Out of touch (Part 2) I'm betting you will 'probably' read this....

You will 'probably' have some thoughts on this...

thatpovertyguy.substack.com/p/out-of-tou...

Hats (and Easter bonnets….) off to the leadership team at Christ’s College in Sunderland

As part of training with staff, they put together these lovely gift bags for colleagues.

A team committed to understanding + tackling inequalities

@bloomsburyed.bsky.social @teesvalleyed.bsky.social

Guest Blog: Look Who's Talking! Eleanor: Accents, belonging and curiosity

If you read just one blog this week...

Highly recommend this guest blog by Eleanor Lake over on my Substack.

The power of accents, voice and equity
thatpovertyguy.substack.com/p/guest-blog...

But also George is a professional and he’s a lovely way of wording it I think

Well that’s made my day as somebody that is a Lancashire lad with an occasional Ant and Dec pretend twang!

You have a lovely North East accent. That’s a shame it’s not you. If I was your publisher i would have insisted!

a man with glasses and a beard looks to his left ALT: a man with glasses and a beard looks to his left

No! We have a wonderful chap called George Potts with a lovely North East accent.

But I was ready to step in with my less than impressive Annie, Yoda and Sean Connery impressions as required….

Music to our ears? 🎧 🎙️

Tackling Poverty & Disadvantage in Schools in audiobook edition!

Available from @bloomsburyed.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social

Shoutout to Bloomsbury & the co authors for making this happen

#TPADIS

Bath, books and belonging in Wells today!

Wonderful to be here with colleagues talking poverty, place and partnerships!

On Geordieness: accents and attitudes Sometimes when I share that I’m from Newcastle, harmful stereotypes and assumptions about us, and people from the North in general, become apparent

Look who’s talking!

Enjoyed co-writing this. Eleanor did the heavy lifting and her voice is a powerful one…

northeastbylines.co.uk/region/tynes...

Thank you Clare

Fantastic blog about equity and reading.

'Reading is rarely just about desire. Wanting to read is one thing; having the access, time, space and support to do so us another.'

'Sometimes equity begins not with a new initiative, but with a thoughtful conversation.'

Thanks for sharing this Sean. It's so important to recognise the lived realities of our young people and their experience of reading.

One bite at a time Why we're backing Free School Meals for every child

How do you eat an elephant? 🐘

One bite at a time 🍽️

Why I’m backing calls to end food poverty and hunger in schools

freeschoolmealsforall.org.uk/articles/one...

Thanks for helping to tell a story of equity and fairness today too

Thanks Sean. This is such an important message - there are a range of hidden barriers in making books accessible. Enjoying stories and story making is so pivotal to being curious and humane.
@talkingheadsoak.bsky.social @itsmotherswork.bsky.social you will both like this too!

Thanks Penny!

Enjoyed reading @thatpovertyguy.bsky.social blog about world book day too.

Me on working with children and young people as researchers in ‘real world’ school settings

@dottyb.bsky.social @teessideuni.bsky.social @bloomsburyed.bsky.social @teesvalleyed.bsky.social

The image shares the details of the workshop contained in the Bluesky thread and on the web page linked. It also includes an image of Jon Franklin, Chief Economist, working with two workshop attendees.

We're looking for social sector organisations supporting children under the age of 16 that want to measure their economic impact to raise the profile of their work.

❤️
“turn the pages on inequity and unfair reading access”

Equitable reading Books, fairness and the stories we help to make accessible

Happy #WorldBookDay 📚

Enjoy the celebration, but also take a moment to be curious.

Who has access?
Who can find belonging in a story?

thatpovertyguy.substack.com/p/equitable-...

#EquitableReading #FairStory

Beyond student voice: Involving students in real-world school research - SecEd How students as co‑researchers in school research partnerships can drive insight, equity and real improvement

What happens when students become co‑researchers in schools, working with #teachers to find solutions to entrenched problems? @thatpovertyguy.bsky.social explains how embedding curiosity & collaboration can change practice & improve outcomes: buff.ly/1miD6Ex #teaching #schools

Three children playing

Are you or anyone you know affected by the two-child limit? The government has announced it will be lifted in April, and we want to hear from affected families.

Please share: www.surveymonkey.com/r/two-child-...

Issue 28 call for papers is live! 📢

For the autumn 2026 issue of Impact, we are seeking papers focusing on behaviour, attendance and school culture.

Learn more and submit your abstract here: https://submittable.pulse.ly/4yftdq2mai

#Education #UKEducation #Teacher

Thanks Stuart. I agree!

So the job is to build ladders, not slogans. Place based, poverty informed routines. Early language, reading fluency, attendance that respects reality, plus repeated local encounters that make routes visible.

Judge schools on inclusive access & progress too, or keep rationing inclusion by default.

We keep diagnosing an aspiration problem in places like ours. It’s an opportunity problem. If a child can’t see the door, they can’t knock.

Cost, transport, health, housing, language – the frictions are real.

“Help” must mean access now and repair of foundations, not managed struggle.

What if opportunity never knocks? - The Sutton Trust Director of People, Learning and Community Engagement at Tees Valley Education, Sean Harris, writes about understanding and tackling social mobility in the North East.

💬 "One of the most persistent misconceptions about communities like ours is that children ‘lack aspiration'."

@thatpovertyguy.bsky.social writes about the obstacles to opportunity and improving social mobility in the North East ⤵️

Supermarket 'CPD' Sweep Why 'professional development' might be deepening inequality

In case you missed the trolley dash I spoke about....

thatpovertyguy.substack.com/p/supermarke...