Dr Sam Baars

I've had this postcard from Selsey Labour Party (aka my gran and her mate Pauline) in my violin case since 1997. I don't remember what I played at the 'Summer Serenade', but I do know it failed to turn the tide on Selsey's 700-year wait for a Labour MP.

Let's visit the scrapyard of the Logo Authority rankings, with over 30k votes cast. @lichfieldlive.bsky.social's old logo is rock bottom of the table - maybe that recent rebrand wasn't such a bad idea. Thurrock and @farehambc.bsky.social time for a refresh too? Link in bio - vote away!

White working class boys in the neoliberal meritocracy I've just had a book chapter published as part of a collection on Masculinity and Aspiration in the Era of Neoliberal Education, edited by Garth Stahl, Joseph Nelson and Derron Wallace. The chapter is

Also some articulate reminders from young people of how place attachment complicates the simple assumption, at the heart of the #socialmobility discourse, that all young people have equal capacity to be 'footloose' in the pursuit of opportunity sambaars.com/white-workin...

The Work Talk Framework in action I've been analysing the data from the first live application of my Work Talk Framework. It's part of an evaluation I'm carrying out for SAND College, a post-16 setting for young people with SEND down

Takes me back to the Work Talk Framework I developed during my freelance time with students at The Sand Project in Worthing sambaars.com/the-work-tal...

Deep dive workshop: Education to work - Nuffield Foundation

Today's update from the @nuffieldfoundation.org on their 'Grown up? Journeys to adulthood' project does a nice job of demonstrating the value of conversations with young people about "types of work that appeal to you" rather than "jobs you want to do" www.nuffieldfoundation.org/research/our...

The liver bird soared past @essex.gov.uk this week, putting @lpoolcouncil.bsky.social at the top of the Logo Authority leaderboard. @bracknellforest.bsky.social have one foot on the podium, while @sheffcitycouncil.bsky.social are sliding. After 20k votes it's all to play for. Vote away! Link in bio.

#Thurrock was the first polity in the world to launch a website, narrowly beating the Japanese government to the line in April 1992. Sadly this Essex unitary is currently bottom of the Logo Authority table. If you want to change that, vote it up! Link in bio.

With over 5,000 votes cast, @sheffcitycouncil.bsky.social is breaking away from the pack on the logo voter. @trafford-council.bsky.social and York currently the solitary torchbearers for the more traditional crest/coat of arms-based logos. Link in bio - vote away!

Once in a while, Logo Authority's random pairing generator will throw up a real derby. @southamptoncc.bsky.social currently sits at 15th in the table, while Pompey languishes at 147. Hit the link in the bio to vote!

After brief success as an over-the-counter pile cream, Bolsover found new life as a lower-tier local authority during the local government reforms of 1992. Currently ranked 293 on Logo Authority. Vote away!

Tragedy struck Bassetlaw District Council in 1993 when a sinkhole swallowed all serving members of the local authority's graphic design team, leaving the council devoid of the expertise required for its rebrand.

Up first: @bhamcitycouncil.bsky.social. Currently on 2 wins from 2 contests on the Logo Authority voter. This logo is an exercise in clean sans. Topped off with a multipurpose graphic tripling up as a beating heart, the tick of compliance, and the warm handshake of public service.

This is wonderful! 😂 Distinctly aggressive. And has the brand identity of a tool hire firm.

Haha. Agree wholeheartedly! One of my personal faves. Some look like they were bashed out in Paint in the 640x480 days.

Thanks! I had the idea, but needed extensive help from some talented freelancers to actually build it...

Logo Authority: vote for your favourite English council logo

It's local election night! Time to vote on your favourite local authority logo. logoauthority.web.app

Isos Partnership News - Spring 2025

The latest edition of the Isos Partnership newsletter has landed! We have lots to update you on, spanning our work in SEND, Children's Services, the early years, local education partnerships and area-based inequalities isos-partnership-news.beehiiv.com/p/isos-partn...

Heya! A lovely little blast from the past. Hope all's well with you.