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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Mar 9

Virtually nothing of importance

Caroline Spalding @mrsspalding.bsky.social · Mar 8

Science has nothing to teach us about learning? Really?

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Mar 8

No it's never a science. Science cannot deal with the value issues intrinsic to education

Caroline Spalding @mrsspalding.bsky.social · Mar 8

‘Teaching is a craft, and sometimes an art, but it’s also a science.’ - @tombennett71.bsky.social

Hear, hear.

#ResearchEdBrum

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Mar 3

stoptrump.org.uk/petition-can...

Petition: Cancel Trump’s state visit

Stop Trump Coalition

stoptrump.org.uk

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Mar 2

Understandably you may be suffering from Ofsted-consultation fatigue but please find five minutes to complete the much shorter and sharper ABC (Alternative Big Consultation) at thealternativebiglisten.co.uk

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alternativebiglisten.co.uk

Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Feb 27

We are getting many responses to the ABCbut we need more. Do find five or ten minutes to give us your judgments and ideas.

Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Feb 25

Do please have your voice heard. Complete the ABC (Alternative Big Consulation) on inspectionsurveymonkey.com/r/LQ7KG25

Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · Feb 25

Former senior Ofsted inspectors behind last year's 'alternative big listen' have launched their own consultation on the watchdog's new inspection plans

Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Feb 25

Sorry Martin. Do contact me on [email protected]

Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Feb 25

Do please have your voice heard. Complete the ABC (Alternative Big Consulation) on inspectionsurveymonkey.com/r/LQ7KG25

Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · Feb 25

Former senior Ofsted inspectors behind last year's 'alternative big listen' have launched their own consultation on the watchdog's new inspection plans

Ex-HMI launch 'alternative big consultation' on report cards

Ex-Ofsted staff behind 'alternative big listen' fear proposals come with 'take it or leave it' approach

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Jan 8

Judging from his comments at yesterday's Select Committee Martyn Oliver still doesn't fully recognise the full magnitude of the loss of the profession's confidence in Ofsted. His "reforms" are welcome but nowhere near sufficient.

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Dec 6

Really? I find that unbelievable.

Dr Julian Grenier CBE @juliangrenier.bsky.social · Dec 6

The large majority of teachers in England consider research evidence before making decisions - an incredible and positive development.

This short piece by @hmadgwick.bsky.social explains why we need professional collaboration and teacher involvement in research design.

www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

4 ways to make education research more helpful

Most teachers consult research before making changes to their practice, according to a new EEF report. Harry Madgwick explains how to make this process smoother

www.tes.com

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Dec 6

Is there such a thing as "negative professionalism"?

Alison Peacock @alisonpeacock.bsky.social · Dec 6

I am in York today with NAHT @naht.org.uk speaking about the power of positive professionalism @collegeofteaching.bsky.social

a purple background with polka dots and the words we become what we think about think positive

ALT: a purple background with polka dots and the words we become what we think about think positive

media.tenor.com

Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Dec 6

But who defines success? Your dedfinition may be very different from mine. Let' engage in discussion not in soundbites

Celia Richardson @celiarichardson.bsky.social · Dec 6

Ugh. The ‘most successful schools’ are the ones turning out decent people who are kind to one another and want to be of some use to the world.

www.thetimes.com/article/f1e4...

School league tables 2025: the best UK secondary schools revealed

The most successful schools are not just chasing A*s, but creating all-round students ready for the 21st century

www.thetimes.com

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Dec 6

Good but will there be anything of substance ON the table? Or tweaks to already discredited practice?

John Roberts @johngroberts.bsky.social · Dec 6

Ofsted chief Sir Martyn Oliver says 'nothing is off the table' when asked by @tesmagazine.bsky.social if the watchdog could extend its consultation timeline on inspection report cards. Consultation is set to start in January with inspections due to start from Sept 25. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Extending report card consultation is not ‘off the table’, Ofsted chief says

Sir Martyn Oliver says Ofsted’s plans for new inspections have not yet been tested because it is about to launch a ‘genuine consultation’ rather than presenting a solution

www.tes.com

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Dec 6

Indefensible and unfair.......and central team staff know it!

Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · Dec 6

Exclusive: Trust bosses have defended parachuting in central team staff to their schools during Ofsted inspections after the union representing inspectors raised 'significant concerns'

How trusts parachute central teams into Ofsted inspections

Inspectors say the practice is impacting their ability to evaluate 'normal practice'

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Reposted by Colin Richards

Tilda Martin @matildamartin.bsky.social · Dec 5

Exclusive🚨
The LGA has called for the Government to create a 10-year "standalone plan" to fix social care in its submission to the consultation on the future of the NHS

www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Create 10-Year 'Standalone Plan' To Fix Social Care, Say Local Leaders

The Government must create a decade-long plan for social care if the long-term strategy for repairing the National Health Service hopes to succeed,...

www.politicshome.com

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Dec 6

The problem is less the speed test itself but its statutory nature.

Tes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · Dec 6

A 'very clunky online speed test’ or an important assessment that leaves pupils ‘far better equipped to handle a more challenging primary curriculum’? @ellencph.bsky.social investigates the value of the statutory multiplication tables check

Multiplication tables check: are better results good news?

Three years after the Year 4 times tables assessment became statutory, the results from the test continue to improve. So how are schools achieving this, and is it really making pupils better at maths?...

www.tes.com

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Dec 6

The problem is less the speed test itself a

Tes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · Dec 6

A 'very clunky online speed test’ or an important assessment that leaves pupils ‘far better equipped to handle a more challenging primary curriculum’? @ellencph.bsky.social investigates the value of the statutory multiplication tables check

Multiplication tables check: are better results good news?

Three years after the Year 4 times tables assessment became statutory, the results from the test continue to improve. So how are schools achieving this, and is it really making pupils better at maths?...

www.tes.com

Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Dec 6

They are not just "not very useful"; they are very problematic.

Christian Bokhove @cbokhove.bsky.social · Dec 6

If countries, schools, universities do well in rankings they love to showcase it. If it inspires you to do better, fine,but as a way to improve an education system they aren't very useful, as we can't all be in the top decile....

Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Dec 6

What's the point about such premature polls ? Do we hav to expect such polls right up to 2029?

Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · Dec 6

Our latest voting intention poll finds the Tory lead over Labour at 2 points, with Reform in third up to 21.

🌳CON 28% (-2)
🌹LAB 26% (-1)
➡️ REF UK 21% (+3)
🔶 LIB DEM 13% ( +1)
🌍 GREEN 7% (-1)
🟡 SNP 3% (+1)

N = 2,002; Dates: 29/11 - 02/12; Change with 27/11

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Nov 29

Harry Eccles @harryeccles.bsky.social · Nov 28

Repost if BlueSky is now your primary social media site.

Reposted by Colin Richards

Harry Eccles @harryeccles.bsky.social · Nov 28

Repost if BlueSky is now your primary social media site.

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Nov 29

It should have happened much sooner.

Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · Nov 29

Breaking: Dame Christine Ryan, chair of the board of Ofsted, has announced she will step down next year

Ofsted chair Dame Christine Ryan to step down

Education secretary praises Ryan for leadership during 'a period of significant challenges'

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Nov 26

What a naive question? There is no "right" progression,especially from a former member of Ofsted's problematic and now disbanded curriculum team.

How would anyone recognise "right" progression?

Heather Fearn @heatherbellaf.bsky.social · Oct 20

Will the new National Curriculum get subject progression right? Or will weak subject content send us backwards?

Third blog on subjects in new National Curriculum.
heatherfblog.wordpress.com/2024/10/20/b...

Break it down! Getting subject progression right in the new national curriculum

Arguably, the curriculum revolution in English schools over the last 10 years has been driven by three related insights. That knowledge matters. That what we encounter in the world, what we see, he…

heatherfblog.wordpress.com

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Nov 25

A pity such schools haven't confidence in their own judgments. Why is that ?

Dr Helen J Williams 🇪🇺🇵🇸 @helenjwc.bsky.social · Nov 25

#Edusky

Dr Helen J Williams 🇪🇺🇵🇸 @helenjwc.bsky.social · Nov 21

Hearing of more &more primary schools picking up these #KS1 #TasksNotTests atm.org.uk/news/ks1-tas...
Please take a look 👇🏼

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Reposted by Colin Richards

Lewis Goodall @lewisgoodall.com · Nov 24

This is spot on. There's very little sense right now in this debate about the balancing of harms. There's the possibility of that balance altering with a change. But there's also clear harm now that isn't being reckoned with.

Naomi Alderman @naomialderman.bsky.social · Nov 24

I would really like there to be an acknowledgment of harms caused by all our legislation (and lack of legislation). A basic, respectful honesty.

Yes, if we change the law some vulnerable person will end up pressed into ending their life earlier. Yes, if we don’t change it, dying people will suffer

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Colin Richards @colinspark.bsky.social · Nov 22

Yes. Education should involve continual dialogue including revisiting old isssues which were never satisfactorily resolved

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