Alex Ford
@apf102.bsky.social
PGCE Tutor and former history teacher with an American West obsession. All views my own…I think. #UKTeaching #historyteacher #PGCE
Reposted by Alex Ford
Super evening last night presenting @1972shp.bsky.social Yorkshire history forum. Great to catch up with fab people in the history community. @cpalmerhistory.bsky.social @historyrichk.bsky.social @robbalding.bsky.social @davidturner2000.bsky.social @joecox23.bsky.social @mr-s-tiffany.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Super evening last night presenting @1972shp.bsky.social Yorkshire history forum. Great to catch up with fab people in the history community. @cpalmerhistory.bsky.social @historyrichk.bsky.social @robbalding.bsky.social @davidturner2000.bsky.social @joecox23.bsky.social @mr-s-tiffany.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Ford
We also have Rachel Bruce and Judy Clarke showing how they weave local stories into primary history teaching, helping students engage with the past and the familiar. @1972shp.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
We also have Rachel Bruce and Judy Clarke showing how they weave local stories into primary history teaching, helping students engage with the past and the familiar. @1972shp.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Ford
Next up at the @1972shp.bsky.social Yorkshire History Forum we have the inimitable @petejackson.bsky.social sharing some strategies for writing.
November 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Next up at the @1972shp.bsky.social Yorkshire History Forum we have the inimitable @petejackson.bsky.social sharing some strategies for writing.
Reposted by Alex Ford
It's the @1972shp.bsky.social Yorkshire History Forum tonight and we are kicking off with a session from @cpalmerhistory.bsky.social on teaching transatlantic enslavement using local stories.
November 24, 2025 at 5:44 PM
It's the @1972shp.bsky.social Yorkshire History Forum tonight and we are kicking off with a session from @cpalmerhistory.bsky.social on teaching transatlantic enslavement using local stories.
Reposted by Alex Ford
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Ford
Feeling queasy now I've learned that Google is not only now offering Gemini ambassador certificates to teachers but also awarding students and *children* to be corporate AI mascots. Coercive normalization of commercialized digital education. blog.google/outreach-ini...
November 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Feeling queasy now I've learned that Google is not only now offering Gemini ambassador certificates to teachers but also awarding students and *children* to be corporate AI mascots. Coercive normalization of commercialized digital education. blog.google/outreach-ini...
As ever - a brilliant piece from @victoriacrooks.bsky.social. This time on the many ways we can use ISM in the classroom - inc. as a means to explore prior knowledge and existing schemas. Makes a powerful case for the importance of subject sensitive pedagogies over generic approaches #historyteacher
🚨NEW BLOG🚨
Something a bit different from me today. Thinking about core #pedagogical practice of ELICITING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE through the lens of #historyteacher #HistoryEducation. And a reflection on how we keep #subjectspecific in #ITT #ITAP s
uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2025/11/20/d...
Something a bit different from me today. Thinking about core #pedagogical practice of ELICITING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE through the lens of #historyteacher #HistoryEducation. And a reflection on how we keep #subjectspecific in #ITT #ITAP s
uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog/2025/11/20/d...
Diagnostic Hooks: Reconceptualising Initial Stimulus Material (ISM) for Eliciting Prior Knowledge
Photo by Rachel Claire on Pexels.com The power of Initial Stimulus Material (ISM) to ‘hook’ pupils into historical learning via an intriguing image, a provocative quote, a story, or even a soundsca…
uonhistoryteachertraining.school.blog
November 20, 2025 at 7:19 PM
As ever - a brilliant piece from @victoriacrooks.bsky.social. This time on the many ways we can use ISM in the classroom - inc. as a means to explore prior knowledge and existing schemas. Makes a powerful case for the importance of subject sensitive pedagogies over generic approaches #historyteacher
This is exactly the double speak that seems to be all too common at the moment though. We are interpreting everything through a ‘knowledge rich / direct instruction’ lens and concluding that freedom = control and creating = delivering
See the same in other areas too
See the same in other areas too
a white rabbit from the secret life of pets is making a funny face with its mouth open .
ALT: a white rabbit from the secret life of pets is making a funny face with its mouth open .
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:36 PM
This is exactly the double speak that seems to be all too common at the moment though. We are interpreting everything through a ‘knowledge rich / direct instruction’ lens and concluding that freedom = control and creating = delivering
See the same in other areas too
See the same in other areas too
Some of this Curriculum Review stuff feels like gaslighting at times. Apparently the teachers asking for greater autonomy really want more specification and being a ‘curriculum maker’ is the same as ‘authoring instructional events’! Give me strength!!
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/teac...
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/teac...
Teacher autonomy: will the Curriculum Review restore our profession?
This is the fourth blog in my series on the Curriculum and Assessment Review. You can find the rest HERE . In this short blog I want to explore an aspect of the review I was really excited about -...
www.andallthat.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Some of this Curriculum Review stuff feels like gaslighting at times. Apparently the teachers asking for greater autonomy really want more specification and being a ‘curriculum maker’ is the same as ‘authoring instructional events’! Give me strength!!
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/teac...
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/teac...
My experience also. On so many levels Labour has not just proven to be stagnating, but actively taking things in a more problematic direction
When Labour got into power into power I wasn't overly optimistic that they would be "better" on migrants rights, trans and non-binary rights, human rights etc, but even I didn't expect them to be so much worse than the last government on all of them. 1/
November 20, 2025 at 3:07 PM
My experience also. On so many levels Labour has not just proven to be stagnating, but actively taking things in a more problematic direction
Seriously… what does it even mean to “speak English to an A Level standard?”. Are we asking people to deliver a spoken analysis of regional dialects, gendered talk or language used in the media now? Actually maybe that’s not such a bad plan…
November 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Seriously… what does it even mean to “speak English to an A Level standard?”. Are we asking people to deliver a spoken analysis of regional dialects, gendered talk or language used in the media now? Actually maybe that’s not such a bad plan…
Struggling at the moment to cope with the absolute shit show that is government messaging on immigration and failure to say Britain needs to live up to its international obligations to the most vulnerable.
So instead - here are 4 photos from tranquil places I went this Autumn. #kodakgold200
So instead - here are 4 photos from tranquil places I went this Autumn. #kodakgold200
November 20, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Struggling at the moment to cope with the absolute shit show that is government messaging on immigration and failure to say Britain needs to live up to its international obligations to the most vulnerable.
So instead - here are 4 photos from tranquil places I went this Autumn. #kodakgold200
So instead - here are 4 photos from tranquil places I went this Autumn. #kodakgold200
What does the Curriculum and Assessment Review mean for teacher autonomy?
Big issue - short blog. There’s a lot of worrying things hiding inder the reassurance that teacher autonomy matters. What exactly does the review mean by that. Hint: not what you think.
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/teac...
Big issue - short blog. There’s a lot of worrying things hiding inder the reassurance that teacher autonomy matters. What exactly does the review mean by that. Hint: not what you think.
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/teac...
Teacher autonomy: will the Curriculum Review restore our profession?
This is the fourth blog in my series on the Curriculum and Assessment Review. You can find the rest HERE . In this short blog I want to explore an aspect of the review I was really excited about -...
www.andallthat.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 8:56 AM
What does the Curriculum and Assessment Review mean for teacher autonomy?
Big issue - short blog. There’s a lot of worrying things hiding inder the reassurance that teacher autonomy matters. What exactly does the review mean by that. Hint: not what you think.
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/teac...
Big issue - short blog. There’s a lot of worrying things hiding inder the reassurance that teacher autonomy matters. What exactly does the review mean by that. Hint: not what you think.
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/teac...
The quick #historyteacher summary of you are short in time… the Curriculum and Assessment Review promises one thing on the surface but seems set to deliver quite another #EduSky #CAR2025
November 18, 2025 at 8:11 AM
The quick #historyteacher summary of you are short in time… the Curriculum and Assessment Review promises one thing on the surface but seems set to deliver quite another #EduSky #CAR2025
Reposted by Alex Ford
What does the curriculum review mean for #historyteacher s? My two penneth on why this is more than just a missed opportunity for meaningful change. And believe me… I really wanted to find the positives
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
An empowering History curriculum? What does the Curriculum Review mean for school History?
I have written extensively on the role of school History (see the end for links) . Now that we have explored the broader issues in the Curriculum and Assessment Review, I want to look more...
www.andallthat.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
What does the curriculum review mean for #historyteacher s? My two penneth on why this is more than just a missed opportunity for meaningful change. And believe me… I really wanted to find the positives
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
Reposted by Alex Ford
DAILY MEMO: More Than 30 People Taken in At Least 30 Raids During Saturday Through Monday Rains
November 18, 2025 at 6:34 AM
DAILY MEMO: More Than 30 People Taken in At Least 30 Raids During Saturday Through Monday Rains
Reposted by Alex Ford
BLOOMBERG REPORTER: “If there’s nothing incriminating in the Epstein files why not…?”
TRUMP: “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.” 😕
TRUMP: “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.” 😕
November 18, 2025 at 5:31 AM
BLOOMBERG REPORTER: “If there’s nothing incriminating in the Epstein files why not…?”
TRUMP: “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.” 😕
TRUMP: “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.” 😕
Yeah, I have some reservations about the DBQ model but I do think there’s a case to be made for high quality assessments which involve pupils using longer source materials. We have many A Level examples from other the years
November 17, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Yeah, I have some reservations about the DBQ model but I do think there’s a case to be made for high quality assessments which involve pupils using longer source materials. We have many A Level examples from other the years
Yet another one for the “kill it with fire” pile
"Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o model by default...tests repeatedly showed that the AI toy dropped its guardrails the longer a conversation went on, until hitting rock bottom on incredibly disturbing topics."
AI-Powered Stuffed Animal Pulled From Market After Disturbing Interactions With Children
FoloToy says it's suspended sales of its AI-powered teddy bear after researchers found it gave wildly inappropriate and dangerous answers.
futurism.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Yet another one for the “kill it with fire” pile
Reposted by Alex Ford
“Short bursts indicate an ICE sighting. Long whistles indicate agents making arrests. If you hear the whistle and you’re undocumented, said [Whitney Hu, a community activist and organizer with South Brooklyn Mutual Aid], ‘you hide. And if you’re somebody who’s not, you go to the street.’”
As ICE Street Raids Ramp Up, New Yorkers Stock Up On Whistles
Taking a cue from Chicago, community groups have distributed thousands of whistles in recent weeks — a grassroots system people in other cities have adopted to help neighbors sound the alarm.
www.thecity.nyc
November 17, 2025 at 1:44 PM
“Short bursts indicate an ICE sighting. Long whistles indicate agents making arrests. If you hear the whistle and you’re undocumented, said [Whitney Hu, a community activist and organizer with South Brooklyn Mutual Aid], ‘you hide. And if you’re somebody who’s not, you go to the street.’”
What does the curriculum review mean for #historyteacher s? My two penneth on why this is more than just a missed opportunity for meaningful change. And believe me… I really wanted to find the positives
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
An empowering History curriculum? What does the Curriculum Review mean for school History?
I have written extensively on the role of school History (see the end for links) . Now that we have explored the broader issues in the Curriculum and Assessment Review, I want to look more...
www.andallthat.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
What does the curriculum review mean for #historyteacher s? My two penneth on why this is more than just a missed opportunity for meaningful change. And believe me… I really wanted to find the positives
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
Reposted by Alex Ford
Weekend read: What does the Curriculum and Assessment Review mean for School History?
Third part in my blog series on the CAR - this time from an explicitly #historyteacher perspective
@1972shp.bsky.social @histassoc.bsky.social @htenuk.bsky.social
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
Third part in my blog series on the CAR - this time from an explicitly #historyteacher perspective
@1972shp.bsky.social @histassoc.bsky.social @htenuk.bsky.social
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
An empowering History curriculum? What does the Curriculum Review mean for school History?
I have written extensively on the role of school History (see the end for links) . Now that we have explored the broader issues in the Curriculum and Assessment Review, I want to look more...
www.andallthat.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Weekend read: What does the Curriculum and Assessment Review mean for School History?
Third part in my blog series on the CAR - this time from an explicitly #historyteacher perspective
@1972shp.bsky.social @histassoc.bsky.social @htenuk.bsky.social
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
Third part in my blog series on the CAR - this time from an explicitly #historyteacher perspective
@1972shp.bsky.social @histassoc.bsky.social @htenuk.bsky.social
www.andallthat.co.uk/subblog/an-e...
Reposted by Alex Ford
This isn’t about adding more content - it’s about using what’s already there more meaningfully.
Local history helps children see how national stories connect to their own lives and communities.
Local history helps children see how national stories connect to their own lives and communities.
November 10, 2025 at 8:07 PM
This isn’t about adding more content - it’s about using what’s already there more meaningfully.
Local history helps children see how national stories connect to their own lives and communities.
Local history helps children see how national stories connect to their own lives and communities.