Year 8 state school pupils in England could face mandatory reading tests | Geoff Barton Baffled Barton of Suffolk: Where on earth did the idea come from that we need a new Year 8 reading text? We know from PISA tests that our primary pupils do pretty well in reading. PISA 2022 reported...

In which I ask where the idea came from that young people’s reading skills and enjoyment will be improved by stuffing a compulsory reading test into Year 8 … www.linkedin.com/posts/geoff-...

The ‘impossible situation’ of Progress 8 in white, working-class schools Just seven of the 100 schools with the highest rates of disadvantage and the lowest rates of English as an additional language have a positive P8. With the metric on pause, is it time to rethink it?

Among the 100 schools with the highest % of disadvantaged pupils and lowest % of EAL pupils, just 7 have a positive P8 score.

Nick Gibb claims it shows teaching needs to "improve"; the schools say P8 is broken.

@ellencph.bsky.social gets behind the numbers
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Disappointing that the SoS is listening to the same old voices inc the B&A hubs - so many hoped for change but that won’t happen unless DFE listen to different voices. Find out from schools who work with these issues rather than the vested interests who don’t - can’t see the impact, so why repeat!

The loss of vocational education over the 14 years of the Gove/Gibb reforms has destroyed the chances of so many - disengagement, absence, suspensions all rising- a mix of vocational and basics would be a fantastic pathway for so many. Along with similar opportunities for girls.

Don’t often agree but spot on here - huge over simplification of issue& ignores the 1000s of ‘white working class’ YP who’s needs are not met by the current system but v successful learning the trades we need for the economy. Also ignores the fact Post 16 has become a privilege they can’t afford

The reason I ask is about definitions of inclusion. Can a school giving preference to some kinds of families or children ever be considered inclusive? Can a school covertly or openly ‘putting off’ some people who don’t fit the mould ever be termed inclusive? I don’t think so.

Reflects deprived areas of Yorks too -very skilled school leaders - skilled in the impact the reality of austerity &poverty brings. DFE need to listen to other voices not just the same old vested interests who have propped up the current system of judging schools using flawed performance measures.

All the best people are I hear…

Here’s a great video of a ‘Day in the Life’ of one of our primary SCITT teachers. Laura is currently in her final stage as an apprentice at @appletonacademy.bsky.social #teachertraining #exceedscitt #bradford #weexceed #primary #newcareer #apprenticeteacher #handsonlearning #newcareer

Found four boxes of similar resources from when I moved into my house 22 years ago - getting ready to sell and downsize. Had a laugh at my handwritten planning from being a trainee all those years ago before it could all be downloaded!

Yep - just recycled a copy just before Easter!

They would need to be employed by one school with a contract and JD making it clear they work across a number of schools. Then an SLA for each school who are then invoiced for the time. If schools withdraw from the ‘service’ you could be left carrying the salary. This model is used in trusts also.

Exclusive: Planned Ofsted inspection report cards have been 'cobbled together at ridiculous speed' with no underpinning research and concerns by experienced officials ignored, whistleblowers have claimed

Admit is if you’ve made a mistake and apologise.
DM if you need support

Don’t be afraid to decide complaint is ‘vexatious’-a tiny minority will steal time by submitting constant complaints not seeking resolution. Close them down & don’t be afraid to use banning processes for those who are continually abusing - site ban/ written comms only is sometimes the only way

Make sure complaints procedure has clear stages &follow it. Good to have an informal stage 1st as most things can be sorted quickly by asking someone to call parent (not you) Have a clear delegation scheme at St1 to DHT/AHT not to HT til St 2. Keep to it. Gate keep but don’t take it personally.

Perspective - all schools have a hate site - don’t look, have a reliable admin to monitor social media alerting you of anything serious and send strongly worded letters to anyone naming staff in malicious content.1/2

Parcel at the backdoor of a house with the head of a dog looking out the cat door

This is better than my dpd proof of delivery - which made me laugh all morning at work and cheered up everyone who saw it!

Totally agree - already works on smaller scale with MHST and pilots bringing youth workers into schools. Go to the children and families - more efficient, greater impact and more cost effective in the long run.

Progress 8 is a deeply flawed way to hold schools to account Any reform of school accountability must include changing a headline measure that acts as a perverse incentive

🎱 'P8 is unfair to many hard-working schools, lets questionable performance go unchallenged, and hampers efforts to get under the bonnet of school improvement'

schoolsweek.co.uk/accountabili...

Worth remembering the v many talented leaders in challenging schools-battling social issues&skewed performance measures. Issue is more that these schools are not a 1st choice when looking for leadership roles. Tough to work in,a system that doesn’t recognise context & broken accountability processes

Yes - brawling with teeth at every opportunity. One has a low tone to his vocals with regular snorting and the other squeals. They’re very close but the teeth thing looks intense

It is - demanding more frisbee in the sea time because 2 hrs wasn’t enough!

Your Delia looks like ours-we make Calypso Christmas cake - the fruit is soaked for a week then the cake rests for a month before decorating with nuts. No feeding & So lovely. Perfect with nice salty butter & some cheese - used to send my Cornish FiL into a spin every year when I suggested cheese!

Brings back memories of seeing them live with their hard core fans called ‘the militia’ with their leather and wooden clogs covered in chains and studs. Great band

Black, white and gold Tibetan Terrier with his brother, gold sable and white - sitting on a sunny windowsill

Gold sable and white Tibetan Terrier lying down with a chew toy between his paws.

Two Tibetan Terriers sitting on a train seat looking out the window.

Black, white and gold Tibetan Terrier sitting on a beach with the sea in the background.

The Tibetan Terrier crowned the cheekiest is some going given their big personalities, ability to look at you and ignore what you’ve asked and then have the last word! Gus is an expert at all 3 and Dennis doesn’t do too bad!

Wow - those blues eyes. So unusual

Fear and Privilege: The Timeless Playbook of the Elite The elite’s scare tactics endure, convincing the public that what hurts them hurts us all.

A bit later than usual, but, 🚨🚨 LONG SATURDAY MORNING POST WITH CUPPA ALERT 🚨🚨

I apologise in advance that this one has gone weird. Blame it on a very, very, very long week.

Sad news - always championed working people and workers rights and represented Hull well. Should be proudly remembered for this part of his long career, fondly remembered for grounding the New Labour project, turning round the lives of so many &remembered with a chuckle for staying northern &proud!

Very impressive!
This is the kind of knitting I do when I finish a gorgeous jumper in a day but only ever in my dreams. In real life my husband laughs at how many projects I start but never finish. The latest one has needed sewing up for about 5 weeks…