Jim Lauder
@mrjlauder.bsky.social
Dixons Academies. Schools as civic institutions - ensuring our communities have a voice and power. Building place based partnerships. Views my own.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jimlauder
https://open.substack.com/pub/jimlauder
(Veggie) Burns night supper
January 25, 2026 at 5:48 PM
(Veggie) Burns night supper
Cavolo Nero and feta pie Sunday dinner. Yum.
January 18, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Cavolo Nero and feta pie Sunday dinner. Yum.
Back to school borscht
January 4, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Back to school borscht
I'm a trust leader working on EDI at Dixons Academies.
Available at all good bookshops and online retailers now :)
Available at all good bookshops and online retailers now :)
January 4, 2026 at 12:15 PM
I'm a trust leader working on EDI at Dixons Academies.
Available at all good bookshops and online retailers now :)
Available at all good bookshops and online retailers now :)
1. Of course it's only the 'visuals' that ever matter, not people's lives
2. Bed wetting. Really. We're really doing that in our comms with SEND parents. OK.
2. Bed wetting. Really. We're really doing that in our comms with SEND parents. OK.
January 1, 2026 at 8:52 AM
1. Of course it's only the 'visuals' that ever matter, not people's lives
2. Bed wetting. Really. We're really doing that in our comms with SEND parents. OK.
2. Bed wetting. Really. We're really doing that in our comms with SEND parents. OK.
Turkey jalfrezi.
Yes I did get a stainless steel pan for Christmas and it's great.
Yes I did get a stainless steel pan for Christmas and it's great.
December 27, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Turkey jalfrezi.
Yes I did get a stainless steel pan for Christmas and it's great.
Yes I did get a stainless steel pan for Christmas and it's great.
British Indian restaurant style turkey vindaloo <3
December 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
British Indian restaurant style turkey vindaloo <3
Turned out like most of my cooking - not elegant but tasty! Thanks for the idea.
December 23, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Turned out like most of my cooking - not elegant but tasty! Thanks for the idea.
Fluffy potatoes ready to freeze then roast on Christmas day :)
December 22, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Fluffy potatoes ready to freeze then roast on Christmas day :)
I might have overordered/allowed the butcher to upsell me on the ham.
My guests have just left, with ham sandwiches for the road, and I still have so much ham.
No one else left in my house eats ham 🙃
My guests have just left, with ham sandwiches for the road, and I still have so much ham.
No one else left in my house eats ham 🙃
December 21, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I might have overordered/allowed the butcher to upsell me on the ham.
My guests have just left, with ham sandwiches for the road, and I still have so much ham.
No one else left in my house eats ham 🙃
My guests have just left, with ham sandwiches for the road, and I still have so much ham.
No one else left in my house eats ham 🙃
Last minute stocking filler idea - this from two of my fantastic colleagues! So proud. Out December 22nd.
December 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Last minute stocking filler idea - this from two of my fantastic colleagues! So proud. Out December 22nd.
I appreciate colossally cheating but I feel like my Youtube algorithm has absolutely nailed this week:
December 12, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I appreciate colossally cheating but I feel like my Youtube algorithm has absolutely nailed this week:
That Observer interview once again proving that the PM's instincts on education and young people are a) bad and b) a mile wide and an inch deep (possibly mercifully).
It's good he scrapped the limit though.
It's good he scrapped the limit though.
December 7, 2025 at 6:51 PM
That Observer interview once again proving that the PM's instincts on education and young people are a) bad and b) a mile wide and an inch deep (possibly mercifully).
It's good he scrapped the limit though.
It's good he scrapped the limit though.
Had it with a ham. The advice to make sure it's barely simmering rather than boiling makes *such* a difference. That plus meat thermometer ensures moist tender ham.
I just poached it and did a glaze quickly under the grill. No need to bake.
I just poached it and did a glaze quickly under the grill. No need to bake.
December 6, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Had it with a ham. The advice to make sure it's barely simmering rather than boiling makes *such* a difference. That plus meat thermometer ensures moist tender ham.
I just poached it and did a glaze quickly under the grill. No need to bake.
I just poached it and did a glaze quickly under the grill. No need to bake.
Made dauphinoise. Tried to do it low and slow, 150 for an hour 45, which was too hot and it split. 120 definitely a better idea. It was still really yummy so no complaints. Gonna do it again for Christmas eve.
December 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Made dauphinoise. Tried to do it low and slow, 150 for an hour 45, which was too hot and it split. 120 definitely a better idea. It was still really yummy so no complaints. Gonna do it again for Christmas eve.
November 23, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Looks like we've lost the battle for rigour in RE. Sigh.
The average member of the public has a pretty ropey understanding of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism at best. That's both intrinsically and societally bad.
But no, let's make it trendy.
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-next-af...
The average member of the public has a pretty ropey understanding of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism at best. That's both intrinsically and societally bad.
But no, let's make it trendy.
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-next-af...
November 23, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Looks like we've lost the battle for rigour in RE. Sigh.
The average member of the public has a pretty ropey understanding of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism at best. That's both intrinsically and societally bad.
But no, let's make it trendy.
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-next-af...
The average member of the public has a pretty ropey understanding of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism at best. That's both intrinsically and societally bad.
But no, let's make it trendy.
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-next-af...
November 21, 2025 at 10:11 PM
This has always been the fear with the oracy agenda - that it will lead to the DfE dictating pedagogy and the return of compulsory group work by the back door.
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
November 9, 2025 at 8:32 AM
This has always been the fear with the oracy agenda - that it will lead to the DfE dictating pedagogy and the return of compulsory group work by the back door.
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
Friday's pumpkin and last night's Greek veg turned into tonight's lasagne.
November 2, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Friday's pumpkin and last night's Greek veg turned into tonight's lasagne.
New vision of hell just dropped
October 27, 2025 at 7:04 AM
New vision of hell just dropped
School closures, and the failure to properly fund Covid catch-up, were disastrous choices, and we are still living with the impacts.
www.thetimes.com/article/3a27...
www.thetimes.com/article/3a27...
October 22, 2025 at 6:03 AM
School closures, and the failure to properly fund Covid catch-up, were disastrous choices, and we are still living with the impacts.
www.thetimes.com/article/3a27...
www.thetimes.com/article/3a27...
Some lovely Yorkshire for the Sunday timeline
October 5, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Some lovely Yorkshire for the Sunday timeline
This is a very important point and needs to be a major direction of travel.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
October 1, 2025 at 6:30 AM
This is a very important point and needs to be a major direction of travel.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...