Jonathan Mountstevens
@mrmountstevens.bsky.social
Deputy Head, History Teacher and Chartered Teacher Programme Lead. Mostly here to discuss curriculum, assessment, school leadership and history. Views my own.
Blog: https://occamshairdryer.wordpress.com
Blog: https://occamshairdryer.wordpress.com
Great. Yet another commentary on Ofsted changes which allows people to make the assumption that the new framework will be more informative for parents. Plenty on stress and pressure, but it doesn’t even touch on on the fact the framework will make reports less reliable. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Great. Yet another commentary on Ofsted changes which allows people to make the assumption that the new framework will be more informative for parents. Plenty on stress and pressure, but it doesn’t even touch on on the fact the framework will make reports less reliable. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The textbook uses Stalin walking around the room intimidatingly during Politburo meetings as evidence of his dictatorship. Every year I point out it’s pretty weak evidence when there’s loads of far stronger stuff available, and yet every year my students trot it out in their essays without fail.
November 10, 2025 at 10:03 PM
The textbook uses Stalin walking around the room intimidatingly during Politburo meetings as evidence of his dictatorship. Every year I point out it’s pretty weak evidence when there’s loads of far stronger stuff available, and yet every year my students trot it out in their essays without fail.
I’ve got too much work to do today so obviously I decided to write a story for Yr 12.
November 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I’ve got too much work to do today so obviously I decided to write a story for Yr 12.
I get really irritated by the labelling of these subjects as the ‘creative’ ones because it ignores the huge non-creative element that goes into success in any of them while also overlooking the creativity inherent in many other subjects. History, for example, obviously requires lots of creativity.
November 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I get really irritated by the labelling of these subjects as the ‘creative’ ones because it ignores the huge non-creative element that goes into success in any of them while also overlooking the creativity inherent in many other subjects. History, for example, obviously requires lots of creativity.
Pleased with this question. Harnessing students’ reading of historical scholarship to enable them to be critical of the exam board specification.
November 9, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Pleased with this question. Harnessing students’ reading of historical scholarship to enable them to be critical of the exam board specification.
Interested that I heard some students in school talking about Mamdani’s win this week. Only a few of them but still I thought it was interesting.
November 8, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Interested that I heard some students in school talking about Mamdani’s win this week. Only a few of them but still I thought it was interesting.
My favourite fact what I learned this week is that Stalin killed more leaders of the German Communist Party than Hitler did.
November 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
My favourite fact what I learned this week is that Stalin killed more leaders of the German Communist Party than Hitler did.
If we really want students to develop grit and resilience we should put trying to recruit a Science teacher in the curriculum.
November 6, 2025 at 1:12 PM
If we really want students to develop grit and resilience we should put trying to recruit a Science teacher in the curriculum.
Having taken a look at the Curriculum and Assessment Review, I’m feeling more reassured than I was with the titbits leaked in advance to the press. I haven’t read every bit of it yet, but here are a few things I’m pleased about and a few things that worry me (definitely not comprehensive)…
November 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Having taken a look at the Curriculum and Assessment Review, I’m feeling more reassured than I was with the titbits leaked in advance to the press. I haven’t read every bit of it yet, but here are a few things I’m pleased about and a few things that worry me (definitely not comprehensive)…
Knowledge-nouveau riche?
November 4, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Knowledge-nouveau riche?
I do think it’s so important that Times readers get to read about key curricular developments sooner than the people who’ll have to implement them.
November 2, 2025 at 6:28 PM
I do think it’s so important that Times readers get to read about key curricular developments sooner than the people who’ll have to implement them.
Been a good half-term for baking.
November 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Been a good half-term for baking.
Went to Felixstowe yesterday and there are two very pleasing things about this:
a) I can now confirm that it is not on the end of his foot.
b) Having lived in the East of England for nearly thirty years I have finally got my ‘I’ve travelled along every bit of the A14’ badge, which I’m proud of.
a) I can now confirm that it is not on the end of his foot.
b) Having lived in the East of England for nearly thirty years I have finally got my ‘I’ve travelled along every bit of the A14’ badge, which I’m proud of.
November 2, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Went to Felixstowe yesterday and there are two very pleasing things about this:
a) I can now confirm that it is not on the end of his foot.
b) Having lived in the East of England for nearly thirty years I have finally got my ‘I’ve travelled along every bit of the A14’ badge, which I’m proud of.
a) I can now confirm that it is not on the end of his foot.
b) Having lived in the East of England for nearly thirty years I have finally got my ‘I’ve travelled along every bit of the A14’ badge, which I’m proud of.
Excellent from @samfr.bsky.social on the power of public historical memory and the political battles to shape it. Definitely one history teachers will enjoy. If you don’t already subscribe, I’d strongly recommend.
New post just out:
"Never again?"
On how the radical right are trying to change our collective memory about World War Two as part of their assault on the postwar order.
And why that memory remains a critical defence against nationalism.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/n...
"Never again?"
On how the radical right are trying to change our collective memory about World War Two as part of their assault on the postwar order.
And why that memory remains a critical defence against nationalism.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/n...
Never again?
Memory entrepreneurship and the radical right’s assault on the postwar order
open.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Excellent from @samfr.bsky.social on the power of public historical memory and the political battles to shape it. Definitely one history teachers will enjoy. If you don’t already subscribe, I’d strongly recommend.
Can’t wait for this. Was brilliant last year and the year before. #Soane26
We are BACK.
7th February 2026.
You are not going to want to miss this #Soane26
www.eventbrite.com/e/ark-soane-...
7th February 2026.
You are not going to want to miss this #Soane26
www.eventbrite.com/e/ark-soane-...
October 25, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Can’t wait for this. Was brilliant last year and the year before. #Soane26
One of my students a few years ago found this old book in a charity shop and gave it to me and I love it so much. I wish maps, graphs and things still looked beautiful like this.
October 24, 2025 at 12:24 PM
One of my students a few years ago found this old book in a charity shop and gave it to me and I love it so much. I wish maps, graphs and things still looked beautiful like this.
Soviet history teachers, my reading on the Khrushchev/Brezhnev era doesn’t match what I’ve read on 1917-53 or Gorbachev and end of USSR. I’m keen to level up. What should I read (other than general overviews of the whole Soviet period, which I’ve done)? @alistairdickins.bsky.social can you help?
October 19, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Soviet history teachers, my reading on the Khrushchev/Brezhnev era doesn’t match what I’ve read on 1917-53 or Gorbachev and end of USSR. I’m keen to level up. What should I read (other than general overviews of the whole Soviet period, which I’ve done)? @alistairdickins.bsky.social can you help?
Today’s uncalled for gripe is people saying they are covering somebody or need somebody to cover them e.g. ‘I’m covering Bob today because he’s off sick.’ You are covering FOR Bob. Covering your colleagues would be inappropriate.
October 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Today’s uncalled for gripe is people saying they are covering somebody or need somebody to cover them e.g. ‘I’m covering Bob today because he’s off sick.’ You are covering FOR Bob. Covering your colleagues would be inappropriate.
What five events defined your childhood?
Mine, in order...
1. Chernobyl
2. Margaret Thatcher's fall from power
3. The Soviet coup against Gorbachev
4. IRA ceasefire
5. Mad Cow Disease
Mine, in order...
1. Chernobyl
2. Margaret Thatcher's fall from power
3. The Soviet coup against Gorbachev
4. IRA ceasefire
5. Mad Cow Disease
What five events defined your childhood?
Mine, in order…
1. Lockerbie Bombing
2. Berlin Wall Falling
3. David Platt’s last minute winner v Belgium
4. 1997 General Election
5. 1999 Division One Play Off Final
Mine, in order…
1. Lockerbie Bombing
2. Berlin Wall Falling
3. David Platt’s last minute winner v Belgium
4. 1997 General Election
5. 1999 Division One Play Off Final
What five events defined your childhood?
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Italia 90 (marginally, over Mexico 86 and Euro 96)
Election of New Labour
1st Gulf War
Chernobyl
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Italia 90 (marginally, over Mexico 86 and Euro 96)
Election of New Labour
1st Gulf War
Chernobyl
October 11, 2025 at 9:01 PM
What five events defined your childhood?
Mine, in order...
1. Chernobyl
2. Margaret Thatcher's fall from power
3. The Soviet coup against Gorbachev
4. IRA ceasefire
5. Mad Cow Disease
Mine, in order...
1. Chernobyl
2. Margaret Thatcher's fall from power
3. The Soviet coup against Gorbachev
4. IRA ceasefire
5. Mad Cow Disease
Sometimes duty is nice. Today a highlight was the Year 9 student sitting in the dining hall reading The Thursday Murder Club at a table with her friends, half of whom were also reading books. She expressed a cautious scepticism as to whether she was the target audience.
October 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Sometimes duty is nice. Today a highlight was the Year 9 student sitting in the dining hall reading The Thursday Murder Club at a table with her friends, half of whom were also reading books. She expressed a cautious scepticism as to whether she was the target audience.
Stalin’s purges with Yr 12 today. Every year they know in advance that it’s going to get dark but they are still struck because they didn’t realise quite how dark it was going to get.
October 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Stalin’s purges with Yr 12 today. Every year they know in advance that it’s going to get dark but they are still struck because they didn’t realise quite how dark it was going to get.
Reposted by Jonathan Mountstevens
Latest on our Substack - I attempt to prove mathematically that education can never be fun, with reference to The Flowerpot Men, Jock Stein & the Galapagos tortoise.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/why-educat...
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/why-educat...
Why education can never be fun
Proven with maths
substack.nomoremarking.com
October 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Latest on our Substack - I attempt to prove mathematically that education can never be fun, with reference to The Flowerpot Men, Jock Stein & the Galapagos tortoise.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/why-educat...
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/why-educat...
I had grounds for saying ‘You ain’t Stalin and I ain’t Trotsky’ to a valued colleague the other day and the more time passes the more pleased I’m getting with it as a line.
October 1, 2025 at 6:31 PM
I had grounds for saying ‘You ain’t Stalin and I ain’t Trotsky’ to a valued colleague the other day and the more time passes the more pleased I’m getting with it as a line.
Can I have an inquiry as well over the photocopier getting jammed, somebody else being in the toilet when I was in a rush and then the projector remote control needing a new battery, all in the build up to one lesson the other day? Must be sabotage.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump demands inquiry over UN 'triple sabotage'
The US president called the incidents that included an escalator and teleprompter mishap "a real disgrace".
www.bbc.com
September 25, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Can I have an inquiry as well over the photocopier getting jammed, somebody else being in the toilet when I was in a rush and then the projector remote control needing a new battery, all in the build up to one lesson the other day? Must be sabotage.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
An absolute icon. RIP.
It is with profound sadness that The Yorkshire County Cricket Club announces the passing of Harold Dennis “Dickie” Bird MBE OBE, one of cricket’s most beloved figures, who died peacefully at home at the age of 92.
Read more: yorkshireccc.com/news/harold-...
Read more: yorkshireccc.com/news/harold-...
September 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM
An absolute icon. RIP.