James Handscombe
@jameshandscombe.bsky.social
Executive Principal, Mathematician, Teacher, Wordsmith not necessarily in that order.
I’ve been pruning (this is my pear tree with its new barnet) and I have two pieces of wisdom*
1) One tree is a lot of tree
2) Thorns are really thorny
*in its broadest sense
1) One tree is a lot of tree
2) Thorns are really thorny
*in its broadest sense
January 25, 2026 at 2:43 PM
I’ve been pruning (this is my pear tree with its new barnet) and I have two pieces of wisdom*
1) One tree is a lot of tree
2) Thorns are really thorny
*in its broadest sense
1) One tree is a lot of tree
2) Thorns are really thorny
*in its broadest sense
Reposted by James Handscombe
216 followers on the prelaunch page - let’s see if we can get to 250 by the end of the month!
Crowdfunding this March: LITTLE BUT FIERCE by DC Bradshaw.
Based on the popular 5th Edition ruleset, Little but Fierce features:
⭐️ Streamlined Rules
⭐️ Simplifed Language
⭐️ A Family-Friendly Tone
#dnd #dnd5e #littlebutfierce #ttrpg #tabletop #kids
Follow now:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dcb...
Based on the popular 5th Edition ruleset, Little but Fierce features:
⭐️ Streamlined Rules
⭐️ Simplifed Language
⭐️ A Family-Friendly Tone
#dnd #dnd5e #littlebutfierce #ttrpg #tabletop #kids
Follow now:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dcb...
January 24, 2026 at 3:17 PM
216 followers on the prelaunch page - let’s see if we can get to 250 by the end of the month!
I see why the second amendment got into the bill of rights, and I see why it’s important to those who live far from an organized police force, but this shows one of the huge problems with it in cities now: the police a) have guns and b) are scared of those they are policing.
That’s a bad combination
That’s a bad combination
All them 2nd amendment folks out there better wake up. Apparently legal carry is an excuse for the federal govt to shoot you now. There are multiple videos and at no point did this man EVER brandish a gun or do anything else illegal. ICE should have never engaged him to begin with.
January 25, 2026 at 8:37 AM
I see why the second amendment got into the bill of rights, and I see why it’s important to those who live far from an organized police force, but this shows one of the huge problems with it in cities now: the police a) have guns and b) are scared of those they are policing.
That’s a bad combination
That’s a bad combination
This rather lovely piece of architecture is a building extending outwards and gracefully curving so as to amplify, rather than obstruct the view of the church next door.
January 24, 2026 at 4:25 PM
This rather lovely piece of architecture is a building extending outwards and gracefully curving so as to amplify, rather than obstruct the view of the church next door.
Love is a knitted octopus (apparently)
January 24, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Love is a knitted octopus (apparently)
In retrospect, obviously the Kindertransport was safer than Vienna in the winter of 1938/39, but what a decision to have to make!
Not being the one who puts people in this position is a low bar to get over - there really are no excuses for those that don’t manage it.
Not being the one who puts people in this position is a low bar to get over - there really are no excuses for those that don’t manage it.
I love Isabel Allende’s writing, but she does have a tendency to put her characters in the midst of the worst of humankind.
This morning we have to make a decision, in the most dangerous time, to send our kid away and hope that he’s safe with foreign strangers.
This morning we have to make a decision, in the most dangerous time, to send our kid away and hope that he’s safe with foreign strangers.
January 23, 2026 at 7:51 AM
In retrospect, obviously the Kindertransport was safer than Vienna in the winter of 1938/39, but what a decision to have to make!
Not being the one who puts people in this position is a low bar to get over - there really are no excuses for those that don’t manage it.
Not being the one who puts people in this position is a low bar to get over - there really are no excuses for those that don’t manage it.
I love Isabel Allende’s writing, but she does have a tendency to put her characters in the midst of the worst of humankind.
This morning we have to make a decision, in the most dangerous time, to send our kid away and hope that he’s safe with foreign strangers.
This morning we have to make a decision, in the most dangerous time, to send our kid away and hope that he’s safe with foreign strangers.
January 23, 2026 at 7:47 AM
I love Isabel Allende’s writing, but she does have a tendency to put her characters in the midst of the worst of humankind.
This morning we have to make a decision, in the most dangerous time, to send our kid away and hope that he’s safe with foreign strangers.
This morning we have to make a decision, in the most dangerous time, to send our kid away and hope that he’s safe with foreign strangers.
Reposted by James Handscombe
‘Terrible things are happening outside… Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared. Women return… to find their families gone.’
Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
ICE detains five-year-old Minnesota boy arriving home, say school officials
Superintendent says Liam Ramos and his father were taken into custody while in their driveway and sent to Texas
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:43 AM
‘Terrible things are happening outside… Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared. Women return… to find their families gone.’
Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by James Handscombe
Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."
January 22, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."
I have long argued that the rule of law - the principle that laws apply equally to everyone, nobody is above it, nobody is outside it - is the most fundamental of British values.
A masked force that kidnaps people without due process is someone’s private army, not the police.
A masked force that kidnaps people without due process is someone’s private army, not the police.
I would argue that the case for dismantling ICE has, at this point, virtually nothing to do with larger questions of immigration enforcement and reform, it's just clearly incompatible with a free and democratic society to maintain a secret police force with sweeping and arbitrary authority.
Senator Gallego weighs in as well. Note that at the start of 2025 he was considered a *moderate* on immigration and co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act. Him and many other Dems have been increasingly horrified at what ICE is doing and shifted away from a "more enforcement" focus.
January 22, 2026 at 7:43 AM
I have long argued that the rule of law - the principle that laws apply equally to everyone, nobody is above it, nobody is outside it - is the most fundamental of British values.
A masked force that kidnaps people without due process is someone’s private army, not the police.
A masked force that kidnaps people without due process is someone’s private army, not the police.
Reposted by James Handscombe
I would argue that the case for dismantling ICE has, at this point, virtually nothing to do with larger questions of immigration enforcement and reform, it's just clearly incompatible with a free and democratic society to maintain a secret police force with sweeping and arbitrary authority.
Senator Gallego weighs in as well. Note that at the start of 2025 he was considered a *moderate* on immigration and co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act. Him and many other Dems have been increasingly horrified at what ICE is doing and shifted away from a "more enforcement" focus.
January 21, 2026 at 11:09 PM
I would argue that the case for dismantling ICE has, at this point, virtually nothing to do with larger questions of immigration enforcement and reform, it's just clearly incompatible with a free and democratic society to maintain a secret police force with sweeping and arbitrary authority.
Reposted by James Handscombe
Yesterday I observed a sixth form sociology lesson and, as always, was distracted from the job of examining the pedagogy and working out what was maximizing learning by the joy of finding out something new and engaging with the scholarship.
It got me thinking…
It got me thinking…
January 21, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Yesterday I observed a sixth form sociology lesson and, as always, was distracted from the job of examining the pedagogy and working out what was maximizing learning by the joy of finding out something new and engaging with the scholarship.
It got me thinking…
It got me thinking…
Yesterday I observed a sixth form sociology lesson and, as always, was distracted from the job of examining the pedagogy and working out what was maximizing learning by the joy of finding out something new and engaging with the scholarship.
It got me thinking…
It got me thinking…
January 21, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Yesterday I observed a sixth form sociology lesson and, as always, was distracted from the job of examining the pedagogy and working out what was maximizing learning by the joy of finding out something new and engaging with the scholarship.
It got me thinking…
It got me thinking…
Reposted by James Handscombe
At Harris Greenwich today to give an assembly and find a new way of packaging the amazingness of learning for a new audience (with a new muse)
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/vie...
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/vie...
Vienna | james-handscombe.co.uk
james-handscombe.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 9:07 AM
At Harris Greenwich today to give an assembly and find a new way of packaging the amazingness of learning for a new audience (with a new muse)
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/vie...
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/vie...
At Harris Greenwich today to give an assembly and find a new way of packaging the amazingness of learning for a new audience (with a new muse)
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/vie...
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/vie...
Vienna | james-handscombe.co.uk
james-handscombe.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 9:07 AM
At Harris Greenwich today to give an assembly and find a new way of packaging the amazingness of learning for a new audience (with a new muse)
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/vie...
james-handscombe.co.uk/ambition/vie...
Reposted by James Handscombe
Crowdfunding this March: LITTLE BUT FIERCE by DC Bradshaw.
Based on the popular 5th Edition ruleset, Little but Fierce features:
⭐️ Streamlined Rules
⭐️ Simplifed Language
⭐️ A Family-Friendly Tone
#dnd #dnd5e #littlebutfierce #ttrpg #tabletop #kids
Follow now:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dcb...
Based on the popular 5th Edition ruleset, Little but Fierce features:
⭐️ Streamlined Rules
⭐️ Simplifed Language
⭐️ A Family-Friendly Tone
#dnd #dnd5e #littlebutfierce #ttrpg #tabletop #kids
Follow now:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dcb...
January 14, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Crowdfunding this March: LITTLE BUT FIERCE by DC Bradshaw.
Based on the popular 5th Edition ruleset, Little but Fierce features:
⭐️ Streamlined Rules
⭐️ Simplifed Language
⭐️ A Family-Friendly Tone
#dnd #dnd5e #littlebutfierce #ttrpg #tabletop #kids
Follow now:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dcb...
Based on the popular 5th Edition ruleset, Little but Fierce features:
⭐️ Streamlined Rules
⭐️ Simplifed Language
⭐️ A Family-Friendly Tone
#dnd #dnd5e #littlebutfierce #ttrpg #tabletop #kids
Follow now:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dcb...
Reposted by James Handscombe
Welcome to Willerby.
A thread.
More than fifty free stories with music, photos and original art on our village website. Ghosts, timeslips and the secret commonwealth.
Can be read in any order.
No AI anywhere ever.
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk
A thread.
More than fifty free stories with music, photos and original art on our village website. Ghosts, timeslips and the secret commonwealth.
Can be read in any order.
No AI anywhere ever.
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk
January 17, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Welcome to Willerby.
A thread.
More than fifty free stories with music, photos and original art on our village website. Ghosts, timeslips and the secret commonwealth.
Can be read in any order.
No AI anywhere ever.
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk
A thread.
More than fifty free stories with music, photos and original art on our village website. Ghosts, timeslips and the secret commonwealth.
Can be read in any order.
No AI anywhere ever.
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk
Reposted by James Handscombe
“When I was small, not much bigger than a pollywog,” said Frog, “my father said to me, “Son, this is a cold, gray day but spring is just around the corner.”
January 17, 2026 at 5:37 AM
“When I was small, not much bigger than a pollywog,” said Frog, “my father said to me, “Son, this is a cold, gray day but spring is just around the corner.”
Reposted by James Handscombe
Aye - thanks James - these friday lists of Ben's are great fun. Hopefully folks will get out and support live music especially at their local venues and pubs.
January 16, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Aye - thanks James - these friday lists of Ben's are great fun. Hopefully folks will get out and support live music especially at their local venues and pubs.
Reposted by James Handscombe
I love that Wikipedia's edit history is public because it only takes two clicks to get to the very first version of the "ant" article in its entirety from 2001. Happy 25th birthday Wikipedia! You've come so far
January 15, 2026 at 9:17 PM
I love that Wikipedia's edit history is public because it only takes two clicks to get to the very first version of the "ant" article in its entirety from 2001. Happy 25th birthday Wikipedia! You've come so far
Reposted by James Handscombe
Love this system generosity 🙌🏻
One of our schools was recently inspected under the new Ofsted framework.
We're hosting a free event on 12 February to share our experience and, hopefully, help others navigate the process successfully.
All welcome. Sign up below.
We're hosting a free event on 12 February to share our experience and, hopefully, help others navigate the process successfully.
All welcome. Sign up below.
📢 Primary leaders–getting Ofsted-ready? This is for you!
✈️ FREE webinar: The New Ofsted Framework–A Primary Experience
🗓 12 Feb | ⏰ 15:45–16:45
✅ Insights from a recent inspection
✅ EYFS, Safeguarding & SEND
✅ MAT perspective
Sign up 👉 tinyurl.com/bea2d2fm
#TransformingPD #EduSky #OfstedReady
✈️ FREE webinar: The New Ofsted Framework–A Primary Experience
🗓 12 Feb | ⏰ 15:45–16:45
✅ Insights from a recent inspection
✅ EYFS, Safeguarding & SEND
✅ MAT perspective
Sign up 👉 tinyurl.com/bea2d2fm
#TransformingPD #EduSky #OfstedReady
January 16, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Love this system generosity 🙌🏻
Reposted by James Handscombe
This seems relevant in both the U.K. and US right now. The US has moved beyond refugees via anyone brown to everyone now.
ps: I didn’t agree with Tony Benn on very much, but on this he was spot on.
ps: I didn’t agree with Tony Benn on very much, but on this he was spot on.
January 15, 2026 at 8:07 AM
This seems relevant in both the U.K. and US right now. The US has moved beyond refugees via anyone brown to everyone now.
ps: I didn’t agree with Tony Benn on very much, but on this he was spot on.
ps: I didn’t agree with Tony Benn on very much, but on this he was spot on.
If the DfE wants to address the retention crisis in teachjng it should make a funding model that can afford retained teachers. If your calculations are based on an M5 salary (I don’t know, actually - what are they based on) then you have a structure that expects teachers to quit after 5-6 years.
January 15, 2026 at 8:06 AM
If the DfE wants to address the retention crisis in teachjng it should make a funding model that can afford retained teachers. If your calculations are based on an M5 salary (I don’t know, actually - what are they based on) then you have a structure that expects teachers to quit after 5-6 years.
Reposted by James Handscombe
That was really obvious, but I'd never thought about it like that 😉
January 14, 2026 at 1:16 PM
That was really obvious, but I'd never thought about it like that 😉
Reposted by James Handscombe
The older I get, the more I've reluctantly begun to believe in tribes.
January 14, 2026 at 10:04 AM
The older I get, the more I've reluctantly begun to believe in tribes.