Dr Barry Black
@barryblackne.bsky.social
Education researcher. Dons, Lynx, Jets, & Becky Lynch. Stand Free 🐑
Incredibly strong and evidenced article from MCR Pathways on delivery of the Promise here.
Including this from board member Susanne Richards: “We are halfway through The Promise, but nowhere near halfway through its delivery.”
mcrpathways.org/news/the-pro...
Including this from board member Susanne Richards: “We are halfway through The Promise, but nowhere near halfway through its delivery.”
mcrpathways.org/news/the-pro...
The Promise: Six Years On, Four Years to Deliver - MCR Pathways
Scotland is six years into The Promise, but there is still some distance to cover. Discover how MCR Pathways is using mentoring to deliver real change by 2030.
mcrpathways.org
February 5, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Incredibly strong and evidenced article from MCR Pathways on delivery of the Promise here.
Including this from board member Susanne Richards: “We are halfway through The Promise, but nowhere near halfway through its delivery.”
mcrpathways.org/news/the-pro...
Including this from board member Susanne Richards: “We are halfway through The Promise, but nowhere near halfway through its delivery.”
mcrpathways.org/news/the-pro...
Put a tenner on 0-0 at Pittodrie today. My thought was the storm like weather and two struggling teams would produce a borefest.
Eight goals and two red cards later shows how much I know about football…
Eight goals and two red cards later shows how much I know about football…
January 24, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Put a tenner on 0-0 at Pittodrie today. My thought was the storm like weather and two struggling teams would produce a borefest.
Eight goals and two red cards later shows how much I know about football…
Eight goals and two red cards later shows how much I know about football…
Reposted by Dr Barry Black
"If the state is to invest in the education of all children, then asking the families who purchase a premium tier of schooling to contribute a little more is not radical. It is common sense."
Will this be the defining legacy of the VAT policy?
Will this be the defining legacy of the VAT policy?
Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters.
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Policy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it matters
Policy analysis of a debate I was privileged enough to be involved in last year
open.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:17 PM
"If the state is to invest in the education of all children, then asking the families who purchase a premium tier of schooling to contribute a little more is not radical. It is common sense."
Will this be the defining legacy of the VAT policy?
Will this be the defining legacy of the VAT policy?
Heartbreakingly sad findings
‘Nearly a third of kids can't use books when starting school - and try to swipe them like phones’
news.sky.com/story/nearly...
‘Nearly a third of kids can't use books when starting school - and try to swipe them like phones’
news.sky.com/story/nearly...
Nearly a third of kids can't use books when starting school - and try to swipe them like phones
Staff also report around 28% of children started school unable to eat and drink independently, and 25% had difficulty with basic life skills.
news.sky.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Heartbreakingly sad findings
‘Nearly a third of kids can't use books when starting school - and try to swipe them like phones’
news.sky.com/story/nearly...
‘Nearly a third of kids can't use books when starting school - and try to swipe them like phones’
news.sky.com/story/nearly...
Merry Christmas Everyone 🎄
December 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Merry Christmas Everyone 🎄
Early Christmas celebration in our wee house today, and an excellent Christmas dinner if I say so myself 🎄
December 13, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Early Christmas celebration in our wee house today, and an excellent Christmas dinner if I say so myself 🎄
A fantastically fun evening at Parkhill Secondary’s Christmas show: Toy Story the musical 🎄
December 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
A fantastically fun evening at Parkhill Secondary’s Christmas show: Toy Story the musical 🎄
Policy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it matters
barryblack.substack.com/p/policy-ana...
barryblack.substack.com/p/policy-ana...
Policy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it matters
Policy analysis of a debate I was privileged enough to be involved in last year
barryblack.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Policy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it matters
barryblack.substack.com/p/policy-ana...
barryblack.substack.com/p/policy-ana...
Reposted by Dr Barry Black
Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters.
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Policy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it matters
Policy analysis of a debate I was privileged enough to be involved in last year
open.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters.
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Reposted by Dr Barry Black
Thought this was a very interesting piece from Barry. I wasn't aware that the OBR had revised the revenue from VAT on private school fees up. I have had people tell me "this is the politics of envy" and that I was wrong to think private schools are businesses, so good to see this policy analysis.
Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters.
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Policy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it matters
Policy analysis of a debate I was privileged enough to be involved in last year
open.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thought this was a very interesting piece from Barry. I wasn't aware that the OBR had revised the revenue from VAT on private school fees up. I have had people tell me "this is the politics of envy" and that I was wrong to think private schools are businesses, so good to see this policy analysis.
Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters.
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Policy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it matters
Policy analysis of a debate I was privileged enough to be involved in last year
open.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters.
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
I was among the first to call for this. January 4th 2021. My call was rubbished and told there were no plans. A few months later it was Government policy.
The reform hasn’t taken the shape I or many others wanted, but hopefully a page has been turned
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The reform hasn’t taken the shape I or many others wanted, but hopefully a page has been turned
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why Scotland's exam body - the SQA - has been scrapped
Qualifications Scotland comes into being on Tuesday but is it any more than a rebranding of the existing exams agency?
www.bbc.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I was among the first to call for this. January 4th 2021. My call was rubbished and told there were no plans. A few months later it was Government policy.
The reform hasn’t taken the shape I or many others wanted, but hopefully a page has been turned
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The reform hasn’t taken the shape I or many others wanted, but hopefully a page has been turned
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Dr Barry Black
As I, and others, predicted there has not been an exodus of pupils from private schools due to VAT on fees, partly because the price point is not a factor in accessing private education.
The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
November 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
As I, and others, predicted there has not been an exodus of pupils from private schools due to VAT on fees, partly because the price point is not a factor in accessing private education.
The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Very much looking forward to the Kilbrandon Lecture by @carlenefirmin.bsky.social in the resplendent Barony Hall this evening
November 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Very much looking forward to the Kilbrandon Lecture by @carlenefirmin.bsky.social in the resplendent Barony Hall this evening
As I, and others, predicted there has not been an exodus of pupils from private schools due to VAT on fees, partly because the price point is not a factor in accessing private education.
The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
November 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
As I, and others, predicted there has not been an exodus of pupils from private schools due to VAT on fees, partly because the price point is not a factor in accessing private education.
The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
I have always thought that the value of a Covid inquiry would have been setting out a future framework for how the prioritisation of rights work in an emergency. So many rights violated (many of that necessary which is my point) with so little reflection or those decisions.
November 20, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I have always thought that the value of a Covid inquiry would have been setting out a future framework for how the prioritisation of rights work in an emergency. So many rights violated (many of that necessary which is my point) with so little reflection or those decisions.
Reposted by Dr Barry Black
Two years ago (time flies!) I wrote about why Labour need to scrap the two child benefit cap - for many reasons - including if we as a society want to meaningfully reduce education inequalities.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
SNP blew £1 billion failing to close the educational attainment gap. Labour must learn from its mistakes – Barry Black
The SNP’s failure to improve the exam results of the poorest children shows the need to focus on tackling child poverty. Labour should rethink its approach
www.scotsman.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Two years ago (time flies!) I wrote about why Labour need to scrap the two child benefit cap - for many reasons - including if we as a society want to meaningfully reduce education inequalities.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Two years ago (time flies!) I wrote about why Labour need to scrap the two child benefit cap - for many reasons - including if we as a society want to meaningfully reduce education inequalities.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
SNP blew £1 billion failing to close the educational attainment gap. Labour must learn from its mistakes – Barry Black
The SNP’s failure to improve the exam results of the poorest children shows the need to focus on tackling child poverty. Labour should rethink its approach
www.scotsman.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Two years ago (time flies!) I wrote about why Labour need to scrap the two child benefit cap - for many reasons - including if we as a society want to meaningfully reduce education inequalities.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Saturday night kitchen 🐟
November 1, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Saturday night kitchen 🐟
Reposted by Dr Barry Black
‘I had never supported Universal Free School Meals. Then I looked at the evidence.’
barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...
barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...
October 17, 2025 at 9:28 AM
‘I had never supported Universal Free School Meals. Then I looked at the evidence.’
barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...
barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...
‘I had never supported Universal Free School Meals. Then I looked at the evidence.’
barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...
barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...
October 17, 2025 at 9:28 AM
‘I had never supported Universal Free School Meals. Then I looked at the evidence.’
barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...
barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...
A really engaging day in Edinburgh for my first meeting as a member of the Promise Oversight Board, reflecting on previous reports, looking ahead to measuring progress in the next year, and hearing from the Chief Social Work Adviser.
oversightboard.scot
oversightboard.scot
The Oversight Board | Monitoring Scotland's promise
The Oversight Board monitors whether Scotland is keeping its promise to children, young people, and families.
oversightboard.scot
August 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A really engaging day in Edinburgh for my first meeting as a member of the Promise Oversight Board, reflecting on previous reports, looking ahead to measuring progress in the next year, and hearing from the Chief Social Work Adviser.
oversightboard.scot
oversightboard.scot
La Mesa in Paisley tonight with the tremendous @mrdissent.bsky.social 🍀
July 16, 2025 at 6:29 PM
La Mesa in Paisley tonight with the tremendous @mrdissent.bsky.social 🍀
