Dr Nigel Newton
@drnnewton.bsky.social
🔍 Education researcher
🖊 Writer
📚 Teacher
💡 Innovator
• Academic at Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Equity & inclusion, Curriculum & knowledge, Values & school culture, Transitions & student journeys
See www.options-ed.co.uk
🖊 Writer
📚 Teacher
💡 Innovator
• Academic at Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Equity & inclusion, Curriculum & knowledge, Values & school culture, Transitions & student journeys
See www.options-ed.co.uk
I was 'underachieving' at school. I was engaged in delinquent behaviour. Knowing I was going to be grounded for several weeks, I decided to buy a book. I was 15. I chose 'Jude the Obscure' because I liked the sound of it. I had to read it with a dictionary. But it was the start of a new life.
November 24, 2025 at 9:34 AM
I was 'underachieving' at school. I was engaged in delinquent behaviour. Knowing I was going to be grounded for several weeks, I decided to buy a book. I was 15. I chose 'Jude the Obscure' because I liked the sound of it. I had to read it with a dictionary. But it was the start of a new life.
As an educational researcher, it frustrates me that despite their impact fee paying schools are rarely studied. Attitudes & aspirations of pupils their are largely unknown. Teachers in the state sector are also generally oblivious to the specific advantages their students are competing against.
November 24, 2025 at 9:29 AM
As an educational researcher, it frustrates me that despite their impact fee paying schools are rarely studied. Attitudes & aspirations of pupils their are largely unknown. Teachers in the state sector are also generally oblivious to the specific advantages their students are competing against.
Sadly, research by Sam Friedman (LSE) & others have shown that across 'elite' jobs from media, judiciary, CEOs to top acting jobs & now even pop are dominated by the privately educated. We need to explain to YP in state ed what they're really up against. Knowledge that empowers.
November 23, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Sadly, research by Sam Friedman (LSE) & others have shown that across 'elite' jobs from media, judiciary, CEOs to top acting jobs & now even pop are dominated by the privately educated. We need to explain to YP in state ed what they're really up against. Knowledge that empowers.
My challenge to @zackpolanski.bsky.social is to imagine a transformed education system. One that equips yp to save society, democracy & the planet. This will fuse relevant skills, creativity & knowledge. There's no well-being in world at risk. There's no economy in collapsed society. Be bold Greens!
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
My challenge to @zackpolanski.bsky.social is to imagine a transformed education system. One that equips yp to save society, democracy & the planet. This will fuse relevant skills, creativity & knowledge. There's no well-being in world at risk. There's no economy in collapsed society. Be bold Greens!
This must include how we empower democratic citizenship, how we teach about the economy, the environment & ways to improve equity. Then we can debate the kinds of content & pedagogy that will support those aims. Finally, we can ensure assessment matches aims, & isn't the tail wagging the dog.
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
This must include how we empower democratic citizenship, how we teach about the economy, the environment & ways to improve equity. Then we can debate the kinds of content & pedagogy that will support those aims. Finally, we can ensure assessment matches aims, & isn't the tail wagging the dog.
Gove also leaned into debates about ‘knowledge-rich’ curricula, distorting how these debates were framed. This intersects with the perpetuating of tensions between skills & knowledge, that are flawed & unhelpful. What the country needs is a radical rethink about the wider aims of state education.
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Gove also leaned into debates about ‘knowledge-rich’ curricula, distorting how these debates were framed. This intersects with the perpetuating of tensions between skills & knowledge, that are flawed & unhelpful. What the country needs is a radical rethink about the wider aims of state education.
The debates about coursework versus exams is a red herring. CW can be taught just as prescriptively as prep from exams. CW can also further advantage pupils from middle-class backgrounds.
The problem is the specificity in the assessment, the amount of assessment & aims of the assessment.
The problem is the specificity in the assessment, the amount of assessment & aims of the assessment.
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
The debates about coursework versus exams is a red herring. CW can be taught just as prescriptively as prep from exams. CW can also further advantage pupils from middle-class backgrounds.
The problem is the specificity in the assessment, the amount of assessment & aims of the assessment.
The problem is the specificity in the assessment, the amount of assessment & aims of the assessment.
Governments mainly focus on assessment at school level, with the sole aim of increasing GCSE attainment. They have occasionally intervened with content, but this tends to be superficial (like teaching about mortgages or ensuring everyone studies Shakespeare). They're often trapped chasing headlines.
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Governments mainly focus on assessment at school level, with the sole aim of increasing GCSE attainment. They have occasionally intervened with content, but this tends to be superficial (like teaching about mortgages or ensuring everyone studies Shakespeare). They're often trapped chasing headlines.
Every curriculum needs to reconcile aims that combine personal development & social value, with curricular content, with experiences delivered through innovative pedagogy, with how learning is assessed & the outcomes this leads to. The coherence between these is key to educational value.
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Every curriculum needs to reconcile aims that combine personal development & social value, with curricular content, with experiences delivered through innovative pedagogy, with how learning is assessed & the outcomes this leads to. The coherence between these is key to educational value.
Exams tend to favour one kind of educational talent. She suggests that curriculum cuts to arts, sport & PSHE, alongside the pandemic, exacerbated children' s well-being problems. Linking course work as a key thread between WB issues & the curriculum in this way sounds persuasive but is problematic.
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Exams tend to favour one kind of educational talent. She suggests that curriculum cuts to arts, sport & PSHE, alongside the pandemic, exacerbated children' s well-being problems. Linking course work as a key thread between WB issues & the curriculum in this way sounds persuasive but is problematic.
Devon then reflects that Gove's reforms greatly reduced course work, translating this exam focus across the state schooling, & it is implied that this has narrowed pupils’ opportunities to express their opinions, which in turn has contributed to the mental health crisis.
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Devon then reflects that Gove's reforms greatly reduced course work, translating this exam focus across the state schooling, & it is implied that this has narrowed pupils’ opportunities to express their opinions, which in turn has contributed to the mental health crisis.
Finally, one pupil asked “What do you want us to say, what's the correct answer?” Afterwards, she asked the teacher what was going on and he attributed the response to the fact that these pupils were being coached to pass the high-stakes 11+ & 13+.
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Finally, one pupil asked “What do you want us to say, what's the correct answer?” Afterwards, she asked the teacher what was going on and he attributed the response to the fact that these pupils were being coached to pass the high-stakes 11+ & 13+.
An excellent article exploring this issue & our desperate need for more intelligent debate.
Studies on insider-outsider group prejudices address an important element of racism. In white majority contexts, there's empirical evidence to support Abbot's comments.
Studies on insider-outsider group prejudices address an important element of racism. In white majority contexts, there's empirical evidence to support Abbot's comments.
July 18, 2025 at 10:35 PM
An excellent article exploring this issue & our desperate need for more intelligent debate.
Studies on insider-outsider group prejudices address an important element of racism. In white majority contexts, there's empirical evidence to support Abbot's comments.
Studies on insider-outsider group prejudices address an important element of racism. In white majority contexts, there's empirical evidence to support Abbot's comments.
Huge thanks to colleagues at Arad, who are leading the overarching formative evaluation of CfW research & supported the research, and all my colleagues at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
July 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Huge thanks to colleagues at Arad, who are leading the overarching formative evaluation of CfW research & supported the research, and all my colleagues at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
The study highlights a number of dilemmas faced by policy makers and schools when attempting to support EI through more individualised approaches to curriculum design in systems with stretched resources and based on subsidiarity.
July 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The study highlights a number of dilemmas faced by policy makers and schools when attempting to support EI through more individualised approaches to curriculum design in systems with stretched resources and based on subsidiarity.
This was a relatively small-scale qualitative study based on semi-structured research conversations with members of SLT and practitioners in nine schools (primary & secondary) & one PRU drawn from across the nation. We are very grateful to all participants for their contribution.
July 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
This was a relatively small-scale qualitative study based on semi-structured research conversations with members of SLT and practitioners in nine schools (primary & secondary) & one PRU drawn from across the nation. We are very grateful to all participants for their contribution.
Our findings related to five key themes: changes to learners’ experiences of education; how schools are reviewing learning experiences & progress; identifying learners' needs & providing support; system capacity challenges; variability in practice.
July 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Our findings related to five key themes: changes to learners’ experiences of education; how schools are reviewing learning experiences & progress; identifying learners' needs & providing support; system capacity challenges; variability in practice.
What this transformation of global politics entails is hard to imagine. A politically disengaged, under-educated population within a democracy is vulnerable to manipulation. Just read the ancient democratic critique in Aristophanes' play 'Knights'. Who will be the next Sausage Seller?
March 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
What this transformation of global politics entails is hard to imagine. A politically disengaged, under-educated population within a democracy is vulnerable to manipulation. Just read the ancient democratic critique in Aristophanes' play 'Knights'. Who will be the next Sausage Seller?
If Europe resists Trump’s deal, US retaliation is likely. A compromise may be attempted—but Trump doesn’t do diplomacy. He does business. Europe has potential trade leverage, but it's not united, especially with the UK chasing its own economic recovery. (9/10) #economy
March 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
If Europe resists Trump’s deal, US retaliation is likely. A compromise may be attempted—but Trump doesn’t do diplomacy. He does business. Europe has potential trade leverage, but it's not united, especially with the UK chasing its own economic recovery. (9/10) #economy
Europe now faces a decision: accept Trump’s lie & pressure Ukraine into concessions, or bankroll Ukraine’s resistance— perhaps, securing a European-Ukraine mineral deal instead. Either way, the risk to Europe of further Russian aggression escalates. (8/10) #Ukrainewar #EuropeanUnion
March 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Europe now faces a decision: accept Trump’s lie & pressure Ukraine into concessions, or bankroll Ukraine’s resistance— perhaps, securing a European-Ukraine mineral deal instead. Either way, the risk to Europe of further Russian aggression escalates. (8/10) #Ukrainewar #EuropeanUnion
The US has no interest in allowing Russia to seize Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. This was a reality Trump and J.D. Vance sought to erase—hence their frustration when Zelensky refused to be manipulated. (7/10)
#Zelensky #OvalOffice
#Zelensky #OvalOffice
March 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
The US has no interest in allowing Russia to seize Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. This was a reality Trump and J.D. Vance sought to erase—hence their frustration when Zelensky refused to be manipulated. (7/10)
#Zelensky #OvalOffice
#Zelensky #OvalOffice