James Handscombe
@jameshandscombe.bsky.social
Executive Principal, Mathematician, Teacher, Wordsmith not necessarily in that order.
I like the idea of curiosity as self-care: we say that in teaching every day is different and I can see that coming in each day full of curiosity for what might transpire would be healthy.
I also think that curiosity can be developed and, in related news, my book “Cabinet of Curiosity” is out.
I also think that curiosity can be developed and, in related news, my book “Cabinet of Curiosity” is out.
November 11, 2025 at 8:15 AM
I like the idea of curiosity as self-care: we say that in teaching every day is different and I can see that coming in each day full of curiosity for what might transpire would be healthy.
I also think that curiosity can be developed and, in related news, my book “Cabinet of Curiosity” is out.
I also think that curiosity can be developed and, in related news, my book “Cabinet of Curiosity” is out.
Reposted by James Handscombe
This looks BRILLIANT 👏
November 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
This looks BRILLIANT 👏
Exciting times - I now have a copy of my book!
November 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Exciting times - I now have a copy of my book!
What we have on our hands is a species problem - fascinating story from Arundhati Roy
November 10, 2025 at 8:16 AM
What we have on our hands is a species problem - fascinating story from Arundhati Roy
Reposted by James Handscombe
November 9, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by James Handscombe
If the discussion with @lessoncopy.bsky.social left you wanting more enthusiasm & your copy hasn’t turned up yet: here I am talking to the library at @hachettelearning.bsky.social HQ.
It seems I look at the ceiling when thinking (or that’s where the teleprompter is…)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=55tR...
It seems I look at the ceiling when thinking (or that’s where the teleprompter is…)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=55tR...
James Handscombe: Cabinet of Curiosity
YouTube video by Hachette Learning
m.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
If the discussion with @lessoncopy.bsky.social left you wanting more enthusiasm & your copy hasn’t turned up yet: here I am talking to the library at @hachettelearning.bsky.social HQ.
It seems I look at the ceiling when thinking (or that’s where the teleprompter is…)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=55tR...
It seems I look at the ceiling when thinking (or that’s where the teleprompter is…)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=55tR...
“He got off that camel like Marlon Brando getting off a motorbike.”
This can only be one person, one event.
This can only be one person, one event.
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
“He got off that camel like Marlon Brando getting off a motorbike.”
This can only be one person, one event.
This can only be one person, one event.
Reposted by James Handscombe
the only instance in recorded history of a traffic collision between a car and a u-boat!
November 9, 2025 at 7:36 AM
the only instance in recorded history of a traffic collision between a car and a u-boat!
Reposted by James Handscombe
somebody at the Clarion wrote an explainer of how to beat the Oxford congestion charge and i'm crying, help
oxfordclarion.uk/twelve-easy-...
oxfordclarion.uk/twelve-easy-...
Twelve easy hacks to beat Oxford’s congestion charge
Don't want to pay? We got you. Here's the tea on how you can avoid the congestion charge entirely, and still visit all your favourite places in the city centre. Here's the official website, but our ha...
oxfordclarion.uk
November 8, 2025 at 2:43 PM
somebody at the Clarion wrote an explainer of how to beat the Oxford congestion charge and i'm crying, help
oxfordclarion.uk/twelve-easy-...
oxfordclarion.uk/twelve-easy-...
I have spent my Saturday lunchtime wisely and well and have the definitive ordering on the tracks of Simon and Garfunkel’s third studio album: Pardley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.
11. Obviously Silent Night. Sorry, Paul, this one doesn’t quite work
10. The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine (meh)
11. Obviously Silent Night. Sorry, Paul, this one doesn’t quite work
10. The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine (meh)
November 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I have spent my Saturday lunchtime wisely and well and have the definitive ordering on the tracks of Simon and Garfunkel’s third studio album: Pardley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.
11. Obviously Silent Night. Sorry, Paul, this one doesn’t quite work
10. The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine (meh)
11. Obviously Silent Night. Sorry, Paul, this one doesn’t quite work
10. The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine (meh)
Reposted by James Handscombe
Tomorrow we lay wreaths for Magdalen members who died in both World Wars.
I am deeply conscious of the terrible effects of war on a college like this. Imagine what it was like for the President to see so many students full of promise graduate, to die only months later.
We will remember them.
I am deeply conscious of the terrible effects of war on a college like this. Imagine what it was like for the President to see so many students full of promise graduate, to die only months later.
We will remember them.
November 8, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Tomorrow we lay wreaths for Magdalen members who died in both World Wars.
I am deeply conscious of the terrible effects of war on a college like this. Imagine what it was like for the President to see so many students full of promise graduate, to die only months later.
We will remember them.
I am deeply conscious of the terrible effects of war on a college like this. Imagine what it was like for the President to see so many students full of promise graduate, to die only months later.
We will remember them.
I had dinner with old friends this week and learned that one of them had taken a sabbatical to learn bee-keeping. I, meanwhile, am reading Daniel Deronda and am here to tell you that Gwendolen’s main problem (apart from her name) is a lack of purpose. Night school - that’s what she needs.
November 8, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I had dinner with old friends this week and learned that one of them had taken a sabbatical to learn bee-keeping. I, meanwhile, am reading Daniel Deronda and am here to tell you that Gwendolen’s main problem (apart from her name) is a lack of purpose. Night school - that’s what she needs.
These are the brilliant questions.
Kindness and Scholarship in equilibrium.
Purposeful understanding as well as Mechanical ability.
Leadership is often tightrope walking.
Kindness and Scholarship in equilibrium.
Purposeful understanding as well as Mechanical ability.
Leadership is often tightrope walking.
The bigger questions for leaders:
Can we build a system that keeps rigour and wellbeing?
That judges learning by understanding, not exhaustion?
Can we build a system that keeps rigour and wellbeing?
That judges learning by understanding, not exhaustion?
November 7, 2025 at 8:10 PM
These are the brilliant questions.
Kindness and Scholarship in equilibrium.
Purposeful understanding as well as Mechanical ability.
Leadership is often tightrope walking.
Kindness and Scholarship in equilibrium.
Purposeful understanding as well as Mechanical ability.
Leadership is often tightrope walking.
Underappreciated
He's so deep in denial he can see the Pyramids.
Trump: "I think pretty much every single leader in Europe is a friend of mine. We get along really well. They've done everything I've asked them to do."
November 7, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Underappreciated
Reposted by James Handscombe
New version of Girl Yelling In Guy's Ear at Concert Dropped:
November 7, 2025 at 12:16 AM
New version of Girl Yelling In Guy's Ear at Concert Dropped:
This game is fun!
catfishing.net/game/today
Guess the Wikipedia article from its categories: particularly enjoyed this one
catfishing.net/game/today
Guess the Wikipedia article from its categories: particularly enjoyed this one
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
This game is fun!
catfishing.net/game/today
Guess the Wikipedia article from its categories: particularly enjoyed this one
catfishing.net/game/today
Guess the Wikipedia article from its categories: particularly enjoyed this one
If the discussion with @lessoncopy.bsky.social left you wanting more enthusiasm & your copy hasn’t turned up yet: here I am talking to the library at @hachettelearning.bsky.social HQ.
It seems I look at the ceiling when thinking (or that’s where the teleprompter is…)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=55tR...
It seems I look at the ceiling when thinking (or that’s where the teleprompter is…)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=55tR...
James Handscombe: Cabinet of Curiosity
YouTube video by Hachette Learning
m.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
If the discussion with @lessoncopy.bsky.social left you wanting more enthusiasm & your copy hasn’t turned up yet: here I am talking to the library at @hachettelearning.bsky.social HQ.
It seems I look at the ceiling when thinking (or that’s where the teleprompter is…)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=55tR...
It seems I look at the ceiling when thinking (or that’s where the teleprompter is…)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=55tR...
It’s out!
The Cabinet of Curiosity should be in the hands of readers today.
If you know it all already you can correct my mistakes, if not then there may be a new fascination for you lurking in its pages.
#EdSky
#UkEd
#Curiosity
@hachettelearning.bsky.social
The Cabinet of Curiosity should be in the hands of readers today.
If you know it all already you can correct my mistakes, if not then there may be a new fascination for you lurking in its pages.
#EdSky
#UkEd
#Curiosity
@hachettelearning.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 7:37 AM
It’s out!
The Cabinet of Curiosity should be in the hands of readers today.
If you know it all already you can correct my mistakes, if not then there may be a new fascination for you lurking in its pages.
#EdSky
#UkEd
#Curiosity
@hachettelearning.bsky.social
The Cabinet of Curiosity should be in the hands of readers today.
If you know it all already you can correct my mistakes, if not then there may be a new fascination for you lurking in its pages.
#EdSky
#UkEd
#Curiosity
@hachettelearning.bsky.social
Chapter Nine is a miscellany of curious ideas that have been in the cabinet and not made it to chapters 2-8 because they haven’t worked or worked but are similar to other sessions or simply don’t illustrate the points I’m making about finding curiosity (except to point out that there‘a always more).
Chapter Eight is American politics and government and centres on the joys of being able to react to world events. The great thing about teaching curiosity is that there are so many reasons to be curious - and significant American elections come up every two years (plus yesterday!).
November 6, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Chapter Nine is a miscellany of curious ideas that have been in the cabinet and not made it to chapters 2-8 because they haven’t worked or worked but are similar to other sessions or simply don’t illustrate the points I’m making about finding curiosity (except to point out that there‘a always more).
Reposted by James Handscombe
Oh how terrible, I can see why renewables are so unpopular...
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Oh how terrible, I can see why renewables are so unpopular...
Reposted by James Handscombe
You can make a case that, in government terms, Lammy had a worse time of it, overseeing a Justice department in chaos. But in parliamentary terms, there's simply nothing worse than accidentally failing to ask the question you've come along to ask.
thecritic.co.uk/out-...
thecritic.co.uk/out-...
November 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM
You can make a case that, in government terms, Lammy had a worse time of it, overseeing a Justice department in chaos. But in parliamentary terms, there's simply nothing worse than accidentally failing to ask the question you've come along to ask.
thecritic.co.uk/out-...
thecritic.co.uk/out-...
Chapter Eight is American politics and government and centres on the joys of being able to react to world events. The great thing about teaching curiosity is that there are so many reasons to be curious - and significant American elections come up every two years (plus yesterday!).
November 5, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Chapter Eight is American politics and government and centres on the joys of being able to react to world events. The great thing about teaching curiosity is that there are so many reasons to be curious - and significant American elections come up every two years (plus yesterday!).
Reposted by James Handscombe
Make being smart-with-humility-and-empathy and articulate-with-authenticity a sine qua non for the complex job of political leadership again
November 5, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Make being smart-with-humility-and-empathy and articulate-with-authenticity a sine qua non for the complex job of political leadership again
In my interview for @ttradioofficial.bsky.social last night: m.youtube.com/watch?v=3q6V...
I talked about the surprising fact that inside every atom (except hydrogen) there are a collection of positively charged protons not pushing apart.
Chapter 7 is Quantum Chromodynamics & the Subatomic Octopus.
I talked about the surprising fact that inside every atom (except hydrogen) there are a collection of positively charged protons not pushing apart.
Chapter 7 is Quantum Chromodynamics & the Subatomic Octopus.
November 4, 2025 at 2:32 PM
In my interview for @ttradioofficial.bsky.social last night: m.youtube.com/watch?v=3q6V...
I talked about the surprising fact that inside every atom (except hydrogen) there are a collection of positively charged protons not pushing apart.
Chapter 7 is Quantum Chromodynamics & the Subatomic Octopus.
I talked about the surprising fact that inside every atom (except hydrogen) there are a collection of positively charged protons not pushing apart.
Chapter 7 is Quantum Chromodynamics & the Subatomic Octopus.
Reposted by James Handscombe
Unfortunately, my children are wonderful liabilities and won't be asleep. Hopefully you don't have the same issue and can listen into @jameshandscombe.bsky.social talking about cool stuff.
I am left pondering what I would include in my own Cabinet of Curiosity series of lessons
Definitely toponyms
Possibly body language
So many interesting things left out of the curriculum that could inspire curiosity
Definitely toponyms
Possibly body language
So many interesting things left out of the curriculum that could inspire curiosity
November 3, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Unfortunately, my children are wonderful liabilities and won't be asleep. Hopefully you don't have the same issue and can listen into @jameshandscombe.bsky.social talking about cool stuff.