and teachers and come up with the following list...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
@cerysturner.bsky.social and @ellencph.bsky.social have talked to providers, schools and trust leaders and teachers and come up with the following list...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
The 5 key priorities for the NPQ and ECF reviews
Sector experts offer their views on what the two recently announced reviews need to focus on to truly help teachers and leaders - both now and in the future
www.tes.com
January 14, 2025 at 5:16 PM
What should the NPQ and ECF reviews - announced last week - focus on?
@cerysturner.bsky.social and @ellencph.bsky.social have talked to providers, schools and trust leaders and teachers and come up with the following list...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
@cerysturner.bsky.social and @ellencph.bsky.social have talked to providers, schools and trust leaders and teachers and come up with the following list...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
What if we were able to restructure our system as an all-through model? And what benefits might we be able to realise in our current system with a bit of fresh thinking around this? Thanks to @tesmagazine.bsky.social for enabling me to share some thinking.
What if... the system was restructured as an 'all-through' model
A challenging, fascinating think piece about the numerous benefits - financial, academic, pastoral and more - @claireheald.bsky.social believes would occur if we set the system up as 'all-through'
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
A challenging, fascinating think piece about the numerous benefits - financial, academic, pastoral and more - @claireheald.bsky.social believes would occur if we set the system up as 'all-through'
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
What if...our system was set up as all-through provision?
As part of our ‘What if...’ series, Claire Heald argues there would be multiple academic, pastoral and staffing benefits if the system was set up as an all-through model
www.tes.com
December 3, 2024 at 6:54 AM
What if we were able to restructure our system as an all-through model? And what benefits might we be able to realise in our current system with a bit of fresh thinking around this? Thanks to @tesmagazine.bsky.social for enabling me to share some thinking.
Reposted by Claire Heald
What does research evidence say about promoting children's personal, social and emotional development (PSED) in #earlyyears?
Check out this free download from @theeef.bsky.social - useful for prompting professional discussions or for a training session
#edusky
https://buff.ly/3V6UfTr
Check out this free download from @theeef.bsky.social - useful for prompting professional discussions or for a training session
#edusky
https://buff.ly/3V6UfTr
November 25, 2024 at 6:00 AM
What does research evidence say about promoting children's personal, social and emotional development (PSED) in #earlyyears?
Check out this free download from @theeef.bsky.social - useful for prompting professional discussions or for a training session
#edusky
https://buff.ly/3V6UfTr
Check out this free download from @theeef.bsky.social - useful for prompting professional discussions or for a training session
#edusky
https://buff.ly/3V6UfTr
Developing oracy is of course a good thing, but there is a risk around starting to see it as separate from reading and writing
schoolsweek.co.uk/more-oracy-m...
schoolsweek.co.uk/more-oracy-m...
Why it could be risky to treat oracy as a 'fourth R'
It's a superficially appealing idea, but there are real risks of separating oracy out from wider literacy
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 24, 2024 at 6:29 PM
Developing oracy is of course a good thing, but there is a risk around starting to see it as separate from reading and writing
schoolsweek.co.uk/more-oracy-m...
schoolsweek.co.uk/more-oracy-m...
Important points here. And in many schools it’s not just teachers that don’t feel confident meeting SEND needs, it’s leaders and support staff too. Teacher and leader development is critical in equipping schools with the right expertise
The government has put inclusion at the heart of its SEND plan - but success will be elusive unless it addresses fundamental questions around ITT, finds @johngroberts.bsky.social in this exclusive analysis, with startling new data about teacher confidence in SEND
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
How teacher training could make or break the DfE inclusion plan
The government wants more pupils with SEND to be supported in mainstream schools, but most teachers say their training did not equip them to meet these children's needs
www.tes.com
November 22, 2024 at 7:05 AM
Important points here. And in many schools it’s not just teachers that don’t feel confident meeting SEND needs, it’s leaders and support staff too. Teacher and leader development is critical in equipping schools with the right expertise
Reposted by Claire Heald
Those who live and breathe curriculum and assessment by teaching every day have a deep and unique understanding of what’s going well and what needs to improve.
If that’s you, please do share your precious insights through the call for evidence.
consult.education.gov.uk/curriculum-a...
If that’s you, please do share your precious insights through the call for evidence.
consult.education.gov.uk/curriculum-a...
November 17, 2024 at 4:25 PM
Those who live and breathe curriculum and assessment by teaching every day have a deep and unique understanding of what’s going well and what needs to improve.
If that’s you, please do share your precious insights through the call for evidence.
consult.education.gov.uk/curriculum-a...
If that’s you, please do share your precious insights through the call for evidence.
consult.education.gov.uk/curriculum-a...
A really interesting piece that suggests we’re at risk of seeing a drop in school standards and losing the gains that have been made. Our young people need this not to happen.
New post just out:
"Dropping Out"
Why improvements to school standards are at serious risk.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/d...
"Dropping Out"
Why improvements to school standards are at serious risk.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/d...
Dropping Out
Why improvements in school standards are at serious risk
open.substack.com
November 17, 2024 at 8:08 AM
A really interesting piece that suggests we’re at risk of seeing a drop in school standards and losing the gains that have been made. Our young people need this not to happen.
As an English teacher it has saddened me to see the decline in those taking English Lit A level. This is a really sensible and thoughtful exploration of the reasons why and what we might do about it.
A lot of discussion lately about the reasons for the decline of Eng Lit A-level.
Are the Gove curriculum & exam reforms to blame?
I don't think so, because the decline of Eng Lit / the humanities more broadly is a global trend.
More here.
Are the Gove curriculum & exam reforms to blame?
I don't think so, because the decline of Eng Lit / the humanities more broadly is a global trend.
More here.
The fall of Eng Lit
What is the cause, is it a problem - and if so, what can we do about it?
buff.ly
November 17, 2024 at 8:00 AM
As an English teacher it has saddened me to see the decline in those taking English Lit A level. This is a really sensible and thoughtful exploration of the reasons why and what we might do about it.
It was an absolute pleasure @cassiebuchanan.bsky.social
As Becky says, really lovely to see & hear from so many practitioners today in Cambridgeshire. Thank you for coming everyone and to the wonderful people of Cam Academy Trust for being brilliant hosts and taking time to speak to us this morning 🙏🙌
Fantastic to be at Cambourne Village College in Cambridgeshire today talking curriculum and assessment, alongside fellow panel members @jonhutchinson.bsky.social and @cassiebuchanan.bsky.social
Such a great discussion - thanks to everyone that attended
Such a great discussion - thanks to everyone that attended
October 23, 2024 at 8:19 PM
It was an absolute pleasure @cassiebuchanan.bsky.social