Principal Prime
@principalprime.bsky.social
Principal of a College in England. Very interested in CogSci of learning, and evidence-based education.
It creeps up on you steadily in teaching. I once asked students to remember what they were doing when Princess Diana died. "Being born." said one lad.
December 21, 2025 at 7:47 PM
It creeps up on you steadily in teaching. I once asked students to remember what they were doing when Princess Diana died. "Being born." said one lad.
It feels like we're not that far away from pathologising differences in academic ability as a SEND and inclusion need. I'm not sure that helps anyone. Certainly not the kids themselves.
December 13, 2025 at 9:47 AM
It feels like we're not that far away from pathologising differences in academic ability as a SEND and inclusion need. I'm not sure that helps anyone. Certainly not the kids themselves.
At my college, we've seen increasing pressure to lower entrance requirements for the college and for subjects themselves on the basis of SEND needs. It seems dangerous to me to suggest that, on the basis of a prior struggle to achieve, they should have access to more difficult options.
December 13, 2025 at 9:47 AM
At my college, we've seen increasing pressure to lower entrance requirements for the college and for subjects themselves on the basis of SEND needs. It seems dangerous to me to suggest that, on the basis of a prior struggle to achieve, they should have access to more difficult options.
Yeah, absolutely. There's a fascinating need among the ADHD community for treatments to 'not work on people without ADHD' so as to more clearly define the condition. I've heard of people being told this by doctors. I've seen no evidence of this existing in my research.
December 5, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Yeah, absolutely. There's a fascinating need among the ADHD community for treatments to 'not work on people without ADHD' so as to more clearly define the condition. I've heard of people being told this by doctors. I've seen no evidence of this existing in my research.
All I can say for sure is that my private cognitive experiences largely match the experiences described by others + the dexamphetamine I take makes the negative experiences go away. I'm not confident to claim any more than that. I struggle with the term 'neurodiverse' for myself as a result
December 5, 2025 at 8:24 AM
All I can say for sure is that my private cognitive experiences largely match the experiences described by others + the dexamphetamine I take makes the negative experiences go away. I'm not confident to claim any more than that. I struggle with the term 'neurodiverse' for myself as a result
This is an excellent summary. I was diagnosed with ADHD over a year ago, and went deep into the scientific research as a result. I still can't objectively say what I 'have' and I probably never will.
December 5, 2025 at 8:24 AM
This is an excellent summary. I was diagnosed with ADHD over a year ago, and went deep into the scientific research as a result. I still can't objectively say what I 'have' and I probably never will.
It's an amazing podcast, brilliantly written and hosted. Makes perfect use of the medium to mix such intelligence and analysis with laughter and accessibility. If I wasn't already a patreon I would have had to start one because of how often I use then with students. Thank you.
November 19, 2025 at 9:55 PM
It's an amazing podcast, brilliantly written and hosted. Makes perfect use of the medium to mix such intelligence and analysis with laughter and accessibility. If I wasn't already a patreon I would have had to start one because of how often I use then with students. Thank you.
I can confirm that I use several of your episodes as 'set texts' for my little group of PPE applicants I mentor every year for oxbridge. 3/4 got offered places last year so...
November 19, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I can confirm that I use several of your episodes as 'set texts' for my little group of PPE applicants I mentor every year for oxbridge. 3/4 got offered places last year so...
This just made me think of this brilliance from John Hegley youtu.be/lz_9XsS3pzc?...
John Hegley: Guillemot
YouTube video by Bill Muir
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 11:50 AM
This just made me think of this brilliance from John Hegley youtu.be/lz_9XsS3pzc?...
Reposted by Principal Prime
This is a footnote for the ages.
samf.substack.com/p/the-great-...
samf.substack.com/p/the-great-...
August 9, 2025 at 10:21 AM
This is a footnote for the ages.
samf.substack.com/p/the-great-...
samf.substack.com/p/the-great-...
I'm the same age. I got the exact same grades. I went to a decent state sixth form college with high oxbridge aspirations. Can confirm that wasn't even in the conversation re: going to oxbridge.
August 9, 2025 at 7:47 AM
I'm the same age. I got the exact same grades. I went to a decent state sixth form college with high oxbridge aspirations. Can confirm that wasn't even in the conversation re: going to oxbridge.
In our household, any mention of turkey prompts an obscure Fast Show line: "Turkey? It's just a fat bastard chicken."
I once used it to my wife at the queue for the checkout in ALDI, then looked up and saw a confused looking John Thompson in the queue in front of me. He was buying a chicken.
I once used it to my wife at the queue for the checkout in ALDI, then looked up and saw a confused looking John Thompson in the queue in front of me. He was buying a chicken.
April 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM
In our household, any mention of turkey prompts an obscure Fast Show line: "Turkey? It's just a fat bastard chicken."
I once used it to my wife at the queue for the checkout in ALDI, then looked up and saw a confused looking John Thompson in the queue in front of me. He was buying a chicken.
I once used it to my wife at the queue for the checkout in ALDI, then looked up and saw a confused looking John Thompson in the queue in front of me. He was buying a chicken.
Same. Although I can't claim to have thought of it in any original capacity. Like most things I steal, it was in the simpsons years ago youtu.be/8672lLCUWB8?...
Homer on lactose intolerance
YouTube video by kwader wan
youtu.be
March 2, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Same. Although I can't claim to have thought of it in any original capacity. Like most things I steal, it was in the simpsons years ago youtu.be/8672lLCUWB8?...
Totally agree. My kingdom for a reliable, GDPR compliant AI tool for writing draft UCAS references at scale using existing data
February 23, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Totally agree. My kingdom for a reliable, GDPR compliant AI tool for writing draft UCAS references at scale using existing data
The same with characters. It matters for effective filmmaking that the film says "care about this small, carefully defined group of characters and their journeys" rather tha "surprise! here's a slim 20 minute sub plot on that one minor character you liked in a movie released a decade ago"
January 29, 2025 at 7:30 AM
The same with characters. It matters for effective filmmaking that the film says "care about this small, carefully defined group of characters and their journeys" rather tha "surprise! here's a slim 20 minute sub plot on that one minor character you liked in a movie released a decade ago"
Whatever data and accountability measures are put in place, and whatever changes are made to EAA assessment procedures, private schools must be subject to them as well. Otherwise any inherent disparity and unfairness will remain.
January 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Whatever data and accountability measures are put in place, and whatever changes are made to EAA assessment procedures, private schools must be subject to them as well. Otherwise any inherent disparity and unfairness will remain.
Without this, it will remain an arms race, with no strong incentives for anyone to push back on access arrangements when they believe they are inappropriate
Private schools will win. They have most advantaged parents with the highest expectations and the fewest disincentives for giving EAAs out.
Private schools will win. They have most advantaged parents with the highest expectations and the fewest disincentives for giving EAAs out.
January 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Without this, it will remain an arms race, with no strong incentives for anyone to push back on access arrangements when they believe they are inappropriate
Private schools will win. They have most advantaged parents with the highest expectations and the fewest disincentives for giving EAAs out.
Private schools will win. They have most advantaged parents with the highest expectations and the fewest disincentives for giving EAAs out.
To solve it, we can't just look at resources and expectations, we also need to look at the system itself. All schools, whether inside or outside the state system, would benefit from stronger approaches to testing and better criteria for determining access arrangements.
January 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
To solve it, we can't just look at resources and expectations, we also need to look at the system itself. All schools, whether inside or outside the state system, would benefit from stronger approaches to testing and better criteria for determining access arrangements.
So this is a class issue, not just a private/state issue.
More advantaged cohorts across the sectors are seeing the largest growths in access arrangements.
More advantaged cohorts across the sectors are seeing the largest growths in access arrangements.
January 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
So this is a class issue, not just a private/state issue.
More advantaged cohorts across the sectors are seeing the largest growths in access arrangements.
More advantaged cohorts across the sectors are seeing the largest growths in access arrangements.
They are also not reliable in a way that is biased towards socio-economic status.
When the evidence base and criteria for assessment are low, and the incentives for achieving an outcome are high, an assessment becomes more responsive to those with:
A. Strong parental expectations
B. Resources
When the evidence base and criteria for assessment are low, and the incentives for achieving an outcome are high, an assessment becomes more responsive to those with:
A. Strong parental expectations
B. Resources
January 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
They are also not reliable in a way that is biased towards socio-economic status.
When the evidence base and criteria for assessment are low, and the incentives for achieving an outcome are high, an assessment becomes more responsive to those with:
A. Strong parental expectations
B. Resources
When the evidence base and criteria for assessment are low, and the incentives for achieving an outcome are high, an assessment becomes more responsive to those with:
A. Strong parental expectations
B. Resources
However, we need much better data before we make such accusations and in my opinion the problem is a lot more nuanced than private bad / state good.
What is true though is that Exam Access Arrangements, in their current form, are probably not fit for purpose. The assessments are not reliable.
What is true though is that Exam Access Arrangements, in their current form, are probably not fit for purpose. The assessments are not reliable.
January 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
However, we need much better data before we make such accusations and in my opinion the problem is a lot more nuanced than private bad / state good.
What is true though is that Exam Access Arrangements, in their current form, are probably not fit for purpose. The assessments are not reliable.
What is true though is that Exam Access Arrangements, in their current form, are probably not fit for purpose. The assessments are not reliable.
Therefore concerns about the percentage of students getting extra time aren't about the percentage of SEND overall. It's about whether state or private schools are giving some children an unfair advantage by bowing to parental pressure or through cynically gaming the system.
January 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Therefore concerns about the percentage of students getting extra time aren't about the percentage of SEND overall. It's about whether state or private schools are giving some children an unfair advantage by bowing to parental pressure or through cynically gaming the system.
Schools often have access to the diagnostic process themselves and given that they are supporting their own student in achieving better grades, there is a strong incentive to support EAAs, regardless of evidence. There's no downside to the school except a slight increase in exams complexity.
January 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Schools often have access to the diagnostic process themselves and given that they are supporting their own student in achieving better grades, there is a strong incentive to support EAAs, regardless of evidence. There's no downside to the school except a slight increase in exams complexity.
Getting for example, an EHCP or support for an autistic child, can be a horrific Kafkaesque nightmare that can drive those with money to the private sector. Getting exam access arrangements is much simpler and the thresholds are naturally much lower.
January 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Getting for example, an EHCP or support for an autistic child, can be a horrific Kafkaesque nightmare that can drive those with money to the private sector. Getting exam access arrangements is much simpler and the thresholds are naturally much lower.