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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 7h

Nothing frightens populists more than teachers calmly explaining history and humanity to children. They call it indoctrination because it ruins the grift.

Yes, Nigel, the real danger isn’t poverty, racism or ignorance - it’s teachers daring to teach empathy. How ever will Britain survive?

Pillock.

Teachers Talk Radio @ttradioofficial.bsky.social · 13h

NEW: Nigel Farage has claimed teachers would go on strike within weeks of a Reform election win and accused them of “poisoning our kids” by telling them that black children are victims and white children oppressors. He said the “Marxist left” was “now in control of the education system" (Guardian)

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Reposted by Stuart Rowntree

Mr G @deputygrocott.bsky.social · 4d

I’ve made an Ofsted toolkit breakdown with evidence ideas for each section (although there’s no need to prepare evidence for them coming). If you’d like it, drop me a DM. Hopefully no one will!

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Reposted by Stuart Rowntree

Educational Review @edreview.bsky.social · 2d

What keeps teachers in schools? 🏫
New research shows supportive working conditions—esp. strong leadership—boost satisfaction & retention, while unsupportive ones fuel attrition.

Read more 👇
doi.org/10.1080/0013...

#TeacherRetention #EdPolicy

@drrachelswhite.bsky.social
@amyluelle.bsky.social

Educational Review journal title appears at the top. On the left, in white text on a bright blue background is the article title and author name(s): ‘Conditions for continuity: how school working conditions shape teacher retention and job satisfaction’ by Luke C. Miller, Rachel S. White, Daniel W. Player & Amy L. Reynolds. On the right is an image of teacher looking at and reaching towards a drawing of a school.

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Reposted by Stuart Rowntree

Tes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 3d

'I'm more impressed by someone who can turn a colleague's underperformance into success than by someone who rules with fear': trust CEO @nicolemccartney.bsky.social talks about her leadership philosophy in our latest How I Lead…

Nicole McCartney: ‘Good leaders don’t hold the stick over people’s heads’

In our How I Lead series, we ask education leaders to reflect on their careers, their experience and their leadership philosophy. This month, we talk to Nicole McCartney, CEO of Creative Education Trust

www.tes.com

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 3d

Haven't been around on here for a while.

My first half term as a *real* AHT has been breakneck, but I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

How is everyone else?

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 5d

I've never seen it...

homer simpson is standing in a grassy field

ALT: homer simpson is standing in a grassy field

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Stuart Rowntree

Christopher Such @suchmo83.bsky.social · 12d

As with almost every article written about reading in the past few years, this one has inspired a few suggestions that the focus on phonics has caused problems.

I'd like to explain why I disagree.

>>

Tes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 12d

An expert shares five reading fluency strategies to support children to become better readers

Reading fluency: why it matters and how to teach it

A focus on reading fluency can help to bridge the gap between decoding and comprehension, says Penny Slater, who shares strategies for supporting children to become fluent readers

www.tes.com

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 12d

The new money-saving plan: underfund schools further and gut EHCPs until they only cover PMLD.

Translation: strip protection from thousands of autistic, SEMH, SLCN and SpLD children - and dump the cost on schools already on their knees.

Happy days.

Cerys Turner @cerysturner.bsky.social · 12d

Keir Starmer told the BBC this morning that he doesn’t want to take away EHCPs, but - and an important but - added that “we do need to reform this system”.

No final decision has been made on SEND reform & the PM has invited other parties to work with the govt:

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

DfE considering if EHCPs are 'right vehicle'

SEND adviser Dame Christine Lenehan says new reforms will change the 'bureaucratic nightmare' that the system has become

www.tes.com

Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 12d

American fans’ behaviour toward Europeans at the Ryder Cup shows how far decorum and integrity have collapsed since Trump stripped the nation of the dignity it once had...

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Reposted by Stuart Rowntree

Ben Newmark @bennewmark.bsky.social · 19d

Yup.
The rate limiting step in almost every context I've seen is attention. And you need a teacher to direct this. Almost every tech model starts from the wrong point because it assumes children will want to study the material and won't need their attention managed.

Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 19d

Access to information or even assessment materials and feedback has never been the rate limiting step of education.

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Reposted by Stuart Rowntree

AR @psalisbury.bsky.social · 18d

So yes, expose all children to the very best: take them to the theatre, watch films, go to the ballet, watch a concert, display the emotion of these wonderful pieces of art. But don’t give them the text and expect them to write an essay on it, because you’ll put them off for life.

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 20d

30hrs free childcare will ease costs & boost work for some parents, but risks remain: patchy places, underfunded providers, excluded poorest families, quality under strain.

A better equipped and funded early years infrastructure needed.

Helps, yes. Solves, no.

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 20d

Labour preach about supporting working families, yet won’t lay a serious hand on wealth or capital - the rich stay shielded while parents count pennies for their children in poverty.

Don't just speak big, deliver big.

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 21d

Offering Trump a UK state visit now is not diplomacy but a statement. In optics and morality, it signals comfort with demagoguery at a moment when democratic norms are strained. Britain should stand for restraint, dignity and the rule of law - not court chaos for ceremony.

Reclaim our dignity.

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 22d

I've always wanted to visit. Looks like such a stunning place.

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Reposted by Stuart Rowntree

Prof Damien Page @profdamienpage.bsky.social · 22d

Recruit people who will help you sleep at night. Talent that will allow you go on holiday, relax, and not worry about what’s going on at work. A team where you don’t need to plan for someone deputising because they’re all top of their game.

Recruitment as wellbeing.

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 22d

It's always darkest before the dawn...

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Reposted by Stuart Rowntree

Isabelle Finn-Kelcey @isabellefk.bsky.social · 28d

Hi Stuart! Check out this week’s Autism Europe Congress at #AEC2025 and #AECONGRESS25

The education presentations are 👌

Yes to #neuro-affirming teaching.
No to interventions that aim to ‘normalise’ neurodivergent learners, eg by ‘closing the gap’ & chasing standardisation.

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 28d

Exclusion from enrichment – SEND pupils often miss the very enrichment/extension activities that build background knowledge and resilience, further widening gaps.

We need an overhaul.

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 28d

Workforce strain – high staff turnover, recruitment difficulties, and reduced specialist services (EPs, SALT) mean needs are identified but not always met effectively.

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 28d

Variation in provision quality – “ordinarily available” adaptive teaching is still inconsistent between classrooms. Where mainstream QFT is strong, SEND outcomes rise; where weak, pupils rely on external interventions that don’t close gaps by KS2.

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 28d

EHCP plateau – pupils with more complex needs (cognition, communication, Autism, SEMH) face systemic barriers: curriculum isn’t sufficiently adapted, assessments aren’t accessible, therapies inconsistent. That’s why only 9% meet expected standard in KS2.

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 28d

🧵The data around SEND isn't any more inspiring.

Graduated response works better at SEN Support – when pupils get early adjustments (scaffolds, pre-teaching, flexible grouping), they can access enough of the curriculum to progress.

But...

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Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 28d

Aspirations & identity – intergenerational low expectations and limited cultural capital mean academic achievement isn’t always reinforced at home.

Stuart Rowntree @primarythink.bsky.social · 28d

Regional economic context – post-industrial/coastal towns lack the “London effect” (dense networks, cultural capital, higher EAL). Without the EAL “catch-up boost,” FSM disadvantage shows more starkly.

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