My hairdressing appointment reading. I love this book: we cannot decided what students can/ cannot do before we even let them try. Scaffolding not differentiation #pedagogy #teaching
This!
What if the words that shaped ancient civilisations could help someone rewrite their future?
The ACE project wants to widen access to the study of classics for society’s most marginalised learners, those in prison. Pilot feedback has shown that it has been transformative for incarcerated learners.
#TeamRhetoric It’s brilliant to launch our new Oratory and Rhetoric Club at Lichfield Cathedral School: AGORA
The LCS Agora will be a space to explore rhetoric, oratory, and persuasion from the origins of democracy in Classical Athens to modernity!
#democracy #oratory #rhetoric #teaching #debates
This!
I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening.
The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.
He is a little boy. He was taken from school and used as bait to open the door of his home. He has been detained in Texas. He is a little child.
Children are being taken.
Parents are being taken.
People are being taken.
POV History & Classics teachers in 2026:
It’s frustrating seeing how ancient history, especially empires, is used to justify actions in the present.
What’s inspiring as an Ancient Historian is knowing that I have the skills to address misconceptions and encourage critical thinking.
I was saying to myself ‘Sar you know they’ll leave it as a cliffhanger’, and yet I still had hope. Curses that I must wait until Wednesday.
Monday, tune in for a special conversation between Rachel Maddow and guests of her most recent podcast “Burn Order” from a live community event in Los Angeles.
Watch Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order Monday at 9pm ET on MS NOW.
In March 2026 I’ll be with the awesome @ttradioofficial.bsky.social talking about Ancient Democracy! #History #Teaching #CPD
Thank you Liz! The students are brilliant so it’s been an awesome term!
It’s finally new ink time
Yes bab!
First term as the new HoD of History and Politics at LCS ✅ #teaching
One of the best versions of Macbeth I’ve ever seen. Truly Scottish and what a brilliant setting for it #Macbeth #RSC #Shakespeare #TheOtherPlace
Hope you don’t mind me sharing this again. I’m just so excited to share this brand new podcast series produced by @histfest.bsky.social for @historyextra.bsky.social
Listen wherever you get your podcasts (here’s the Spotify link spotify.link/hxH97mL4PXb )
Well behind (HoD in a new school - autumn caught up with me!) but here’s my latest @classicstober.bsky.social for yesterday. Day 14 Cocytus, the river that flows to Acheron, of wailing and lamentation.
οιμοι φεύ φεύ
Weave wait unravel weave wait survive weave unravel wait weave wait hope trust weave
@classicstober.bsky.social day 4 Shroud #ClassicsTober
Busy day but trying to make sure I do my #ClassicsTober day 3 Graiai @classicstober.bsky.social
@classicstober.bsky.social day 2 #Thanatos
#ClassicsTober time #hypnos @classicstober.bsky.social
An early start, but what a beautiful morning singing on BBC Radio 4 this morning for Sunday Worship with Lichfield Cathedral Chamber Choir
#AQA 1K display is starting to come together! #USA #teaching #Alevel #RiseofaSuperpower
Don’t get me wrong - I’m devastated for Socrates and it demonstrates how Athens didn’t value its best advisers (and why Plato is so disappointed in democracy), but even Socrates himself says that he was in a polis where they all follow the rule of law, even when it ruled against him.
Aristophanes was prosecuted by Cleon for embarrassing the city in a play, and he was not silenced - he went through the law process and continued to produce plays that criticised Cleon repeatedly
The democracy was based on isonomia and isegoria. But that was not that they could speak with impunity. If you were accused of slander or libel you would be prosecuted in the courts. If you misled the assembly, you’d be held accountable. Satire was politically protected
And no Socrates said himself that by Athenian law he was found guilty and refused to run away.
Freedom of speech is ancient, freedom of satire is ancient. If you are not free to criticise leaders, it is not a democracy
