Pinned
Director for Fair Access and Participation steps down from regulator - Office for Students
John Blake's four-year term as the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) ends this year. The Secretary of State will be appointing an interim Director for Fair Ac...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk
It has been an enormous honour to serve as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Now that all-new access and participation plans are in place across the sector, I have decided not to seek a second term.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
So. , #WickedForGood — as before Ariane Grande is great but it Cynthia Erivo investing the whole thing with the grandeur of Shakespeare, which makes it glorious; if she doesn’t get the Oscar nom (at least) this time, she’s been robbed.
Also, last shot deserves a joint Oscar/Tony award of its own.
Also, last shot deserves a joint Oscar/Tony award of its own.
November 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
So. , #WickedForGood — as before Ariane Grande is great but it Cynthia Erivo investing the whole thing with the grandeur of Shakespeare, which makes it glorious; if she doesn’t get the Oscar nom (at least) this time, she’s been robbed.
Also, last shot deserves a joint Oscar/Tony award of its own.
Also, last shot deserves a joint Oscar/Tony award of its own.
Also, isn’t the point of the BBC that it does things others can’t? So we can get 24 hour news pretty much anywhere, but not the kind of summary material Stephen mentions here, so why isn’t the BBC doing that instead of funding a generic ticker-tape news service?
To add to this - it's not like the public is being well served by broadcast news moving at the pace of 24 hour scrolling and the politically obsessed - it just means every election large numbers of people end up googling 'what is austerity?' 'What is brownfield?' etc. etc.
This is bizarre. Like the editor of the guardian or mail or any other paper complaining repeatedly about the front page lead they decided to run with.
Very good example of what's wrong with broadcast news - they've given up deciding for themselves what is or isn't news and what the priorities are
Very good example of what's wrong with broadcast news - they've given up deciding for themselves what is or isn't news and what the priorities are
November 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Also, isn’t the point of the BBC that it does things others can’t? So we can get 24 hour news pretty much anywhere, but not the kind of summary material Stephen mentions here, so why isn’t the BBC doing that instead of funding a generic ticker-tape news service?
When human civilisation inevitably blasts itself back into the Dark Ages, one can only hope a suitably garbled version of this story will be the foundation stone of a new religion.
4 yrs ago today, a family member managed a truly spectacular own goal, splintered his domestic bliss, & in the process, united the world for a day.
On popular request, I shall now recreate the livetweet thread from that day
So gather around children, for this is the tale of The Rice Truck Saga
On popular request, I shall now recreate the livetweet thread from that day
So gather around children, for this is the tale of The Rice Truck Saga
November 23, 2025 at 12:04 PM
When human civilisation inevitably blasts itself back into the Dark Ages, one can only hope a suitably garbled version of this story will be the foundation stone of a new religion.
Reposted by John Blake
On Holodomor Remembrance Day, Ukrainians light a candle at 4 pm
and place it on the windowsill to honor the millions who died in the 1932-1933 famine.
🕯️4 pm in Ukraine
and place it on the windowsill to honor the millions who died in the 1932-1933 famine.
🕯️4 pm in Ukraine
November 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
On Holodomor Remembrance Day, Ukrainians light a candle at 4 pm
and place it on the windowsill to honor the millions who died in the 1932-1933 famine.
🕯️4 pm in Ukraine
and place it on the windowsill to honor the millions who died in the 1932-1933 famine.
🕯️4 pm in Ukraine
The US-negotiated (for which read: “Russian dictated”) peace deal is no such thing—it is Ukraine’s suicide note as a sovereign power, to be disposed of by Putin at his leisure. It is repulsive that any US administration would push this on to any free state.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
US tells Nato if Zelenskyy does not sign peace deal Ukraine will face worse in future
US army secretary briefs ambassadors at ‘nightmare meeting’ in Kyiv on Friday after talks with Ukrainian leader
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The US-negotiated (for which read: “Russian dictated”) peace deal is no such thing—it is Ukraine’s suicide note as a sovereign power, to be disposed of by Putin at his leisure. It is repulsive that any US administration would push this on to any free state.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
People who have been incredibly academically successful often do not consider that the education system is not designed around them (tho, as their success illustrates, it is good for them).
Britain’s top scientists have written to the PM warning that the education system is holding back children and the country and expressing concern about the timidity of the government’s curriculum and assessment review @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Broken education system is holding back the young, top scientists warn PM | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 8:35 PM
People who have been incredibly academically successful often do not consider that the education system is not designed around them (tho, as their success illustrates, it is good for them).
Reposted by John Blake
It has been an enormous honour to serve as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Now that all-new access and participation plans are in place across the sector, I have decided not to seek a second term.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
Director for Fair Access and Participation steps down from regulator - Office for Students
John Blake's four-year term as the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) ends this year. The Secretary of State will be appointing an interim Director for Fair Ac...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk
November 8, 2025 at 12:05 PM
It has been an enormous honour to serve as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Now that all-new access and participation plans are in place across the sector, I have decided not to seek a second term.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
It has been an enormous honour to serve as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Now that all-new access and participation plans are in place across the sector, I have decided not to seek a second term.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
Director for Fair Access and Participation steps down from regulator - Office for Students
John Blake's four-year term as the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) ends this year. The Secretary of State will be appointing an interim Director for Fair Ac...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk
November 8, 2025 at 12:05 PM
It has been an enormous honour to serve as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Now that all-new access and participation plans are in place across the sector, I have decided not to seek a second term.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
Reposted by John Blake
John Blake, the OfS’ director of fair access and participation, has announced he will leave the English regulator this year after deciding against staying for another four-year stint
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
John Blake to leave OfS as Labour signals new approach to access
Former teacher steps down after one term, having overseen revamp in widening participation efforts
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:22 PM
John Blake, the OfS’ director of fair access and participation, has announced he will leave the English regulator this year after deciding against staying for another four-year stint
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
Never really certain if anyone sees these things on here, but for those who do and are interested, I am shortly stepping down from my role at the Office for Students -- full statement here:
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
Director for Fair Access and Participation steps down from regulator - Office for Students
John Blake's four-year term as the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) ends this year. The Secretary of State will be appointing an interim Director for Fair Ac...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk
November 7, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Never really certain if anyone sees these things on here, but for those who do and are interested, I am shortly stepping down from my role at the Office for Students -- full statement here:
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
November 6, 2025 at 10:32 PM
#celebritytraitors is the greatest television since the Wire.
November 6, 2025 at 10:29 PM
#celebritytraitors is the greatest television since the Wire.
Reposted by John Blake
FWIW, I think Klein's piece is unnecessarily complimentary about Kirk's achievements. Just as it undesirable to speak ill of of the recently dead, it is not obligatory to be nice about them. But the fundamental truth in that final line is what matters.
September 11, 2025 at 11:53 AM
FWIW, I think Klein's piece is unnecessarily complimentary about Kirk's achievements. Just as it undesirable to speak ill of of the recently dead, it is not obligatory to be nice about them. But the fundamental truth in that final line is what matters.
Reposted by John Blake
"We are all safe, or none of us are."
And that goes for Washington DC as much as it does for Washington, Tyne and Wear.
And that goes for Washington DC as much as it does for Washington, Tyne and Wear.
Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/o...
Opinion | Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way
www.nytimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:50 AM
"We are all safe, or none of us are."
And that goes for Washington DC as much as it does for Washington, Tyne and Wear.
And that goes for Washington DC as much as it does for Washington, Tyne and Wear.
Reposted by John Blake
Let’s go with the idea that these drones over Poland mistakenly ended up there. All the more reason for NATO to announce a no-fly-zone over Western Ukraine in order to prevent such unfortunate mistakes in the future. Simple. Close the skies.
September 10, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Let’s go with the idea that these drones over Poland mistakenly ended up there. All the more reason for NATO to announce a no-fly-zone over Western Ukraine in order to prevent such unfortunate mistakes in the future. Simple. Close the skies.
Reposted by John Blake
Reposted by John Blake
Reposted by John Blake
HOW STEPHEN. HOW HAVE YOU MADE THIS ABOUT HARRY POTTER
August 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM
HOW STEPHEN. HOW HAVE YOU MADE THIS ABOUT HARRY POTTER
Reposted by John Blake
My video about how LLMs are not search engines has led to many, MANY comments telling me that I should be using Perplexity. Some insisting that Perplexity does not hallucinate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
August 23, 2025 at 5:54 PM
My video about how LLMs are not search engines has led to many, MANY comments telling me that I should be using Perplexity. Some insisting that Perplexity does not hallucinate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Reposted by John Blake
This They Might Be Giants TONIGHT SHOW performance of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" from 1990 remains firmly lodged in my noggin thanks to the Tonight Show Band's full commitment and Doc Severinsen's incredible trumpeting... It took an already great song and made it transcendent.
August 23, 2025 at 8:44 AM
This They Might Be Giants TONIGHT SHOW performance of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" from 1990 remains firmly lodged in my noggin thanks to the Tonight Show Band's full commitment and Doc Severinsen's incredible trumpeting... It took an already great song and made it transcendent.
Possibly the best reason to tune into Bluesky is Stephen Bush’s insatiable (and obviously entirely correct) demand for someone at HBO to talk us all through their thinking here.
Look, sorry, just explain, as a business proposition, who the imagined audience for “the same look, style and design as the Harry Potter films, which are good, but with an extra six hours per film and a longer wait between installments” IS.
August 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Possibly the best reason to tune into Bluesky is Stephen Bush’s insatiable (and obviously entirely correct) demand for someone at HBO to talk us all through their thinking here.
Reposted by John Blake
In the latest post on our Substack I try to make sense of the mutual incomprehension between teachers & students about the role of AI.
Is it OK for students to use AI to write their assignments if that's the most efficient thing to do?
If not, why not?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-is-th...
Is it OK for students to use AI to write their assignments if that's the most efficient thing to do?
If not, why not?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-is-th...
July 19, 2025 at 7:34 AM
In the latest post on our Substack I try to make sense of the mutual incomprehension between teachers & students about the role of AI.
Is it OK for students to use AI to write their assignments if that's the most efficient thing to do?
If not, why not?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-is-th...
Is it OK for students to use AI to write their assignments if that's the most efficient thing to do?
If not, why not?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-is-th...
Reposted by John Blake
I was explaining to my Ukrainian colleague the phrase ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’. She told me the equivalent in Ukrainian is ‘The only free cheese is in the mousetrap’ - which is so much better
July 16, 2025 at 6:39 AM
I was explaining to my Ukrainian colleague the phrase ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’. She told me the equivalent in Ukrainian is ‘The only free cheese is in the mousetrap’ - which is so much better
Reposted by John Blake
Re: stripping citizenship, look. There is no legal mechanism for him to do it. The very fact that he is talking about it tells you, yet again, what he is. He’s an aspiring totalitarian who wants absolute power over people’s lives and to use it to reward friends and punish enemies. That’s really it.
July 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Re: stripping citizenship, look. There is no legal mechanism for him to do it. The very fact that he is talking about it tells you, yet again, what he is. He’s an aspiring totalitarian who wants absolute power over people’s lives and to use it to reward friends and punish enemies. That’s really it.
Reposted by John Blake
New York Times editors as they're handcuffed and sent to a concentration camp: "Experts say this is a bad thing to happen."
President Trump said on Saturday he was considering revoking Rosie O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship. Trump has feuded with the comedian and actress since before he became president. Experts said the president does not have the power to take away the citizenship of a U.S.-born citizen.
Trump Threatens to Strip Rosie O’Donnell of U.S. Citizenship
President Trump called Ms. O’Donnell, who has feuded with him since before he became president, a “threat to humanity.”
trib.al
July 12, 2025 at 9:25 PM
New York Times editors as they're handcuffed and sent to a concentration camp: "Experts say this is a bad thing to happen."