Rachel Rayner
@rachelrayner54.bsky.social
Headteacher (Primary) here to learn. Formerly HfL education advisor and Oxford University Press consultant for maths education. Twitter refugee looking for some positivity please. All views my own.
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
This is the kind of book I'd love to read aloud in class. It's beautifully written and really evokes the atmosphere of the original Frankenstein novel. Gorgeous illustrations too... @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social #EduSky
October 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
This is the kind of book I'd love to read aloud in class. It's beautifully written and really evokes the atmosphere of the original Frankenstein novel. Gorgeous illustrations too... @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social #EduSky
I have been waiting for this - some really great people have worked on it and am hopeful it distils what we can place bets on. Summer reading taken care of - great timing
The Writing Framework has just been published, and I'm very pleased to have been part of the sector panel which helped produce this important document.
I'm optimistic that the framework will help leaders to further develop the teaching of writing in their schools.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
I'm optimistic that the framework will help leaders to further develop the teaching of writing in their schools.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
July 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I have been waiting for this - some really great people have worked on it and am hopeful it distils what we can place bets on. Summer reading taken care of - great timing
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
What a pleasure to meet @douglemov.bsky.social alongside @ashleymartin26.bsky.social and the East100 cohort.
This man has had a bigger impact on my teaching practice than anyone else I could name. Ratio rules.
This man has had a bigger impact on my teaching practice than anyone else I could name. Ratio rules.
April 9, 2025 at 8:41 PM
What a pleasure to meet @douglemov.bsky.social alongside @ashleymartin26.bsky.social and the East100 cohort.
This man has had a bigger impact on my teaching practice than anyone else I could name. Ratio rules.
This man has had a bigger impact on my teaching practice than anyone else I could name. Ratio rules.
Have been out outish. On the way home the main discourse on the train is what is awaiting folks in their fridges. One man has lamented “an abundance and f cheese but no pickle”.
April 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Have been out outish. On the way home the main discourse on the train is what is awaiting folks in their fridges. One man has lamented “an abundance and f cheese but no pickle”.
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
It’s not about more work
It’s about planning the curriculum through a different lens.
A new project Key Stage 3: The Ambitious Years
I’ll be talking more on this webinar: Thurs 27 March 4-5pm, access with annual or group films.myattandco.com/programs/web...
It’s about planning the curriculum through a different lens.
A new project Key Stage 3: The Ambitious Years
I’ll be talking more on this webinar: Thurs 27 March 4-5pm, access with annual or group films.myattandco.com/programs/web...
Webinar: KS3 The Ambitious Years
Upcoming webinar: KS3 The Ambitious Years
films.myattandco.com
March 23, 2025 at 9:52 AM
It’s not about more work
It’s about planning the curriculum through a different lens.
A new project Key Stage 3: The Ambitious Years
I’ll be talking more on this webinar: Thurs 27 March 4-5pm, access with annual or group films.myattandco.com/programs/web...
It’s about planning the curriculum through a different lens.
A new project Key Stage 3: The Ambitious Years
I’ll be talking more on this webinar: Thurs 27 March 4-5pm, access with annual or group films.myattandco.com/programs/web...
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
I’m delighted Sir Hamid Patel has been elected Chairman of Ofsted. His track record speaks for itself. He also showed me immense kindness whilst surrounded by edu-greats on an DfE consultation group. He has emotional intelligence, empathy and sensitivity - all qualities valuable at Ofsted I reckon.
March 15, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I’m delighted Sir Hamid Patel has been elected Chairman of Ofsted. His track record speaks for itself. He also showed me immense kindness whilst surrounded by edu-greats on an DfE consultation group. He has emotional intelligence, empathy and sensitivity - all qualities valuable at Ofsted I reckon.
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
Really pleased to have launched this today at @ascl-uk.bsky.social.
Please do share/engage - we're hoping to build a national resource which shares examples of good practice that exist in the system.
Please do share/engage - we're hoping to build a national resource which shares examples of good practice that exist in the system.
Inclusion in Practice is live! This is a sector-led initiative to gather practical examples of successful approaches to inclusion in mainstream education.
We welcome submissions from all involved in delivering inclusive practice. Link to submit here: www.inclusioninpractice.org.uk 1/3
We welcome submissions from all involved in delivering inclusive practice. Link to submit here: www.inclusioninpractice.org.uk 1/3
Inclusion in Practice
An inclusive education hub, to bring together examples of what successful inclusion looks like in practice.
www.inclusioninpractice.org.uk
March 15, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Really pleased to have launched this today at @ascl-uk.bsky.social.
Please do share/engage - we're hoping to build a national resource which shares examples of good practice that exist in the system.
Please do share/engage - we're hoping to build a national resource which shares examples of good practice that exist in the system.
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
📈 Exclusive: School leaders have been confronted outside their homes, spat at and 'offered out' for fights as abuse from parents surges, a Schools Week investigation can reveal
Heads open up about torrent of abuse from parents
Leaders confronted outside their homes, spat at and 'offered-out' for fights
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
📈 Exclusive: School leaders have been confronted outside their homes, spat at and 'offered out' for fights as abuse from parents surges, a Schools Week investigation can reveal
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
“It is “conceptually problematic” for support for the mental health of a child with SEMH needs to be delivered only within an educational context and not a health context,”
SEND is in crisis – but pupils with SEMH needs are suffering the most in terms of not getting the right support. @johngroberts.bsky.social explores why this is the case and what schools can do ⬇️
Why SEMH support is schools’ biggest challenge
Pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs have been found to fare the worst in terms of getting SEND support. Why is this, and what can schools do with constrained resources?
www.tes.com
March 7, 2025 at 6:14 AM
“It is “conceptually problematic” for support for the mental health of a child with SEMH needs to be delivered only within an educational context and not a health context,”
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
The SW investigation might be the most important one they've ever run. It's an incredible piece of work and the results are truly shocking. Everyone should read it.
I’ve been digging into the quality of EHCPs, plans that parents are dragged through court sometimes to obtain, and that are bankrupting councils
What’s actually in them? Are they good quality? Personalised? Include interventions backed by evidence? Are they fully funded?
The answer often is no
What’s actually in them? Are they good quality? Personalised? Include interventions backed by evidence? Are they fully funded?
The answer often is no
Special investigation: Interventions lacking evidence, copy and paste plans, health and social care missing - Schools Week reveals how EHCPs are failing vulnerable children
March 7, 2025 at 7:32 AM
The SW investigation might be the most important one they've ever run. It's an incredible piece of work and the results are truly shocking. Everyone should read it.
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
I’ve been digging into the quality of EHCPs, plans that parents are dragged through court sometimes to obtain, and that are bankrupting councils
What’s actually in them? Are they good quality? Personalised? Include interventions backed by evidence? Are they fully funded?
The answer often is no
What’s actually in them? Are they good quality? Personalised? Include interventions backed by evidence? Are they fully funded?
The answer often is no
Special investigation: Interventions lacking evidence, copy and paste plans, health and social care missing - Schools Week reveals how EHCPs are failing vulnerable children
Investigation: How EHCPs fail our most vulnerable children
England now spends nearly £11 billion providing education for children with additional needs. But what does the funding in EHCPs actually get spent on?
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 5:54 AM
I’ve been digging into the quality of EHCPs, plans that parents are dragged through court sometimes to obtain, and that are bankrupting councils
What’s actually in them? Are they good quality? Personalised? Include interventions backed by evidence? Are they fully funded?
The answer often is no
What’s actually in them? Are they good quality? Personalised? Include interventions backed by evidence? Are they fully funded?
The answer often is no
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
Special investigation: Interventions lacking evidence, copy and paste plans, health and social care missing - Schools Week reveals how EHCPs are failing vulnerable children
Investigation: How EHCPs fail our most vulnerable children
England now spends nearly £11 billion providing education for children with additional needs. But what does the funding in EHCPs actually get spent on?
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Special investigation: Interventions lacking evidence, copy and paste plans, health and social care missing - Schools Week reveals how EHCPs are failing vulnerable children
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
📸 No one follows more etiquette rules than the Royal Family—but notice how King Charles didn’t make any smart-ass or demeaning comments about Zelensky’s attire today.
Why? Because respect isn’t about clothes—it’s about character. And that’s something money can’t buy.
Why? Because respect isn’t about clothes—it’s about character. And that’s something money can’t buy.
March 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
📸 No one follows more etiquette rules than the Royal Family—but notice how King Charles didn’t make any smart-ass or demeaning comments about Zelensky’s attire today.
Why? Because respect isn’t about clothes—it’s about character. And that’s something money can’t buy.
Why? Because respect isn’t about clothes—it’s about character. And that’s something money can’t buy.
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
sometimes a picture tells a thousand words
March 1, 2025 at 5:59 PM
sometimes a picture tells a thousand words
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
Throughout my teaching career I was given bad advice about dyslexia, including...
+ Sit all dyslexic pupils at the front because they inevitably have issues with attention.
+ Teach them to recognise words as whole units rather than teaching them to decode.
+ Give them coloured overlays.
Etc
>>
+ Sit all dyslexic pupils at the front because they inevitably have issues with attention.
+ Teach them to recognise words as whole units rather than teaching them to decode.
+ Give them coloured overlays.
Etc
>>
December 4, 2024 at 10:08 AM
Throughout my teaching career I was given bad advice about dyslexia, including...
+ Sit all dyslexic pupils at the front because they inevitably have issues with attention.
+ Teach them to recognise words as whole units rather than teaching them to decode.
+ Give them coloured overlays.
Etc
>>
+ Sit all dyslexic pupils at the front because they inevitably have issues with attention.
+ Teach them to recognise words as whole units rather than teaching them to decode.
+ Give them coloured overlays.
Etc
>>
Apparently Rachel is slightly pungent and sharp. Rude
November 29, 2024 at 11:07 PM
Apparently Rachel is slightly pungent and sharp. Rude
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
“In everyday conversation we might talk about something being as ‘easy as one-two-three’. But for young children, learning to count isn’t so easy.”
@juliangrenier.bsky.social explores two practices for developing children’s early understanding of numbers.
Read more: eef.li/3wMtgw
@juliangrenier.bsky.social explores two practices for developing children’s early understanding of numbers.
Read more: eef.li/3wMtgw
November 27, 2024 at 6:58 PM
“In everyday conversation we might talk about something being as ‘easy as one-two-three’. But for young children, learning to count isn’t so easy.”
@juliangrenier.bsky.social explores two practices for developing children’s early understanding of numbers.
Read more: eef.li/3wMtgw
@juliangrenier.bsky.social explores two practices for developing children’s early understanding of numbers.
Read more: eef.li/3wMtgw
I think we managed to fit a whole week of days into Wednesday.
November 27, 2024 at 6:42 PM
I think we managed to fit a whole week of days into Wednesday.
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
Word of the day is ‘hibernacle’ (18th century): a hibernating animal’s winter retreat.
I believe it works on a human level too.
I believe it works on a human level too.
November 25, 2024 at 2:49 PM
Word of the day is ‘hibernacle’ (18th century): a hibernating animal’s winter retreat.
I believe it works on a human level too.
I believe it works on a human level too.
Reposted by Rachel Rayner
BOOK GIVEAWAY!!! I'm not on social media a lot right now, working very hard on my new book, trying to get it done in less than 9 years this time! In the meantime, I'm giving away signed copies of all my books so far. Repost & follow to enter, & say which one you'd like - closes Dec 14! #KidLitUK
November 17, 2024 at 9:34 PM
BOOK GIVEAWAY!!! I'm not on social media a lot right now, working very hard on my new book, trying to get it done in less than 9 years this time! In the meantime, I'm giving away signed copies of all my books so far. Repost & follow to enter, & say which one you'd like - closes Dec 14! #KidLitUK
Enjoying working on review and retrieval with our teacher team. Pulling out thoughts around retrieval, strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threats to good retrieval tasks after reading various perspectives. @profcoe.bsky.social @teacherhead.bsky.social @katejonesteach.bsky.social
November 21, 2024 at 6:42 PM
Enjoying working on review and retrieval with our teacher team. Pulling out thoughts around retrieval, strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threats to good retrieval tasks after reading various perspectives. @profcoe.bsky.social @teacherhead.bsky.social @katejonesteach.bsky.social