Ben Newmark
@bennewmark.bsky.social
Teacher, parent, school governor. Occasional blogger.
"A million different people from one day to the next, I can change."
https://bennewmark.wordpress.com/
"A million different people from one day to the next, I can change."
https://bennewmark.wordpress.com/
Reposted by Ben Newmark
So many questions!
Who is staffing it?
Who is quality assuring that provision?
Who is paying for it?
Where will it physically take place in our cramped and crumbling schools?
No sch takes the decision lightly. Always a last resort.
Being asked to do more with less.
Again
Who is staffing it?
Who is quality assuring that provision?
Who is paying for it?
Where will it physically take place in our cramped and crumbling schools?
No sch takes the decision lightly. Always a last resort.
Being asked to do more with less.
Again
January 29, 2026 at 4:06 PM
So many questions!
Who is staffing it?
Who is quality assuring that provision?
Who is paying for it?
Where will it physically take place in our cramped and crumbling schools?
No sch takes the decision lightly. Always a last resort.
Being asked to do more with less.
Again
Who is staffing it?
Who is quality assuring that provision?
Who is paying for it?
Where will it physically take place in our cramped and crumbling schools?
No sch takes the decision lightly. Always a last resort.
Being asked to do more with less.
Again
Reposted by Ben Newmark
Our first ever printed book, A Year in Willerby, close to selling out. 9 left of the original run of 100.
Sent straight from the village with a handwritten letter. No AI. No Amazon.
Order now to be sure of getting one. Next lot go out on Saturday.
We ship abroard.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
Sent straight from the village with a handwritten letter. No AI. No Amazon.
Order now to be sure of getting one. Next lot go out on Saturday.
We ship abroard.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
January 28, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Our first ever printed book, A Year in Willerby, close to selling out. 9 left of the original run of 100.
Sent straight from the village with a handwritten letter. No AI. No Amazon.
Order now to be sure of getting one. Next lot go out on Saturday.
We ship abroard.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
Sent straight from the village with a handwritten letter. No AI. No Amazon.
Order now to be sure of getting one. Next lot go out on Saturday.
We ship abroard.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
Bluesky please settle a dispute between me and a 9yo. Princesses have to do what kings tell them right?
January 28, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Bluesky please settle a dispute between me and a 9yo. Princesses have to do what kings tell them right?
Reposted by Ben Newmark
Teaching a bit of a lesson today from the question "What did William pray for after Hastings?'
Pretty chuffed with this.
Pretty chuffed with this.
January 27, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Teaching a bit of a lesson today from the question "What did William pray for after Hastings?'
Pretty chuffed with this.
Pretty chuffed with this.
Teaching a bit of a lesson today from the question "What did William pray for after Hastings?'
Pretty chuffed with this.
Pretty chuffed with this.
January 27, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Teaching a bit of a lesson today from the question "What did William pray for after Hastings?'
Pretty chuffed with this.
Pretty chuffed with this.
The bit between Christmas and when it gets light in the morning again is too long. It should be about three weeks.
January 27, 2026 at 6:28 AM
The bit between Christmas and when it gets light in the morning again is too long. It should be about three weeks.
Saw 28 Years Later Bone Temple last night. It's an odd masterpiece. Along with the first I don't think I can remember a stranger film. Heartening stuff like this is still being made.
And Ralph Fiennes should get an Oscar just for *that dance* alone.
And Ralph Fiennes should get an Oscar just for *that dance* alone.
January 25, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Saw 28 Years Later Bone Temple last night. It's an odd masterpiece. Along with the first I don't think I can remember a stranger film. Heartening stuff like this is still being made.
And Ralph Fiennes should get an Oscar just for *that dance* alone.
And Ralph Fiennes should get an Oscar just for *that dance* alone.
Does AI mean schools should now abandon letters of application?
January 25, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Does AI mean schools should now abandon letters of application?
Flower of Scotland is the best national anthem by far. Absolute banger.
Worth checking out its history too. Not as old as you might think it is..
Worth checking out its history too. Not as old as you might think it is..
January 25, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Flower of Scotland is the best national anthem by far. Absolute banger.
Worth checking out its history too. Not as old as you might think it is..
Worth checking out its history too. Not as old as you might think it is..
Reposted by Ben Newmark
I mean it’s ceremonially in Feb isn’t it? Like embassies?
January 25, 2026 at 10:20 AM
I mean it’s ceremonially in Feb isn’t it? Like embassies?
If you're doing dry January you get burns night as a pass out right?
January 25, 2026 at 10:16 AM
If you're doing dry January you get burns night as a pass out right?
Played pickleball this week for the first time.
This is a sport dreamed up at a 3am student party when someone said "wouldn't it be cool if we could shrink ourselves down and then play tennis on a ping pong table?"
This is a sport dreamed up at a 3am student party when someone said "wouldn't it be cool if we could shrink ourselves down and then play tennis on a ping pong table?"
January 25, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Played pickleball this week for the first time.
This is a sport dreamed up at a 3am student party when someone said "wouldn't it be cool if we could shrink ourselves down and then play tennis on a ping pong table?"
This is a sport dreamed up at a 3am student party when someone said "wouldn't it be cool if we could shrink ourselves down and then play tennis on a ping pong table?"
Reposted by Ben Newmark
A Year in Willerby.
Stories from a haunted village.
20 of 100 copies left of the first edition.
Bound with original lino prints.
Sent straight from the village with a handwritten letter.
Orders going today. Order in the next couple of hours to get one sent to you.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
Stories from a haunted village.
20 of 100 copies left of the first edition.
Bound with original lino prints.
Sent straight from the village with a handwritten letter.
Orders going today. Order in the next couple of hours to get one sent to you.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
January 24, 2026 at 6:39 AM
A Year in Willerby.
Stories from a haunted village.
20 of 100 copies left of the first edition.
Bound with original lino prints.
Sent straight from the village with a handwritten letter.
Orders going today. Order in the next couple of hours to get one sent to you.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
Stories from a haunted village.
20 of 100 copies left of the first edition.
Bound with original lino prints.
Sent straight from the village with a handwritten letter.
Orders going today. Order in the next couple of hours to get one sent to you.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
Reposted by Ben Newmark
Can I have a 6th?
I Feel For You - Chaka Khan
I Feel For You - Chaka Khan
January 23, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Can I have a 6th?
I Feel For You - Chaka Khan
I Feel For You - Chaka Khan
Reposted by Ben Newmark
Yes to stories. My enhanced provision class of year 7s have VERY big opinions and ideas about Matilda, Stephen, Henry II and Eleanor. Can't read about it or write about it, but we can 'story' it in a big way.
January 23, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Yes to stories. My enhanced provision class of year 7s have VERY big opinions and ideas about Matilda, Stephen, Henry II and Eleanor. Can't read about it or write about it, but we can 'story' it in a big way.
Reposted by Ben Newmark
Reposted by Ben Newmark
1. Regina Spektor - Samson
2. The Cure - Killing an Arab
3. The Strokes - Soma
4. Mastodon - Blood and Thunder
5. Nick Cave - Red Right Hand
#FridayFive
2. The Cure - Killing an Arab
3. The Strokes - Soma
4. Mastodon - Blood and Thunder
5. Nick Cave - Red Right Hand
#FridayFive
January 23, 2026 at 7:23 PM
1. Regina Spektor - Samson
2. The Cure - Killing an Arab
3. The Strokes - Soma
4. Mastodon - Blood and Thunder
5. Nick Cave - Red Right Hand
#FridayFive
2. The Cure - Killing an Arab
3. The Strokes - Soma
4. Mastodon - Blood and Thunder
5. Nick Cave - Red Right Hand
#FridayFive
Someone should make a documentary where the interview parents about what Wires by Athlete means to them.
January 23, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Someone should make a documentary where the interview parents about what Wires by Athlete means to them.
Reposted by Ben Newmark
#FridayFive literature
1. Verdi: Otello
2. Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet
3. Britten: Midsummer Night’s Dream
4. Elgar: Falstaff
5. Cole Porter: Kiss Me Kate (based on Taming of the Shrew)
1. Verdi: Otello
2. Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet
3. Britten: Midsummer Night’s Dream
4. Elgar: Falstaff
5. Cole Porter: Kiss Me Kate (based on Taming of the Shrew)
January 23, 2026 at 6:31 PM
#FridayFive literature
1. Verdi: Otello
2. Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet
3. Britten: Midsummer Night’s Dream
4. Elgar: Falstaff
5. Cole Porter: Kiss Me Kate (based on Taming of the Shrew)
1. Verdi: Otello
2. Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet
3. Britten: Midsummer Night’s Dream
4. Elgar: Falstaff
5. Cole Porter: Kiss Me Kate (based on Taming of the Shrew)
Reposted by Ben Newmark
1. Ramble On, Led Zeppelin
2. French Navy, Camera Obscura
3. Crane Wife 1+2, Decemberists
4. Xanadu, Olivia Newton John
5. Alice, Tom Waits
#fridayfive goes bookish.
2. French Navy, Camera Obscura
3. Crane Wife 1+2, Decemberists
4. Xanadu, Olivia Newton John
5. Alice, Tom Waits
#fridayfive goes bookish.
January 23, 2026 at 6:42 PM
1. Ramble On, Led Zeppelin
2. French Navy, Camera Obscura
3. Crane Wife 1+2, Decemberists
4. Xanadu, Olivia Newton John
5. Alice, Tom Waits
#fridayfive goes bookish.
2. French Navy, Camera Obscura
3. Crane Wife 1+2, Decemberists
4. Xanadu, Olivia Newton John
5. Alice, Tom Waits
#fridayfive goes bookish.
Reposted by Ben Newmark
Here’s where the story ends: The Sundays
I an a Rock: Simon and Garfunkel
Wrapped up in Books: Belle and Sebastian
Oxford Comma: Vampire Weekend
White Rabbit: Jefferson Airplane #FridayFive
I an a Rock: Simon and Garfunkel
Wrapped up in Books: Belle and Sebastian
Oxford Comma: Vampire Weekend
White Rabbit: Jefferson Airplane #FridayFive
January 23, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Here’s where the story ends: The Sundays
I an a Rock: Simon and Garfunkel
Wrapped up in Books: Belle and Sebastian
Oxford Comma: Vampire Weekend
White Rabbit: Jefferson Airplane #FridayFive
I an a Rock: Simon and Garfunkel
Wrapped up in Books: Belle and Sebastian
Oxford Comma: Vampire Weekend
White Rabbit: Jefferson Airplane #FridayFive
The best sound in the world is the roar of a hometown crowd when a local band that's gone huge starts up its best song.
(Dignity Deacon Blue live in Glasgow. It's on spotify.)
(Dignity Deacon Blue live in Glasgow. It's on spotify.)
January 23, 2026 at 6:48 PM
The best sound in the world is the roar of a hometown crowd when a local band that's gone huge starts up its best song.
(Dignity Deacon Blue live in Glasgow. It's on spotify.)
(Dignity Deacon Blue live in Glasgow. It's on spotify.)
Reposted by Ben Newmark
#FridayFive
That was hard. I have had to include a couple of very tenuous links…
1. The Universal - Blur
2. Space Oddity - David Bowie
3. You Look Good on The Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys
4. Don Quixote - Nik Kershaw
5. Grapes of Wrath - The Mission.
That was hard. I have had to include a couple of very tenuous links…
1. The Universal - Blur
2. Space Oddity - David Bowie
3. You Look Good on The Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys
4. Don Quixote - Nik Kershaw
5. Grapes of Wrath - The Mission.
January 23, 2026 at 5:41 PM
#FridayFive
That was hard. I have had to include a couple of very tenuous links…
1. The Universal - Blur
2. Space Oddity - David Bowie
3. You Look Good on The Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys
4. Don Quixote - Nik Kershaw
5. Grapes of Wrath - The Mission.
That was hard. I have had to include a couple of very tenuous links…
1. The Universal - Blur
2. Space Oddity - David Bowie
3. You Look Good on The Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys
4. Don Quixote - Nik Kershaw
5. Grapes of Wrath - The Mission.
Reposted by Ben Newmark
#FridayFive
1 Caliban’s Dream - Underworld
2 Paperback Writer - The Beatles
3 Books From Boxes - Maximo Park
3 Wake Up - Boo Radleys
5 Mr Writer - Stereophonics
1 Caliban’s Dream - Underworld
2 Paperback Writer - The Beatles
3 Books From Boxes - Maximo Park
3 Wake Up - Boo Radleys
5 Mr Writer - Stereophonics
January 23, 2026 at 6:21 PM
#FridayFive
1 Caliban’s Dream - Underworld
2 Paperback Writer - The Beatles
3 Books From Boxes - Maximo Park
3 Wake Up - Boo Radleys
5 Mr Writer - Stereophonics
1 Caliban’s Dream - Underworld
2 Paperback Writer - The Beatles
3 Books From Boxes - Maximo Park
3 Wake Up - Boo Radleys
5 Mr Writer - Stereophonics