Sammy Wright

That was a cracking Halloween costume by my youngest

The latest post in our series "What's in a Word" is out now.
@sammywright.bsky.social examines the phrase 'knowledge-rich' which has a proper meaning, but around which a lot of other more vague and unsubstantiated ideas have accrued... www.edge.co.uk/research/wha...

PM - Third resignation in grooming gang inquiry - BBC Sounds A third abuse victim resigns from the survivors panel.

From 12 mins 30 secs www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

@twinklresources.bsky.social are launching a new podcast series for leaders and teachers, and episode 1 is here! It was great to pick @sammywright.bsky.social's brain on the shape and texture of English schools. www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1hjk03
@twinklbeyond.bsky.social #twinklbeyondenglish

YouTube video by Twinkl Educational Publishing Exams Expose, they DON'T Solve | Leading with... Sammy Wright | Episode 1

m.youtube.com/watch?v=wCcj...

School trip to flamingoland

Because society works better when people find fulfilment in life even when their jobs are meaningless and mundane.

Education and money I’ve read a few things lately about the connection between educational levels and income, and they made me think of the argument I made about in Exam Nation.

open.substack.com/pub/sammywri...

Apparently they’re ‘flying’!

Why SEN is complicated… open.substack.com/pub/sammywri...

A New Thing I’m not at school. It’s exciting. I’m at my desk, with a clean notebook, a list of jobs, and a three year timeline in front of me.

Something new…
open.substack.com/pub/sammywri...

Best book ever

Apparently they’re ‘flying’!

Woo-hoo! Paperback in shops, and on offer at Waterstones!

Three weeks to go… The paperback of Exam Nation is out on 7th August, so I thought I’d do a little series of short extracts, starting with the very beginning.

Out today in paperback!

open.substack.com/pub/sammywri...

Exam Nation School should equip children for adulthood. In reality, it means one thing: exams. Exam Nation sets out a better way – and, crucially, shows us how we might get there. Educationalist and Head of Scho...

Out today - please buy/share/review, and above all read. I’m so proud of this book and the impact it’s had - and still a bit surprised at the places it’s taken me too over the last year.

www.penguin.co.uk/books/454163...

Exam Nation School should equip children for adulthood. In reality, it means one thing: exams. Exam Nation sets out a better way – and, crucially, shows us how we might get there. Educationalist and Head of Scho...

Going on holiday tomorrow. By the time I’m back, this will be out in paperback! Reviewed in every single broadsheet, the mail, new statesman when it was published last year - “brilliant”, “entertaining”, “insightful”, “essential” - please pre-order!

www.penguin.co.uk/books/454163...

Why attendance and anxiety are complicated This is a conversation I had three years ago with 16 year old Clark from Warrington. I don't post it to draw a particular conclusion. I just find it desperately sad.

Clark’s hands are together in his lap. “Me brother was born when I was 10. But he lived with me mam years before that.” He looks up. His eyes are wide, and he has that faint smile still. “Actually, I thought them having a child it might change, but it didn’t.”

open.substack.com/pub/sammywri...

First look at the paperback - and I’m just blown away by seeing al the amazing quotes on the cover

It could follow the pattern of Just William - lots of iterations vainly clutching for relevance in a changing world. Ending with ‘Gatsby and the Rock Band’ - in which our hero seeks to recapture the elusive freedom of the summer of love, only to realise, yet again, that you can’t repeat the past.

Benny As we go into the summer holidays, here's an interview with a parent from Exam Nation. Home is pretty hard, sometimes.

Paperback soon out… open.substack.com/pub/sammywri...

Thank you to @sammywright.bsky.social for this brilliant review of @johntomsett.bsky.social’s new book! 🌟

Learn all about the attributes and behaviours that make an outstanding teacher in This Much I Know About Truly Great Secondary Teachers. Out now! 📘: buff.ly/Vkizg1O

Sammy Wright on Substack

substack.com/@sammywright...

#FridayFive
1. Atmosphere - Joy Division
2. Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
3. Call me Al - Paul Simon
4. Praise me - Fatboy Slim
5. All the Single Ladies - Beyoncé

Or move to Newcastle.

I agree with your opinion of the speech, and the policies, and American history. But I’m glad he said publicly the speech was wrong. It is a good thing to acknowledge a mistake. There’s plenty other stuff he’s doing I could criticise. But that apology, in and of itself, was good.

Apologise

Would you rather he didn’t? I don’t quite get that.

I’m just glad he has said it. It pisses me off more when people don’t acknowledge their mistakes.

Keir Starmer says he ‘deeply regrets’ island of strangers speech Immigration speech was criticised for echoing Enoch Powell’s ‘rivers of blood’ rhetoric

Good. I’m glad to see this.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...