DamsonEd
@damsoned.bsky.social
Dr Megan Dixon: teacher, leader and researcher. PhD, Psychology. All things education and research - literacy, English, research into practice, curriculum, SEND. TES writer. Based in the UK.
https://meganjanedixon.co.uk/2026/01/02/pivoting/
https://meganjanedixon.co.uk/2026/01/02/pivoting/
Pinned
DamsonEd
@damsoned.bsky.social
· May 8
What schools are doing to tackle the speech and language ‘crisis’
The number of children with speech and language challenges is soaring. And not all of these pupils have SEND. Experts tell Ellen Peirson-Hagger how in-school intervention is possible - and highly effe...
www.tes.com
On the back of this article- a thread of useful places for schools/teachers who are interested in finding out more… as I say, this has been a serious issue for a long time… it would be powerful to get a serious handle on it (with obvious impact on ed outcomes).
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Reposted by DamsonEd
Peter Mandelson – the great genius at the heart of New Labour.
Dominic Cummings – the great genius at the heart of 'Leave'.
Nick Timothy – the great genius at the....
Morgan McSweeney – the great genius at the....
Can we ban all alleged great geniuses and cast them into outer darkness forever?
Dominic Cummings – the great genius at the heart of 'Leave'.
Nick Timothy – the great genius at the....
Morgan McSweeney – the great genius at the....
Can we ban all alleged great geniuses and cast them into outer darkness forever?
The "coincidence" of Epstein's cash payments to Peter Mandelson's partner/husband in 2009/10 and the then industry secretary's lobbying within cabinet for a softer post-crash policy towards bankers looks on the face of it like outright corruption. Certainly demands police investigation.
January 31, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Peter Mandelson – the great genius at the heart of New Labour.
Dominic Cummings – the great genius at the heart of 'Leave'.
Nick Timothy – the great genius at the....
Morgan McSweeney – the great genius at the....
Can we ban all alleged great geniuses and cast them into outer darkness forever?
Dominic Cummings – the great genius at the heart of 'Leave'.
Nick Timothy – the great genius at the....
Morgan McSweeney – the great genius at the....
Can we ban all alleged great geniuses and cast them into outer darkness forever?
Reposted by DamsonEd
Mm. You know, I’m not sure I believe Goodwin, who has always struck me as the sort of person (tiresomely familiar if you have spent any time in British academia at any level, including by undergrad), who is really, really bitter that he didn’t get the Oxbridge career he wanted, and can’t let go.
Reform politician Matthew Goodwin tells the Sunday Times that he would "rather shoot myself in the head" than be at dinner with Nick Robinson and Mary Beard, and the last thing the ex-acadenuc would ever have wanted would be to be a Professor at some Oxford college "backwater with zero influence"
You dont win 'em all! Reform's Matt Goodwin in Sunday Times: 'Most .. people criticising me are nerds.The last thing I want is to be at some dinner party table with Nick Robinson & Mary Beard. I'd rather shoot myself in the head'. Hang on, I'm not THAT bad!Nerds sometimes have a (thoughtful!) point.
February 1, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Mm. You know, I’m not sure I believe Goodwin, who has always struck me as the sort of person (tiresomely familiar if you have spent any time in British academia at any level, including by undergrad), who is really, really bitter that he didn’t get the Oxbridge career he wanted, and can’t let go.
Reposted by DamsonEd
Endless “governance checklists” are compliance theatre. They mean nothing. And tech companies , if they have any consequences at all, simply pay a tiny fine and continue abusing digital rights of children and families.
We need to tell schools HOW to check for real issues
We need to tell schools HOW to check for real issues
February 1, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Endless “governance checklists” are compliance theatre. They mean nothing. And tech companies , if they have any consequences at all, simply pay a tiny fine and continue abusing digital rights of children and families.
We need to tell schools HOW to check for real issues
We need to tell schools HOW to check for real issues
Reposted by DamsonEd
I will never not be angry that schools get inundated with detail about metacognition or retrieval or whatever the fad is this year
But no one gives schools- full of people who can retain and explain facts- any information on how to evaluate edtech products. We scrutinise skirt length more .
But no one gives schools- full of people who can retain and explain facts- any information on how to evaluate edtech products. We scrutinise skirt length more .
February 1, 2026 at 9:52 AM
I will never not be angry that schools get inundated with detail about metacognition or retrieval or whatever the fad is this year
But no one gives schools- full of people who can retain and explain facts- any information on how to evaluate edtech products. We scrutinise skirt length more .
But no one gives schools- full of people who can retain and explain facts- any information on how to evaluate edtech products. We scrutinise skirt length more .
Reposted by DamsonEd
This is very true (except in early years). We would do well to consider why children go increasingly from movement to being static the older they get within the education system.
I find it astonishing what we expect of children - don't think I could sit in five hours of lectures every day, five days a week and take in everything.
February 1, 2026 at 9:53 AM
This is very true (except in early years). We would do well to consider why children go increasingly from movement to being static the older they get within the education system.
Reposted by DamsonEd
There's very much a link between the idea that learning is only about the brain ('learning = memory') and the way we see children's bodies increasingly controlled by adults in some settings ('silent corridors'). Even Ofsted is joining in with its current obsessive focus on neat handwriting.
February 1, 2026 at 9:55 AM
There's very much a link between the idea that learning is only about the brain ('learning = memory') and the way we see children's bodies increasingly controlled by adults in some settings ('silent corridors'). Even Ofsted is joining in with its current obsessive focus on neat handwriting.
Reposted by DamsonEd
'Unfair barriers' stop teachers advancing to the upper pay range, a report has warned, as school staff reported goalposts 'shifting all the time'
schoolsweek.co.uk/barriers-to-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/barriers-to-...
Are teachers hitting the wall on the way to higher pay?
Over half of teachers warn of 'barriers' to upper pay range in union survey
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 10:27 AM
'Unfair barriers' stop teachers advancing to the upper pay range, a report has warned, as school staff reported goalposts 'shifting all the time'
schoolsweek.co.uk/barriers-to-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/barriers-to-...
Reposted by DamsonEd
I found school exhausting as it was - can’t imagine how I’d manage in modern schools which have had all the art & music etc ground out of them in favour of more maths
I find it astonishing what we expect of children - don't think I could sit in five hours of lectures every day, five days a week and take in everything.
February 1, 2026 at 10:21 AM
I found school exhausting as it was - can’t imagine how I’d manage in modern schools which have had all the art & music etc ground out of them in favour of more maths
Reposted by DamsonEd
Well done Megan! You are a star!
January 31, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Well done Megan! You are a star!
This is not just a psychology issue… bsky.app/profile/k2me...
It's rotten to the core and makes me want to leave academia. These are psychology people. Pinker and Chomsky are in there (as if we didn't already know). The sexual harassment that goes on at conferences is the tip of the iceberg it seems. I hate that I work in an industry where I have to have...
And, for completeness’ sake, Dan Ariely asking to add Jeffrey Epstein to his professional network on LinkedIn bsky.app/profile/kjhe...
January 31, 2026 at 10:39 PM
This is not just a psychology issue… bsky.app/profile/k2me...
Reposted by DamsonEd
Today I have managed to finished my MacMillianCancer 35 Minute a Day Exercise Challenge!!!! 🎉🎉🎉
I managed to complete all the minutes and raise over £2.5k.
Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored and supported me. It has been hard- but I have enjoyed it hugely.
I managed to complete all the minutes and raise over £2.5k.
Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored and supported me. It has been hard- but I have enjoyed it hugely.
January 31, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Today I have managed to finished my MacMillianCancer 35 Minute a Day Exercise Challenge!!!! 🎉🎉🎉
I managed to complete all the minutes and raise over £2.5k.
Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored and supported me. It has been hard- but I have enjoyed it hugely.
I managed to complete all the minutes and raise over £2.5k.
Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored and supported me. It has been hard- but I have enjoyed it hugely.
Reposted by DamsonEd
31 days of running a mile a day to raise money for cancer @royalmarsden.org – and on my last day I smashed my PR with an amazing time for me of 8:48!
Thank you to everyone who has supported me in memory of my friends Allison Busch & Bruce Wannell.
fundraise.royalmarsden.org/fundraisers/...
Thank you to everyone who has supported me in memory of my friends Allison Busch & Bruce Wannell.
fundraise.royalmarsden.org/fundraisers/...
January 31, 2026 at 7:27 PM
31 days of running a mile a day to raise money for cancer @royalmarsden.org – and on my last day I smashed my PR with an amazing time for me of 8:48!
Thank you to everyone who has supported me in memory of my friends Allison Busch & Bruce Wannell.
fundraise.royalmarsden.org/fundraisers/...
Thank you to everyone who has supported me in memory of my friends Allison Busch & Bruce Wannell.
fundraise.royalmarsden.org/fundraisers/...
Reposted by DamsonEd
Bennett is still being listened to I see.
A man with no experience of note in schools, spent his time regurgitating and repackaging Victorian prison ideas of isolation and “reflection“. This lazy thinking is now Ofsted thinking.
🤷♂️
A man with no experience of note in schools, spent his time regurgitating and repackaging Victorian prison ideas of isolation and “reflection“. This lazy thinking is now Ofsted thinking.
🤷♂️
January 31, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Bennett is still being listened to I see.
A man with no experience of note in schools, spent his time regurgitating and repackaging Victorian prison ideas of isolation and “reflection“. This lazy thinking is now Ofsted thinking.
🤷♂️
A man with no experience of note in schools, spent his time regurgitating and repackaging Victorian prison ideas of isolation and “reflection“. This lazy thinking is now Ofsted thinking.
🤷♂️
Reposted by DamsonEd
Also, in a one-form primary school (or smaller), who do they think is facilitating this and where is it happening? Most primaries do not have staff available to support this nor do they have spaces for it to happen. Every adult and every space is being used, every minute of the day.
6. Here we seem to be dreaming up from first principles the work skilled pastoral staff are doing every day already. This feels a bit insulting to them to say we're going to start doing this.
January 31, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Also, in a one-form primary school (or smaller), who do they think is facilitating this and where is it happening? Most primaries do not have staff available to support this nor do they have spaces for it to happen. Every adult and every space is being used, every minute of the day.
Reposted by DamsonEd
When we say that the ego of tech men has always been the biggest cybersecurity vulnerability, this is what we mean
So many rich powerful men who lack any common sense
Also one dose of antibiotics wouldn’t help any more than one Teams update does
So many rich powerful men who lack any common sense
Also one dose of antibiotics wouldn’t help any more than one Teams update does
Epstein Emails on Bill Gates
“TO add insult to injury you then subsequently with tears in your eyes, implore me to please delete the emails regarding your std, your request that I provide you with antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda, and the description of your penis.”
“TO add insult to injury you then subsequently with tears in your eyes, implore me to please delete the emails regarding your std, your request that I provide you with antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda, and the description of your penis.”
Epstein emails on Bill Gates released by Justice Department
Files contain new revelations on Microsoft founder, Elon Musk, the former Prince Andrew and other powerful men
www.ft.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:46 PM
When we say that the ego of tech men has always been the biggest cybersecurity vulnerability, this is what we mean
So many rich powerful men who lack any common sense
Also one dose of antibiotics wouldn’t help any more than one Teams update does
So many rich powerful men who lack any common sense
Also one dose of antibiotics wouldn’t help any more than one Teams update does
Reposted by DamsonEd
Huge congratulations. What an amazing sum to raise, too. 👏👏👏
January 31, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Huge congratulations. What an amazing sum to raise, too. 👏👏👏
Reposted by DamsonEd
I spoke to WNYC's On The Media about the Verification, Deliberation, Accountability framework I've developed, and how, without major interventions, it predicts the inevitable slide of democracies into populism, conspiracy, and, finally, authoritarianism
www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm...
www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm...
Videos of ICE Violence Are Plentiful. Accountability.… Not So Much. | On the Media | WNYC Studios
The Trump administration called Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal officers, a “domestic terrorist.” And then bystander footage flooded the internet. On this week’s On th...
www.wnycstudios.org
January 31, 2026 at 9:01 AM
I spoke to WNYC's On The Media about the Verification, Deliberation, Accountability framework I've developed, and how, without major interventions, it predicts the inevitable slide of democracies into populism, conspiracy, and, finally, authoritarianism
www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm...
www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm...
Reposted by DamsonEd
HAHAHAHAHAAH
I know I don't say this often enough. But at this moment, with a full heart, I want to tell you, from the depths of my soul: I hate my job
January 31, 2026 at 4:06 PM
HAHAHAHAHAAH
Reposted by DamsonEd
Woohoo, you are fab in a multitude of ways 🎉
January 31, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Woohoo, you are fab in a multitude of ways 🎉
Today I have managed to finished my MacMillianCancer 35 Minute a Day Exercise Challenge!!!! 🎉🎉🎉
I managed to complete all the minutes and raise over £2.5k.
Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored and supported me. It has been hard- but I have enjoyed it hugely.
I managed to complete all the minutes and raise over £2.5k.
Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored and supported me. It has been hard- but I have enjoyed it hugely.
January 31, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Today I have managed to finished my MacMillianCancer 35 Minute a Day Exercise Challenge!!!! 🎉🎉🎉
I managed to complete all the minutes and raise over £2.5k.
Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored and supported me. It has been hard- but I have enjoyed it hugely.
I managed to complete all the minutes and raise over £2.5k.
Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored and supported me. It has been hard- but I have enjoyed it hugely.
Reposted by DamsonEd
We are already getting fascinating results from this! Teaching at KS2? Primary Head or Literacy lead? PLEASE, PLEASE take the TWO MINUTES needed to respond!
Are you a KS2 teacher? We're adding an extra dimension to our survey of poetry at KS3 by asking some KS2 teachers to respond to one question. Please could you take 2 mins to click this link & answer the question? Huge thanks! www.surveymonkey.com/r/MapKS2Coll...
Mapping Poetry: A Question for Primary Colleagues
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
www.surveymonkey.com
January 31, 2026 at 11:37 AM
We are already getting fascinating results from this! Teaching at KS2? Primary Head or Literacy lead? PLEASE, PLEASE take the TWO MINUTES needed to respond!
Reposted by DamsonEd
Anyone else hear Joseph Jebelli on Radio 4 this am? So interesting! A brain science corrective to the 'every second counts' bombardment of young people's brains in some versions of 'science of learning' & current trends like SLANT. Staring out the window & taking breaks may help you learn more!
‘The brain is doing a lot of something when we appear to be doing nothing…’
I met Dr Joseph Jebelli, author of ‘The Brain at Rest’ @torvabooks.bsky.social
Repost for your chance to win a copy!
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
I met Dr Joseph Jebelli, author of ‘The Brain at Rest’ @torvabooks.bsky.social
Repost for your chance to win a copy!
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
‘The brain is doing a lot of something when we appear to be doing nothing’ | BPS
Our editor Dr Jon Sutton meets Dr Joseph Jebelli, author of ‘The Brain at Rest’.
www.bps.org.uk
January 31, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Anyone else hear Joseph Jebelli on Radio 4 this am? So interesting! A brain science corrective to the 'every second counts' bombardment of young people's brains in some versions of 'science of learning' & current trends like SLANT. Staring out the window & taking breaks may help you learn more!
Reposted by DamsonEd
"It’s one of those rare, unicorn films that doesn’t have a single redeeming quality. I’m not even sure it qualifies as a documentary, exactly, so much as an elaborate piece of designer taxidermy, horribly overpriced and ice-cold to the touch."
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
Melania review – Trump film is a gilded trash remake of The Zone of Interest
Dispiriting, deadly and unrevealing – there is a decent documentary to be made about the former model from Slovenia, but this one is unredeemable
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:30 PM
"It’s one of those rare, unicorn films that doesn’t have a single redeeming quality. I’m not even sure it qualifies as a documentary, exactly, so much as an elaborate piece of designer taxidermy, horribly overpriced and ice-cold to the touch."
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
Reposted by DamsonEd
Oh dear. Our favourite Fellow of the @royalsociety.org is in the news again
NEW: Elon Musk has insisted that Jeffrey Epstein invited him to the notorious island and he declined. But new emails show the opposite -- Musk was practically begging to party with Epstein in the Caribbean, years after Epstein's sex convictions were public knowledge
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Elon Musk Emailed Extensively With Jeffrey Epstein, Begging to Visit His Notorious Island
Newly released documents show how Elon Musk extensively communicated with Jeffrey Epstein to plan parties and trips to his island.
futurism.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:07 AM
Oh dear. Our favourite Fellow of the @royalsociety.org is in the news again