Jack Deasley
@jldeasley.bsky.social
22. He/him. PhD in 20th century British education history at UCL. Wycombe Wanderers enthusiast.
Pinned
Jack Deasley
@jldeasley.bsky.social
· May 2
BREAKING: Reform UK gain Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty
Really sad day for Lincs. But this is what you get when you take funding and security away from people over multiple decades, give the younger generation even less, and when no other party offers an alternative that resonates with the majority of the population.
With view to the minimal Wycombe content on BlueSky, and my boundless love for Fred Onyedinma, here are some thoughts on a first away win since October for the Chairboys:
jackdeasley.substack.com/p/player-rat...
jackdeasley.substack.com/p/player-rat...
Player Ratings: Northampton 1-2 Wycombe
Wycombe make it two wins from two in League One with just their second win on the road this season; a first since October.
jackdeasley.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 5:55 PM
With view to the minimal Wycombe content on BlueSky, and my boundless love for Fred Onyedinma, here are some thoughts on a first away win since October for the Chairboys:
jackdeasley.substack.com/p/player-rat...
jackdeasley.substack.com/p/player-rat...
This from Gab Sutton! Can't help but feel that there was an elephant in the room when mainstream media outlets reported on Macc's win over Palace. They all ignored the failures of the EFL, Premier League, and structure of football finances that mean they're in non-league in the first place.
January 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM
This from Gab Sutton! Can't help but feel that there was an elephant in the room when mainstream media outlets reported on Macc's win over Palace. They all ignored the failures of the EFL, Premier League, and structure of football finances that mean they're in non-league in the first place.
Well worth a read. And when we're talking about reforms, answers are so tough in part because, as John says, 'spending cuts usually end up making things much more expensive'
With impeccable timing, the Maybe I'm Amazed Substack is back, and it's free maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/and-so-it-...
And so it begins: 2026 will be the year of a huge Special Needs battle, and this is why
Amid briefings, whispers and rumours, off we go: in an increasingly toxic atmosphere, basic educational rights look set to be one of this year's biggest issues
maybeimamazed.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Well worth a read. And when we're talking about reforms, answers are so tough in part because, as John says, 'spending cuts usually end up making things much more expensive'
Great report about Lincs. The message from this has to be that people are hurt from a lack of investment in infrastructure & opportunity and an absence of understanding or care from Westminster. There's no poverty of identity or ambition - we've just been forgotten.
novaramedia.com/2025/07/26/f...
novaramedia.com/2025/07/26/f...
Farage’s Heartland: the County Turning Against Westminster | Novara Media
Novara Media’s Harriet Williamson travelled across Lincolnshire to find out why her home county has become a Reform heartland – and whether its people are being overlooked by media and Westminster eli...
novaramedia.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Great report about Lincs. The message from this has to be that people are hurt from a lack of investment in infrastructure & opportunity and an absence of understanding or care from Westminster. There's no poverty of identity or ambition - we've just been forgotten.
novaramedia.com/2025/07/26/f...
novaramedia.com/2025/07/26/f...
He's right: London is unfairly scapegoated by exploitative far-right politicians. But I can't help but feel like talking about its state as a business/financial centre etc. in this way obscures the extent of and reasons for regional inequality that gives populism so much of its traction
Populists attack London because it is ‘progressive and successful’, says Khan ft.trib.al/nTni2DD
Populists attack London because it is ‘progressive and successful’, says Khan
Rightwing attacks on one of the world’s most visited cities at odds with reality, says mayor
ft.trib.al
December 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
He's right: London is unfairly scapegoated by exploitative far-right politicians. But I can't help but feel like talking about its state as a business/financial centre etc. in this way obscures the extent of and reasons for regional inequality that gives populism so much of its traction
Reposted by Jack Deasley
Interestingly, even The Times can't provide an explanation in this piece of why trail hunting 'addresses the countryside's needs' and nor does it deny what trail hunting's opponents claim: that the practice is often a cover for illegal fox hunting.
'A ban on trail hunting would not address the countryside’s needs. The proposed changes to safeguard animal welfare are welcome but most are performative and unenforceable' | ✍️ The Times View
A ban on trail hunting would not address the countryside’s needs
The proposed changes to safeguard animal welfare are welcome but most are performative and unenforceable
www.thetimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Interestingly, even The Times can't provide an explanation in this piece of why trail hunting 'addresses the countryside's needs' and nor does it deny what trail hunting's opponents claim: that the practice is often a cover for illegal fox hunting.
Reposted by Jack Deasley
NEW report from @nehaldavison.bsky.social and I.
Why have successive governments failed to tackle persistent inequalities in early years outcomes?
We set out 5 systemic policy making failures that lead to some children being 'left behind'.
🧵⬇️
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Why have successive governments failed to tackle persistent inequalities in early years outcomes?
We set out 5 systemic policy making failures that lead to some children being 'left behind'.
🧵⬇️
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Policy making blind spots | Institute for Government
The systemic policy-making failures that have contributed to a sharp ‘cliff-edge’ in attainment levels.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 17, 2025 at 11:19 AM
NEW report from @nehaldavison.bsky.social and I.
Why have successive governments failed to tackle persistent inequalities in early years outcomes?
We set out 5 systemic policy making failures that lead to some children being 'left behind'.
🧵⬇️
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Why have successive governments failed to tackle persistent inequalities in early years outcomes?
We set out 5 systemic policy making failures that lead to some children being 'left behind'.
🧵⬇️
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Scandalous. As in the report, 'academic excellence that traumatises some pupils is not true excellence'
Parents' calls unanswered; children self-harming due to academic pressure; SEND and ethnic minority pupils singled out.
'No excuses' culture has lots to answer for
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Parents' calls unanswered; children self-harming due to academic pressure; SEND and ethnic minority pupils singled out.
'No excuses' culture has lots to answer for
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Mossbourne's Hackney school 'harmful' to some pupils, review finds
Review finds Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy's policies are
www.bbc.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Scandalous. As in the report, 'academic excellence that traumatises some pupils is not true excellence'
Parents' calls unanswered; children self-harming due to academic pressure; SEND and ethnic minority pupils singled out.
'No excuses' culture has lots to answer for
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Parents' calls unanswered; children self-harming due to academic pressure; SEND and ethnic minority pupils singled out.
'No excuses' culture has lots to answer for
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Good to chat with @cherrycasey.bsky.social for this article. It's worth shouting about how a grammar school is now becoming the first ever state school to open up an affiliated fee-paying school abroad - and their intention to open more!
cherrycasey.substack.com/p/should-gra...
cherrycasey.substack.com/p/should-gra...
Should grammar schools be abolished?
Would it be an attack on working-class aspirations, given that not many working-class kids actually go there?
cherrycasey.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Good to chat with @cherrycasey.bsky.social for this article. It's worth shouting about how a grammar school is now becoming the first ever state school to open up an affiliated fee-paying school abroad - and their intention to open more!
cherrycasey.substack.com/p/should-gra...
cherrycasey.substack.com/p/should-gra...
“They are too easy to be gamed,” he said, adding that the way they had to be taught to get children through the 11+ meant they had become “educationally counter-productive”, and that they were “producing exam bots with no genuine love of learning”
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Training for the 11-plus may be making your child less intelligent, experts warn
Selective tests in their current form produce ‘exam bots with no genuine love of learning’
www.independent.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 2:26 PM
“They are too easy to be gamed,” he said, adding that the way they had to be taught to get children through the 11+ meant they had become “educationally counter-productive”, and that they were “producing exam bots with no genuine love of learning”
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Reposted by Jack Deasley
"Given that the UK needs more graduates with languages qualifications, the task of universities is not to accelerate the decline of language learning but to find ways to bolster their student intakes."
The universities of Nottingham and Leicester are taking a swing at language departments. But those proposing closures have taken their eye off the ball, say four linguists
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/latest-threat-uk-modern-languages-yet-another-faux-pas
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/latest-threat-uk-modern-languages-yet-another-faux-pas
November 14, 2025 at 9:58 AM
"Given that the UK needs more graduates with languages qualifications, the task of universities is not to accelerate the decline of language learning but to find ways to bolster their student intakes."
Reposted by Jack Deasley
The University of Nottingham has announced the suspension of all Modern Languages and Cultures (MLC) programmes from September 2026.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 7, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The University of Nottingham has announced the suspension of all Modern Languages and Cultures (MLC) programmes from September 2026.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
An overdone & ineffective policy to re-engage disaffected young people. Children will now do compulsory tests in 7/14 years of their schooling. The exam-ification of our schools doesn't get us anywhere; tackling the root of why these young people are disillusioned does
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Focus on reading in secondary years to drive up standards
Education Secretary confirms all pupils will sit a mandatory reading test at age 13 to drive up reading standards.
www.gov.uk
October 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
An overdone & ineffective policy to re-engage disaffected young people. Children will now do compulsory tests in 7/14 years of their schooling. The exam-ification of our schools doesn't get us anywhere; tackling the root of why these young people are disillusioned does
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Jack Deasley
This week, the Society's President Lucy Noakes wrote in response to Bridget Phillipson's Labour conference speech - and its implications for history and the humanities in UK higher education bit.ly/3KBX7Fw
#Skystorians
#Skystorians
October 4, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This week, the Society's President Lucy Noakes wrote in response to Bridget Phillipson's Labour conference speech - and its implications for history and the humanities in UK higher education bit.ly/3KBX7Fw
#Skystorians
#Skystorians
Lower league football clubs are failed by the system. We need far better regulation of who takes over clubs and how wealth is distributed across the game; otherwise, the heartbeats of local communities and cornerstones of people’s lives will continue to die.
Morecambe FC run out of cash today.
And even now, staff who aren’t even getting paid are making sure everyone is looked after.
Reporting here for Sky Sports News - and by the way, the spread here is better than we get at loads of bigger clubs higher up the food chain.
And even now, staff who aren’t even getting paid are making sure everyone is looked after.
Reporting here for Sky Sports News - and by the way, the spread here is better than we get at loads of bigger clubs higher up the food chain.
August 5, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Lower league football clubs are failed by the system. We need far better regulation of who takes over clubs and how wealth is distributed across the game; otherwise, the heartbeats of local communities and cornerstones of people’s lives will continue to die.
Reposted by Jack Deasley
This is a disaster not merely for Morecambe but for the whole of football. Yet another club brought to the brink by an entirely unsuitable owner acting without any regulatory constraints.
July 1, 2025 at 8:30 PM
This is a disaster not merely for Morecambe but for the whole of football. Yet another club brought to the brink by an entirely unsuitable owner acting without any regulatory constraints.
Reposted by Jack Deasley
Do you have a fabulous MA student who is interested in the 1990s? Send this fully-funded 4 year AHRC doctoral studentship their way. They'll get to work with me (yay?) and the fabulous @jessamycarlson.bsky.social (yay!) www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate...
History: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Early education, education, education: childcare in the policy and imagination of New Labour’s England, 1994-2003 (RS852) - Swansea UniversityMenu
We offer a wide range of funded and fully funded research scholarships in all subject areas. Explore your options and apply now.
www.swansea.ac.uk
June 23, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Do you have a fabulous MA student who is interested in the 1990s? Send this fully-funded 4 year AHRC doctoral studentship their way. They'll get to work with me (yay?) and the fabulous @jessamycarlson.bsky.social (yay!) www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate...
The East Mids receives the least public capital investment p.p. in the UK. But that it doesn't 'realise how poor it is' and its complex identity are more crucial. No wonder Reform has grown rapidly - they're the only ones who give the impression of listening!
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
The English Midlands is unjustly overlooked
Not least by its own inhabitants
www.economist.com
June 23, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The East Mids receives the least public capital investment p.p. in the UK. But that it doesn't 'realise how poor it is' and its complex identity are more crucial. No wonder Reform has grown rapidly - they're the only ones who give the impression of listening!
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Reposted by Jack Deasley
NEW on Wonkhe: Student numbers over the decade are up 15.5 per cent, but their term time hours in employment are up 79.6 per cent. Reviewing this year's Student Academic Experience Survey, Jim Dickinson works out who or what has got to give wonkhe.com/blogs/the-st...
June 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
NEW on Wonkhe: Student numbers over the decade are up 15.5 per cent, but their term time hours in employment are up 79.6 per cent. Reviewing this year's Student Academic Experience Survey, Jim Dickinson works out who or what has got to give wonkhe.com/blogs/the-st...
"“Lifting me and people like me up will have a cascading effect on so many lives in a positive way,” she said. “We will give back to our communities tenfold, a hundredfold. It’s worth that investment in us. We’re a really good investment.”"
Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ bill is built on falsehoods about low-income families | Brigid Schulte and Haley Swenson
Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ bill is built on falsehoods about low-income families | Brigid Schulte and Haley Swenson
Republicans portray those in poverty as lazy people who make poor decisions. They’re using that trope to justify huge cuts to the social safety net
www.theguardian.com
June 9, 2025 at 6:13 PM
"“Lifting me and people like me up will have a cascading effect on so many lives in a positive way,” she said. “We will give back to our communities tenfold, a hundredfold. It’s worth that investment in us. We’re a really good investment.”"
Reposted by Jack Deasley
🗨️ "This announcement is a very positive one, which will benefit hundreds of thousands of children – putting them in a better place to learn in schools."
Our Head of Research and Policy, @beckymontacute.bsky.social, on the expansion of free school meals access ⬇️
www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...
Our Head of Research and Policy, @beckymontacute.bsky.social, on the expansion of free school meals access ⬇️
www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...
Taking hunger out of the classroom - The Sutton Trust
Unpacking the Government's decision to widen FSM access to all households on universal credit.
www.suttontrust.com
June 5, 2025 at 11:36 AM
🗨️ "This announcement is a very positive one, which will benefit hundreds of thousands of children – putting them in a better place to learn in schools."
Our Head of Research and Policy, @beckymontacute.bsky.social, on the expansion of free school meals access ⬇️
www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...
Our Head of Research and Policy, @beckymontacute.bsky.social, on the expansion of free school meals access ⬇️
www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...
Really sad day for Lincs. But this is what you get when you take funding and security away from people over multiple decades, give the younger generation even less, and when no other party offers an alternative that resonates with the majority of the population.
BREAKING: Reform UK gain Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty
May 2, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Really sad day for Lincs. But this is what you get when you take funding and security away from people over multiple decades, give the younger generation even less, and when no other party offers an alternative that resonates with the majority of the population.
Reposted by Jack Deasley
The latest UCAS data (applications by the January 'equal consideration' deadline) suggest a 14% increase in applications to Engineering & Technology courses. It's the second double-digit surge in two years.
Good news, right? Sadly, it's mostly not.
Buckle in: 🧵1/27
www.ucas.com/undergraduat...
Good news, right? Sadly, it's mostly not.
Buckle in: 🧵1/27
www.ucas.com/undergraduat...
February 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The latest UCAS data (applications by the January 'equal consideration' deadline) suggest a 14% increase in applications to Engineering & Technology courses. It's the second double-digit surge in two years.
Good news, right? Sadly, it's mostly not.
Buckle in: 🧵1/27
www.ucas.com/undergraduat...
Good news, right? Sadly, it's mostly not.
Buckle in: 🧵1/27
www.ucas.com/undergraduat...
PEPF on Bluesky!
Welcome to PEPF on Blue Sky!
For those that don't know us, we're a think tank which aims to reduce inequalities relating to private schools and fee-paying education by platforming research and debate
Have a look at our website: www.pepf.co.uk
For those that don't know us, we're a think tank which aims to reduce inequalities relating to private schools and fee-paying education by platforming research and debate
Have a look at our website: www.pepf.co.uk
PEPF | Private Education Policy ForumArtboard 3Artboard 3Artboard 3Artboard 3
The think tank aiming to significantly reduce inequalities of access and resources among UK pupils relating to private schools and education
www.pepf.co.uk
February 12, 2025 at 2:23 PM
PEPF on Bluesky!
I think one of the most interesting parts of this new report today is that 'one reason for people to hold back from agreeing or disagreeing with policies about private
schools is, simply, that that they do not encounter or engage with them.'
For two reasons...
www.pepf.co.uk/publications...
schools is, simply, that that they do not encounter or engage with them.'
For two reasons...
www.pepf.co.uk/publications...
REPORT: The State of Public Opinion About VAT on Private Schools | PEPFArtboard 3Artboard 3Artboard 3Artboard 3
www.pepf.co.uk
December 31, 2024 at 6:58 PM
I think one of the most interesting parts of this new report today is that 'one reason for people to hold back from agreeing or disagreeing with policies about private
schools is, simply, that that they do not encounter or engage with them.'
For two reasons...
www.pepf.co.uk/publications...
schools is, simply, that that they do not encounter or engage with them.'
For two reasons...
www.pepf.co.uk/publications...