This would further undermine parliamentary authority to a significant degree and, I think, reduce the checks on executive power. In the process it would make it very unlikely that any party would change leader, no matter how bad.
Seems like it’s worth a try to me. Nothing else has worked.
Of course. But how would you ever have done so well in your exams if you hadn’t done all those exercises to get both halves of your brain warmed up and firing on all cylinders?
Did you ever experience that joy in your lessons?
Just remembering how I forced myself to read Edward de Bono’s book years ago in an attempt to understand why people kept telling me to use his hats in my lessons. That was weird.
Was just digging out my lesson plans for teaching Marshall Plan and Berlin Airlift to Yr 9. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve taught this stuff but it suddenly struck me how much that era of US-Europe relations seems like an entirely different world now. Never had that before. Feels important.
Pretty sure previous @teachertapp.bsky.social questions about whether schools set target grades have got much higher scores. Would be interested to know if this is because fewer schools are setting them now or just that they are using something other than KS2 data to do so. Suspect the latter.
Got stuck into this excellent essay collection on a train journey from one end of France to the other. We should take heed because lots of the ground hard-won in schools through this wisdom is at risk of being lost. What Galadriel never really says comes to mind.
www.civitas.org.uk/content/file...
A non-exhaustive list of possible topics might include: ‘Decolonising Russian studies’ in the history classroom Russia, Ukraine and the history textbook market Declining archival access and the research-to-teaching pipeline The impact of academic precarity on teaching practice in universities For more information, or to propose a submission, please contact Ben Phillips (b.g.phillips@exeter.ac.uk) and Rob Dale (robert.dale@newcastle.ac.uk). Proposals for submissions should be received by 27 April 2026.
Calling #KS4, #KS5 teachers of Russian and Soviet History
Leading international journal, Revolutionary Russia, seeks contributions to a special edition. A great opportunity to contribute to a wider conversation on teaching Russian/Soviet History!
Full details 👇
sites.utexas.edu/creees/2026/...
I say this every time modular exams come up, but I wonder how many of their fans have been in the profession long enough to remember students missing your lessons regularly for them, telling you they couldn’t do your homework because they have to revise, resitting endlessly etc.
My childhood needed this.
Same. I never cook my best stuff on holiday because you don’t have all the equipment just as you like it, unfamiliar ovens take a bit of getting used to and it’s often hard to get hold of all the ingredients.
Impressive!
We take quite a few things when we’re going in the UK or driving abroad, but it’s harder when you’re using public transport and having to cart all your stuff around. Can’t just chuck all the things in the boot just in case.
What did you want to whisk?
Yeah tin openers are definitely up there too.
When I’m World King I’ll make all holiday houses have scales. I’ll do without the champagne bucket, fondue set, cocktail shakers, food mixer with julienne attachment and seven fruit bowls of different designs and sizes, but I’d really like to be able to weigh the pasta please.
I’m reading the second Elodie Harper at the moment. Started it on a five hour train journey today.
You’ve had some great recs already. V much second the Pat Barker, Madeline Miller and Elodie Harper suggestions. Have you read Robert Harris’ Cicero series? Quite different in that it’s not a retelling of familiar myth/history from a woman’s perspective, but very good indeed.
They’re terrific! There’s a third one in the series as well, which I think was my favourite.
Was feeling quite cheerful this morning and then I listened to The Rest is Politics while doing some housework.
Yes I listen to a lot of history audiobooks on my commute and I find the archives of In Our Time to be a more cheerful place to look for podcasts when that’s what I need.
I don’t go on there at all these days.
Yeah coming off Twitter definitely helped my state of mind.
Hope you’re ok, Bill. Definitely get where you’re coming from with the political podcasts.
Particularly enjoying this @ppfideas.bsky.social series on political conversions with @dmk1793.bsky.social. As somebody with an affinity with conversion experiences and simultaneously a deep suspicion of them, they resonate a lot.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
Depends on whether what I wrote was any good!
Received the admissions pack for Mini-Mountie’s secondary school place. It’s a school I used to work at and it’s a bit strange recognising stuff in the booklet that I wrote years ago.
This gets to the heart of the core issues.
A system based on numerous individual reasonable* adjustments is either not viable or not effective.
*Lots of what is touted as reasonable in this space is phlogiston.
I don’t know if it’s permitted to make confectionery for Mini-Mountie’s school bake-off but I feel pretty proud of our efforts.