Stuart Lock

On the substantive point, obviously the announcement was simply stupid and dreamt up by someone who doesn’t work in a school.

I include very small primary schools in this (though easier if in a group/ MAT).

But it isn’t the same when you’re doing it the 50th time because of automaticity and reliable systems.

Sure - in schools where leader don’t defend systems it is impossible because it is cognitively 40 hours attention/week.

But you can design schools that don’t need this and are better.

This whole debate prompted a re-read of @stulock.bsky.social’s superb blog, ‘Kevin’

mrlock.wordpress.com/2018/07/14/k...

There are consequences to reducing consequences. And we do need to recognise them.

I’m not sure he’d be bothered about talking to the DFE.

I just want them to consider that we promote what we permit.

Thanks. It’s Kevin who deserves the credit for letting me write it and correcting my false memories.

I just reread it and realised I could update it for 2026 just by updating the title:

I’ll call it “Belonging”.

I was checking before getting v upset

That doesn’t say dfe funded. Does it?

Is this a suspicion or do you know something?

Hey Bridget,

Get back to me when you've dealt with a group of 16 year old boys shouting in your face, trying to intimidate you, & refusing to follow any instructions.

Try talking to some actual teachers.

Also, try talking to the parents of kids having their learning hampered by disruptive kids.

Some really important points to consider here. A must read thread. 👏

You don't improve behaviour by reducing suspensions. You reduce suspensions by improving behaviour.

One of these things is really easy to do. The other requires far more widely reaching change.

Ben articulates this far better than I ever could

Super thread here. Labour continuing to disappoint. Bridget Phillipson really needs to spend a few weeks in a primary school and a few weeks in a secondary school to understand the consequences of her brilliant ideas.

This thread is better thought through than my rant at work this morning. Agree with every word 👇

This is exactly the conversation we had at work today.
This is utter nonsense.

I find it wild that if you’re verbally abusive to a police officer or a nurse you can be prosecuted, but we are saying that when it happens to teachers it’s not even appropriate to send a child home.

Do not always send suspended students home, government tells schools Changes to England's school system say on-site suspensions should be used for non-violent behaviour.

Thoughts on this mess.
🧵👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I need to reread @samfr.bsky.social's book - because I think remember there were times when they were like "it's education's turn for a story" - maybe this was all they had when someone somewhere was demanding something is put out as an announcement.

I think it's worth waiting and seeing - which is why I think that the announcement about something that might happen and might be good is a little weird.

I think so and hence I left. But it’s hypocritical to appeal to unity and then write that.

You wrote “we are stronger together and let’s stay that way” and then wrote that?

Cash out is now ~£150

It's a phone ban. It's fine and it works. I don't think we need more talk of 'strictest' - nor any encouragement of the very small number who see Headship as something to compete with each other about who can be the most hard.

Imagine being @bennewmark.bsky.social and starting the banter about your win before the game.

Morning

I fear that the current approach is that because diagnosis is out of control, the government think 'adaptations' should just be for everyone. Which is a way to make mainstream classrooms much, much less inclusive.

I very much wish we had an idea of how SEND might be reformed and the expectations on schools and teachers.