Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 1h

It just feels unsustainable - sometimes for different reasons in different schools but the mismatch between what is expected of you and what you can realistically achieve is soul crushing.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 13h

It’s so hard when you’re put on the spot like that - the instinct is to assume *of course* the other person is right and you are somehow in the wrong, and moreover, must Fix It Right Now. Even when a beat later - slightly too late - you realise that’s not what was going on here at all.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 23h

We *loved* the apparatus and used it regularly. Mind you our playground equipment consisted of a giant concrete tube in the middle of a paved concrete area so it is fair to say health and safety was not top of the primary school’s priority list.

Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 1d

Been to the youngest’s harvest assembly.
Theory: every primary school built pre about 1980 in Britain has some version of this equipment. It is referred to as something like ‘the apparatus’.
No one has any memory of it ever being used.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 1d

“The light is always on in your fridge”.

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Reposted by Katie Finlayson

Claire Harley @claireharley.bsky.social · 1d

This week is baby/pregnancy loss awareness week.

Resharing this story of loss in the hope that it normalises supportive conversations in schools.

www.researchtoclassroom.com/post/it-isn-...

It isn't the time.

We never seem to have any time. Despite the numerous bank holidays, I’m having a lot of conversations about trying to fit everything in with colleagues and friends at the moment. The past two months, ...

www.researchtoclassroom.com

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Reposted by Katie Finlayson

Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 2d

Punchy opening from Tom Tugendhat, who says the move of young voters from centrist parties is "a logical series of outcomes for an economic system that has effectively become a Ponzi system for the old", eg the pension triple lock.

"Guess what? They have worked it out," Tugendhat says.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

This is basically the problem for anyone governing, isn't it? People no longer seem prepared to accept trade-offs, so politicians who pretend there won't be any get rewarded.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

Yes, there is that!

Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

I half wonder if a Senedd win next year (which is on the cards) gives an opportunity to demonstrate this on a large scale before the next UK-wide elections. Not that I'm super keen on my nation being the demonstrator here.

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Reposted by Katie Finlayson

Christine Counsell @counsellc.bsky.social · 3d

A joy to see this. Feedback from pupils and parents shows #ChangingHistoriesKS3 is changing the game for KS3 history

Rich story, deep scholarly connections, rigorous enquiry questions and enquiry journeys all need to be embedded and integrated, not bolted on as extra texts.

Elizabeth Carr @egcarr.bsky.social · 7d

Lovely feedback from parents at our Open Evening tonight. Those new to the school blown away by our curriculum content. Existing parents telling me their children love History for the stories. It's #ChangingHistoriesKS3 Thanks to @counsellc.bsky.social @willgoodfellow82.bsky.social and authors!

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

I actually think this is one of the most underrated impacts of the Covid lockdown legislation - so many more people realised this.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

The thing is the law is not a magical incantation that makes everyone obey whatever is written. It’s more of a protocol document - if this, then that. And lots of the ‘then that’s’ have a probabilistic element about them.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

Because you’ve changed the reasoning. The argument stops being ‘your child (and other children) will lose out on x’; and becomes ‘you will be fined y’. In either case you might still decide to go but at least you’d be considering the right things.

Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

Absence fines for holidays is a big example of that. If you can factor it in and the holiday is still cheaper, it’s just part of the cost.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

It’s true for 16-18 education and training too. Technically it’s a legal requirement to participate. But the duty falls on the young person and there are no penalties for not complying.

(For clarity, I’d prefer it just admitted it was an offer not a requirement than that 17yos were penalised.)

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

It’s a relic of my Steiner-inspired early home ed days 😄 I think we missed the first few birthdays but it’s been going since at least 2009.

I’m going to need to buy a second 2 soon though!

Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

Oh I still remember how disturbing Robert Cormier books were in my teens.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 3d

Another outing for the birthday ring… marking a combined 65 children’s birthdays - does this mean I get to retire now?

Wooden birthday ring with the number 16, a candle, 4 autumn flower fairies and a small wooden duck ornament.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 4d

And even aside from the actual legal status - it's just deeply unpleasant to be constantly hearing that if you're not "from here" you are somehow worth less and must prove yourself in ridiculous ways (the 'volunteer in your community' thing... I can't even choose the right pejorative term for it).

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 4d

I'm not even sure what status my BIL has (he's Swedish, and while he's been either in the UK or abroad while my sister works for the foreign office for 30+ years he wanted to stay Swedish, iyswim). They move all the time, mostly on behalf of the UK, but it doesn't have to stay that way.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 4d

Happy birthday!

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 4d

Ooh thank you - I had never heard of this and can’t justify a full FT subscription but this looks just the ticket.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 5d

Fingers crossed the weather has improved by then! 😃

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 5d

There’s an international GCSE in Environmental Management available from Cambridge. Not approved by the DfE or other administration’s governments though so can’t be funded for state schools.

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Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 5d

First power cut of the season…