John Cosgrove
@johncosgrove.bsky.social
1.2K followers 1.1K following 480 posts
Husband, father, grandfather, writer and retired teacher. I blog at https://johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/ Visit my Amazon Author page here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001KDLZQE
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Reposted by John Cosgrove
cmooreanderson.bsky.social
I don't do any retrieval practice activities during my lessons at any point.

We converse, of course, and these conversations build on previous conversations.

But the notion the we must be doing retrieval in lessons, even at any point, is a chosen assumption and not an empirical fact.
#UKEd
alexjw.bsky.social
Does ´retrieval practice ´ have to be done at the start of a lesson. I find it naturally finds a place at all kinds of points in a maths lesson?
johncosgrove.bsky.social
Excellent thread again. Thank you @grahamchatterley.bsky.social
grahamchatterley.bsky.social
I delivered my first session of my new training on Understanding and Supporting Parental Challenge and SEND Parents in Liverpool this week (working title)

Rarely have I experienced a bigger energy shift in a room....
johncosgrove.bsky.social
Yesterday's Algarve sunset. Have I mentioned that retirement has its compensations?
johncosgrove.bsky.social
This is good. Thank you NAHT. A senior coroner demanded Ofsted, the DfE, and Reading Borough (by extension all LAs) must plan to prevent future deaths. I hope there is still time for the flawed and dangerous new Ofsted arrangements to be scrapped.

schoolsweek.co.uk/union-tells-...
Union tells school leaders to demand Ofsted risk assessment
School leaders are being urged by union NAHT to write to their employers, demanding steps are taken to assess the risk Ofsted inspections will pose to wellbeing
schoolsweek.co.uk
johncosgrove.bsky.social
I think the observation is correct and I am not surprised it makes you cross.

Not quite as invidious perhaps, but a few years ago I heard a (male) pundit commentating on a woman's football match comment that an injury meant one of the teams was temporarily "down to ten men."
johncosgrove.bsky.social
Excellent question and I am pretty sure the answer is "no." Though, to be fair, English men's teams haven't won a huge number of world cups in my lifetime: 1 football, 1 cricket, 1 rugby.
Reposted by John Cosgrove
chrischivers.bsky.social
I could empathise with this as a holistic philosophy; somethingthat I aimed for. Thanks for highlighting, John.
johncosgrove.bsky.social
There are good, evidence based ways of improving attendance, attainment, achievement and aspiration: testing 13 year olds is not one of them, DfE please note. Ger Graus works with and advises Education Departments round the World - but not ours... 🤷
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2025/04/23/s...
School and the Pursuit of Happiness
“Through A Different Lens” described by its author Ger Graus as a “professional autobiography” was published the week before Easter, just in time for the season of school trips, residentials and wo…
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com
johncosgrove.bsky.social
There are good, evidence based ways of improving attendance, attainment, achievement and aspiration: testing 13 year olds is not one of them, DfE please note. Ger Graus works with and advises Education Departments round the World - but not ours... 🤷
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2025/04/23/s...
School and the Pursuit of Happiness
“Through A Different Lens” described by its author Ger Graus as a “professional autobiography” was published the week before Easter, just in time for the season of school trips, residentials and wo…
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com
Reposted by John Cosgrove
jamesrball.com
Yes, you can and should argue that Reform’s new policy would lead to an economic crash that could resemble a full-on depression, not just recession.

But you should also be able to straightforwardly say it’s *wrong*. Not that it should matter but: It’s not even bad politics to say that!
johncosgrove.bsky.social
Yes, I miss the buzz of a school in September, with the year ahead laid out before us; the fresh faces, the optimism, the excitement, the sense of latent potential reaching for fulfilment... but mornings like today are a reminder that retirement is both a privilege and a blessing.
johncosgrove.bsky.social
"Unacceptable” the government has still not defined inclusive education, and "does not appear to have a clear understanding" [of it].

Solving SEND: Education committee reveals its 48-point plan... But is Bridget listening?

share.google/RpJ5qHL57VMe...
Solving SEND: MPs reveal their 48-point plan
National SEND standards, special school 'centres of excellence' and exclusion inspection metrics
share.google
johncosgrove.bsky.social
Obviously, the most grotesque aspect of this is the competition essay title: ‘Evaluate the view that Reform UK have obliterated the two-party system.’ Does no-one at the school understand noun-verb agreement?
johncosgrove.bsky.social
After the awful, tragic events at Hillsborough in 1989 the families' sorrow and distress was made worse by their long fight for justice and truth. Now, the fact we need a new law because senior police officers and other public officials cannot be trusted to tell the truth shames us all.
Reposted by John Cosgrove
londonknee.bsky.social
My hospital (Lewisham) had a far more impressive message for us
Reposted by John Cosgrove
ceebarnacles.bsky.social
Written by a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital, London after the Tommy Robinson march on 13/9.
johncosgrove.bsky.social
I don't know if she thinks deeply enough to know what she believes. It's whatever sounds good at the time and once she's made it public it becomes - in her eyes - Holy Writ to be defended at all incoherent cost.
johncosgrove.bsky.social
2 things are acknowledged by all civilised people. 1) No-one should ever be killed for their political views, however abhorrent. 2) Katherine Birbalsingh will say anything for attention, however stupid and divisive.
Reposted by John Cosgrove