Mark Enser
@ensermark.bsky.social
Yorkshire based freelance writer, TES columnist, author of books and school support person.
Ex-HMI and national geography lead
Once a teacher
Wanderer of hills, wonderer of everything else.
Posting on Education, Folklore, Dungeons & Dragons and music.
Ex-HMI and national geography lead
Once a teacher
Wanderer of hills, wonderer of everything else.
Posting on Education, Folklore, Dungeons & Dragons and music.
Pinned
Mark Enser
@ensermark.bsky.social
· Jan 6
a cat is sitting on a couch using a laptop .
ALT: a cat is sitting on a couch using a laptop .
media.tenor.com
I'm looking forward to my first term as a freelance writer and supporting schools.
If you think I could be of any help, do get in touch.
If you think I could be of any help, do get in touch.
It's a starry starry night
November 15, 2025 at 10:46 PM
It's a starry starry night
Churchyard at night
November 15, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Churchyard at night
Winter is coming. By train, possibly
November 15, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Winter is coming. By train, possibly
I love the shape of silver birches in winter
November 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I love the shape of silver birches in winter
Firepit ready for winter hot chocolate
November 14, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Firepit ready for winter hot chocolate
I'm enjoying Alchemised. I know it's history as Harry Potter fan fiction but the thing that strikes me most is how much feels drawn from the #DnD Eberron setting. The Silver Flame, Dragon Marked Houses, Sharn and magic-tech is all there.
Anyone else read it/reading it?
Anyone else read it/reading it?
November 14, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I'm enjoying Alchemised. I know it's history as Harry Potter fan fiction but the thing that strikes me most is how much feels drawn from the #DnD Eberron setting. The Silver Flame, Dragon Marked Houses, Sharn and magic-tech is all there.
Anyone else read it/reading it?
Anyone else read it/reading it?
Wind raging outside. Only adding to the hygge vibes.
November 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Wind raging outside. Only adding to the hygge vibes.
Reposted by Mark Enser
“Frankly, it’s amazing that schools work at all.”
Don’t miss @ensermark.bsky.social’s latest Substack post, where he reflects on the unseen work behind thriving schools – it’s the perfect introduction to his & @greeborunner.bsky.social's new book, #HowDoTheyDoIt? buff.ly/QmksPEO
📖: buff.ly/UWFKMC8
Don’t miss @ensermark.bsky.social’s latest Substack post, where he reflects on the unseen work behind thriving schools – it’s the perfect introduction to his & @greeborunner.bsky.social's new book, #HowDoTheyDoIt? buff.ly/QmksPEO
📖: buff.ly/UWFKMC8
The Miracle of Schools
Why Simplistic Narratives Miss the Point
buff.ly
November 14, 2025 at 12:22 PM
“Frankly, it’s amazing that schools work at all.”
Don’t miss @ensermark.bsky.social’s latest Substack post, where he reflects on the unseen work behind thriving schools – it’s the perfect introduction to his & @greeborunner.bsky.social's new book, #HowDoTheyDoIt? buff.ly/QmksPEO
📖: buff.ly/UWFKMC8
Don’t miss @ensermark.bsky.social’s latest Substack post, where he reflects on the unseen work behind thriving schools – it’s the perfect introduction to his & @greeborunner.bsky.social's new book, #HowDoTheyDoIt? buff.ly/QmksPEO
📖: buff.ly/UWFKMC8
Reposted by Mark Enser
Nice post.
Interestingly, ISI (for ind. schools) is still playing catch-up - their latest framework has something that looks more like a deep-dive than we've had before. I wonder if that'll go back the other way in a few years as they 'catch up' with Ofsted again!
Interestingly, ISI (for ind. schools) is still playing catch-up - their latest framework has something that looks more like a deep-dive than we've had before. I wonder if that'll go back the other way in a few years as they 'catch up' with Ofsted again!
November 14, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Nice post.
Interestingly, ISI (for ind. schools) is still playing catch-up - their latest framework has something that looks more like a deep-dive than we've had before. I wonder if that'll go back the other way in a few years as they 'catch up' with Ofsted again!
Interestingly, ISI (for ind. schools) is still playing catch-up - their latest framework has something that looks more like a deep-dive than we've had before. I wonder if that'll go back the other way in a few years as they 'catch up' with Ofsted again!
*** NEW POST ***
Deep dives weren't perfect, but when done well they helped triangulate evidence and gave subject leaders real CPD. Without them, inspections risk becoming more fragmented and leaders may feel more pressure to provide the evidence.
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Deep dives weren't perfect, but when done well they helped triangulate evidence and gave subject leaders real CPD. Without them, inspections risk becoming more fragmented and leaders may feel more pressure to provide the evidence.
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Why Scrapping Deep Dives Could Make Inspections Harder
There is a strange irony in the way inspection reform plays out in England.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:11 AM
*** NEW POST ***
Deep dives weren't perfect, but when done well they helped triangulate evidence and gave subject leaders real CPD. Without them, inspections risk becoming more fragmented and leaders may feel more pressure to provide the evidence.
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Deep dives weren't perfect, but when done well they helped triangulate evidence and gave subject leaders real CPD. Without them, inspections risk becoming more fragmented and leaders may feel more pressure to provide the evidence.
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
It's a blustery autumn day
November 14, 2025 at 8:18 AM
It's a blustery autumn day
Reposted by Mark Enser
Substack is very much becoming my new favourite place to go... @ensermark.bsky.social features heavily in this! 😂
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Creating a Forward Looking Geography Curriculum
This piece continues my exploration of what makes a curriculum genuinely ambitious, purposeful and hopeful. As schools rethink their geography provision in light of new expectations and a rapidly chan...
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Substack is very much becoming my new favourite place to go... @ensermark.bsky.social features heavily in this! 😂
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Reposted by Mark Enser
*** NEW POST ***
Geography isn’t just about the world as it is—it’s about the world as it could be. 🌍
In the piece: how to build knowledge, procedural skills, hope and future-thinking into our curricula.
Read it here open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
#GeogChat
Geography isn’t just about the world as it is—it’s about the world as it could be. 🌍
In the piece: how to build knowledge, procedural skills, hope and future-thinking into our curricula.
Read it here open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
#GeogChat
Creating a Forward Looking Geography Curriculum
This piece continues my exploration of what makes a curriculum genuinely ambitious, purposeful and hopeful. As schools rethink their geography provision in light of new expectations and a rapidly chan...
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:49 AM
*** NEW POST ***
Geography isn’t just about the world as it is—it’s about the world as it could be. 🌍
In the piece: how to build knowledge, procedural skills, hope and future-thinking into our curricula.
Read it here open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
#GeogChat
Geography isn’t just about the world as it is—it’s about the world as it could be. 🌍
In the piece: how to build knowledge, procedural skills, hope and future-thinking into our curricula.
Read it here open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
#GeogChat
Reposted by Mark Enser
How to decide on school improvement priorities: Improvement in #schools is a balancing act & every senior leadership team needs to decide what their priorities are. @ensermark.bsky.social & @greeborunner.bsky.social set out 3 guiding principles for making these decisions:
How to decide on school improvement priorities: Three guiding principles - Headteacher Update
Three rules to help headteachers decide on and plan school improvement priorities that will have the biggest impact
buff.ly
November 13, 2025 at 4:21 PM
How to decide on school improvement priorities: Improvement in #schools is a balancing act & every senior leadership team needs to decide what their priorities are. @ensermark.bsky.social & @greeborunner.bsky.social set out 3 guiding principles for making these decisions:
*** NEW POST ***
Geography isn’t just about the world as it is—it’s about the world as it could be. 🌍
In the piece: how to build knowledge, procedural skills, hope and future-thinking into our curricula.
Read it here open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
#GeogChat
Geography isn’t just about the world as it is—it’s about the world as it could be. 🌍
In the piece: how to build knowledge, procedural skills, hope and future-thinking into our curricula.
Read it here open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
#GeogChat
Creating a Forward Looking Geography Curriculum
This piece continues my exploration of what makes a curriculum genuinely ambitious, purposeful and hopeful. As schools rethink their geography provision in light of new expectations and a rapidly chan...
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:49 AM
*** NEW POST ***
Geography isn’t just about the world as it is—it’s about the world as it could be. 🌍
In the piece: how to build knowledge, procedural skills, hope and future-thinking into our curricula.
Read it here open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
#GeogChat
Geography isn’t just about the world as it is—it’s about the world as it could be. 🌍
In the piece: how to build knowledge, procedural skills, hope and future-thinking into our curricula.
Read it here open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
#GeogChat
This is a truly wonderful book. Perfect read for a wet and cold winter. It'll warm you.
Author wrote best book he's ever written.
Publisher disintegrated/fucked off with author's earnings.
Book was finally published by new publisher.
Author has bought two hardbacks, for full price, to give away, signed.
Please repost/reply if you'd like a chance to win one..
bsky.app/profile/zygo...
Publisher disintegrated/fucked off with author's earnings.
Book was finally published by new publisher.
Author has bought two hardbacks, for full price, to give away, signed.
Please repost/reply if you'd like a chance to win one..
bsky.app/profile/zygo...
November 13, 2025 at 9:22 AM
This is a truly wonderful book. Perfect read for a wet and cold winter. It'll warm you.
Reposted by Mark Enser
Helpful and free to all...sharing at it's best!
With the new Ofsted toolkit removing deep dives, subject leaders need a new way to consider quality assurance.
I’ve shared a practical Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool to help evidence strengths and plan next steps within the 2025 framework.
Download it here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
I’ve shared a practical Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool to help evidence strengths and plan next steps within the 2025 framework.
Download it here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool
With the new Ofsted inspection toolkit removing subject deep dives, it’s now harder for leaders to demonstrate the quality of education through traditional triangulation.
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Helpful and free to all...sharing at it's best!
Reposted by Mark Enser
School improvement is a balancing act & every senior leadership team needs to decide what their priorities are.
In their article for @headteacherupdate.bsky.social, @ensermark.bsky.social and @greeborunner.bsky.social set out 3 guiding principles for how we can make those decisions: buff.ly/MmkwSpw
In their article for @headteacherupdate.bsky.social, @ensermark.bsky.social and @greeborunner.bsky.social set out 3 guiding principles for how we can make those decisions: buff.ly/MmkwSpw
How to decide on school improvement priorities: Three guiding principles - Headteacher Update
Three rules to help headteachers decide on and plan school improvement priorities that will have the biggest impact
www.headteacher-update.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:22 PM
School improvement is a balancing act & every senior leadership team needs to decide what their priorities are.
In their article for @headteacherupdate.bsky.social, @ensermark.bsky.social and @greeborunner.bsky.social set out 3 guiding principles for how we can make those decisions: buff.ly/MmkwSpw
In their article for @headteacherupdate.bsky.social, @ensermark.bsky.social and @greeborunner.bsky.social set out 3 guiding principles for how we can make those decisions: buff.ly/MmkwSpw
Reposted by Mark Enser
With the new Ofsted toolkit removing deep dives, subject leaders need a new way to consider quality assurance.
I’ve shared a practical Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool to help evidence strengths and plan next steps within the 2025 framework.
Download it here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
I’ve shared a practical Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool to help evidence strengths and plan next steps within the 2025 framework.
Download it here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool
With the new Ofsted inspection toolkit removing subject deep dives, it’s now harder for leaders to demonstrate the quality of education through traditional triangulation.
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:03 AM
With the new Ofsted toolkit removing deep dives, subject leaders need a new way to consider quality assurance.
I’ve shared a practical Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool to help evidence strengths and plan next steps within the 2025 framework.
Download it here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
I’ve shared a practical Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool to help evidence strengths and plan next steps within the 2025 framework.
Download it here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
I wonder if the sectors response would have been different if this was framed as 'national attendance targets to be abolished a replaced with contextual ones' 🤔
As far as I can see, that is really what is happening - which seems an improvement.
As far as I can see, that is really what is happening - which seems an improvement.
All schools in England to be given AI-generated pupil attendance targets | The Guardian
All schools in England to be given AI-generated pupil attendance targets
Unions decry move, saying it will put more pressure on headteachers without tackling absence from classrooms
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:05 AM
I wonder if the sectors response would have been different if this was framed as 'national attendance targets to be abolished a replaced with contextual ones' 🤔
As far as I can see, that is really what is happening - which seems an improvement.
As far as I can see, that is really what is happening - which seems an improvement.
Nadja is obsessed with the water fountain.
November 12, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Nadja is obsessed with the water fountain.
With the new Ofsted toolkit removing deep dives, subject leaders need a new way to consider quality assurance.
I’ve shared a practical Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool to help evidence strengths and plan next steps within the 2025 framework.
Download it here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
I’ve shared a practical Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool to help evidence strengths and plan next steps within the 2025 framework.
Download it here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool
With the new Ofsted inspection toolkit removing subject deep dives, it’s now harder for leaders to demonstrate the quality of education through traditional triangulation.
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:03 AM
With the new Ofsted toolkit removing deep dives, subject leaders need a new way to consider quality assurance.
I’ve shared a practical Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool to help evidence strengths and plan next steps within the 2025 framework.
Download it here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
I’ve shared a practical Subject Leader Self-Audit Tool to help evidence strengths and plan next steps within the 2025 framework.
Download it here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Reposted by Mark Enser
Deep dives are out.
A broader “shallow paddle” approach is in.
That means less subject-level triangulation — and more pressure on leaders to show how every part of the school connects.
I’ve written about what this shift means and how to prepare:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
A broader “shallow paddle” approach is in.
That means less subject-level triangulation — and more pressure on leaders to show how every part of the school connects.
I’ve written about what this shift means and how to prepare:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Preparing for the new era of inspection: what school leaders should know now
The risk of the shallow paddle
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Deep dives are out.
A broader “shallow paddle” approach is in.
That means less subject-level triangulation — and more pressure on leaders to show how every part of the school connects.
I’ve written about what this shift means and how to prepare:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
A broader “shallow paddle” approach is in.
That means less subject-level triangulation — and more pressure on leaders to show how every part of the school connects.
I’ve written about what this shift means and how to prepare:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Reposted by Mark Enser
How to decide on school improvement priorities: Improvement in #schools is a balancing act & every senior leadership team needs to decide what their priorities are. @ensermark.bsky.social & @greeborunner.bsky.social set out 3 guiding principles for making these decisions:
How to decide on school improvement priorities: Three guiding principles - Headteacher Update
Three rules to help headteachers decide on and plan school improvement priorities that will have the biggest impact
buff.ly
November 12, 2025 at 6:42 AM
How to decide on school improvement priorities: Improvement in #schools is a balancing act & every senior leadership team needs to decide what their priorities are. @ensermark.bsky.social & @greeborunner.bsky.social set out 3 guiding principles for making these decisions: