Joel Kenyon
@joel120193.substack.com
Teacher 👨🏫 | Head of Science 🧑🔬 | Hinterland Lover ⚛️ | Source Provider 📝 | Subscribe on Substack https://joel120193.substack.com/ 🖋️ |
Pinned
Death to the Spreadsheet: Why I Finally Ditched QLA
Question Level Analysis (QLA) is a staple in many schools. It is designed to turn exam results into a roadmap for student progress. But does it actually lead us where we need to go?
open.substack.com
New Blog Post 📝
I hate QLA.
Originally due to the time it sucked out of my PPA I now know that QLA documents do not provide the information we think they do.
I go over the justification for why I ditched QLA and the reasons why you should get rid of it too.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
I hate QLA.
Originally due to the time it sucked out of my PPA I now know that QLA documents do not provide the information we think they do.
I go over the justification for why I ditched QLA and the reasons why you should get rid of it too.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Reposted by Joel Kenyon
If you're still inputting QLA data onto a spreadsheet or worse, making your colleagues do it - read this!
Excellent from @joel120193.bsky.social
Excellent from @joel120193.bsky.social
New Blog Post 📝
I hate QLA.
Originally due to the time it sucked out of my PPA I now know that QLA documents do not provide the information we think they do.
I go over the justification for why I ditched QLA and the reasons why you should get rid of it too.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
I hate QLA.
Originally due to the time it sucked out of my PPA I now know that QLA documents do not provide the information we think they do.
I go over the justification for why I ditched QLA and the reasons why you should get rid of it too.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Death to the Spreadsheet: Why I Finally Ditched QLA
Question Level Analysis (QLA) is a staple in many schools. It is designed to turn exam results into a roadmap for student progress. But does it actually lead us where we need to go?
open.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:06 AM
If you're still inputting QLA data onto a spreadsheet or worse, making your colleagues do it - read this!
Excellent from @joel120193.bsky.social
Excellent from @joel120193.bsky.social
Reposted by Joel Kenyon
The football is so turgid that im sat here laughing at @joel120193.bsky.social blog in what feels like a masochistic manner. Like sorry what is this and why have we all had to do it?
February 6, 2026 at 9:38 PM
The football is so turgid that im sat here laughing at @joel120193.bsky.social blog in what feels like a masochistic manner. Like sorry what is this and why have we all had to do it?
1970s: UK running out money, received a bailout from IMF. UK economic growth rates: -2.4%
Student loans: Free
2020s: UK economy 6th largest in the world. UK economic growth rates: 1.1%
Student loans: £30,000.
Don't tell me we can't afford it.
Student loans: Free
2020s: UK economy 6th largest in the world. UK economic growth rates: 1.1%
Student loans: £30,000.
Don't tell me we can't afford it.
February 6, 2026 at 7:41 PM
1970s: UK running out money, received a bailout from IMF. UK economic growth rates: -2.4%
Student loans: Free
2020s: UK economy 6th largest in the world. UK economic growth rates: 1.1%
Student loans: £30,000.
Don't tell me we can't afford it.
Student loans: Free
2020s: UK economy 6th largest in the world. UK economic growth rates: 1.1%
Student loans: £30,000.
Don't tell me we can't afford it.
Reposted by Joel Kenyon
That's accurate.
Also of interest is that there's transparent advice from police to help ensure that things do or don't get escalated up to them.
bsky.app/profile/9000...
Also of interest is that there's transparent advice from police to help ensure that things do or don't get escalated up to them.
bsky.app/profile/9000...
🚨 A pupil is reported as having a weapon "Do we call the police?"
Helpfully, there’s a guide that covers this and other crimes. Hopefully you'll never need these 16 pages, but bookmark away.
bit.ly/45MmL2z
#SchoolLeaders #EduSky #safeguarding
Helpfully, there’s a guide that covers this and other crimes. Hopefully you'll never need these 16 pages, but bookmark away.
bit.ly/45MmL2z
#SchoolLeaders #EduSky #safeguarding
February 4, 2026 at 9:14 PM
That's accurate.
Also of interest is that there's transparent advice from police to help ensure that things do or don't get escalated up to them.
bsky.app/profile/9000...
Also of interest is that there's transparent advice from police to help ensure that things do or don't get escalated up to them.
bsky.app/profile/9000...
Speaking with a primary school teacher who mentioned that students are coming to school in nappies, a lack of both fine and gross motor skills, not able to hold things for long periods of time, struggling to see, and is having discussions about what a book is.
It's dark times.
It's dark times.
February 6, 2026 at 6:41 AM
Speaking with a primary school teacher who mentioned that students are coming to school in nappies, a lack of both fine and gross motor skills, not able to hold things for long periods of time, struggling to see, and is having discussions about what a book is.
It's dark times.
It's dark times.
These have a chokehold on male teachers!
February 4, 2026 at 6:42 PM
These have a chokehold on male teachers!
New Blog Post 📝
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
However.
As teachers, its important that we keep our opinions to ourselves and offer a balanced view.
The balance is difficult, but in an increasingly political world, we could have undue influence.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
However.
As teachers, its important that we keep our opinions to ourselves and offer a balanced view.
The balance is difficult, but in an increasingly political world, we could have undue influence.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
The Weight of a Teacher's Words: The Importance of Being Neutral
Why a teacher's voting habits should stay a secret to protect the intellectual freedom of every student. You may feel you are doing right, but you may be enabling the wrong.
open.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:40 PM
New Blog Post 📝
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
However.
As teachers, its important that we keep our opinions to ourselves and offer a balanced view.
The balance is difficult, but in an increasingly political world, we could have undue influence.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
However.
As teachers, its important that we keep our opinions to ourselves and offer a balanced view.
The balance is difficult, but in an increasingly political world, we could have undue influence.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Reposted by Joel Kenyon
Finally, it's definitely time to ditch QLA as @joel120193.bsky.social argues effectively in this excellent piece. Luckily, this madness is less common in primary but I saw it once and my head nearly exploded with the pointlessness of it. joel120193.substack.com/p/death-to-t...
Death to the Spreadsheet: Why I Finally Ditched QLA
Question Level Analysis (QLA) is a staple in many schools. It is designed to turn exam results into a roadmap for student progress. But does it actually lead us where we need to go?
joel120193.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Finally, it's definitely time to ditch QLA as @joel120193.bsky.social argues effectively in this excellent piece. Luckily, this madness is less common in primary but I saw it once and my head nearly exploded with the pointlessness of it. joel120193.substack.com/p/death-to-t...
"all behaviour is an unmet need"
January 31, 2026 at 12:50 AM
"all behaviour is an unmet need"
People seem to ignore the fact that many events occur in school that, if taken place outside of school, the child would be arrested.
This is not just about their age. A child assaulting someone in the street at 14, will be arrested. Assaulting someone in school may not.
This is not just about their age. A child assaulting someone in the street at 14, will be arrested. Assaulting someone in school may not.
January 30, 2026 at 10:23 PM
People seem to ignore the fact that many events occur in school that, if taken place outside of school, the child would be arrested.
This is not just about their age. A child assaulting someone in the street at 14, will be arrested. Assaulting someone in school may not.
This is not just about their age. A child assaulting someone in the street at 14, will be arrested. Assaulting someone in school may not.
Everyone with a Plan 2 student loan has known it was a poor deal.
For a large portion of the population the marginal tax rate is 9% higher.
They aren't student loan payments if interest makes it so it never stops.
It's a graduate tax. Stop calling it anything else.
For a large portion of the population the marginal tax rate is 9% higher.
They aren't student loan payments if interest makes it so it never stops.
It's a graduate tax. Stop calling it anything else.
January 29, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Everyone with a Plan 2 student loan has known it was a poor deal.
For a large portion of the population the marginal tax rate is 9% higher.
They aren't student loan payments if interest makes it so it never stops.
It's a graduate tax. Stop calling it anything else.
For a large portion of the population the marginal tax rate is 9% higher.
They aren't student loan payments if interest makes it so it never stops.
It's a graduate tax. Stop calling it anything else.
The government is making a bad decision.
Students need to be suspended.
If a student comes to lesson and disturbs the learning of the rest in the classroom, the teacher have given them multiple opportunities to improve, and they choose not to, that student should be removed.
Students need to be suspended.
If a student comes to lesson and disturbs the learning of the rest in the classroom, the teacher have given them multiple opportunities to improve, and they choose not to, that student should be removed.
January 29, 2026 at 7:50 PM
The government is making a bad decision.
Students need to be suspended.
If a student comes to lesson and disturbs the learning of the rest in the classroom, the teacher have given them multiple opportunities to improve, and they choose not to, that student should be removed.
Students need to be suspended.
If a student comes to lesson and disturbs the learning of the rest in the classroom, the teacher have given them multiple opportunities to improve, and they choose not to, that student should be removed.
Reposted by Joel Kenyon
Totally agree with @joel120193.bsky.social All the QLA shows you is how well they've answered that specific question, phrased in that particular way. Much more benefit annotating a paper as you do the marking, noting common errors and then feeding back based on that.
New Blog Post 📝
I hate QLA.
Originally due to the time it sucked out of my PPA I now know that QLA documents do not provide the information we think they do.
I go over the justification for why I ditched QLA and the reasons why you should get rid of it too.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
I hate QLA.
Originally due to the time it sucked out of my PPA I now know that QLA documents do not provide the information we think they do.
I go over the justification for why I ditched QLA and the reasons why you should get rid of it too.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Death to the Spreadsheet: Why I Finally Ditched QLA
Question Level Analysis (QLA) is a staple in many schools. It is designed to turn exam results into a roadmap for student progress. But does it actually lead us where we need to go?
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Totally agree with @joel120193.bsky.social All the QLA shows you is how well they've answered that specific question, phrased in that particular way. Much more benefit annotating a paper as you do the marking, noting common errors and then feeding back based on that.
Reposted by Joel Kenyon
Good article, I stopped doing it for similar reasons. You might also like this (if you don't know it already) www.cambridge.org/insight/blog... there is a part 2 aswell.
Why assessment may tell you less than you think – Part 1
Robert Coe writes a two-part blog on how to improve the value of assessments in the classroom. Part 1 poses questions to the reader.
www.cambridge.org
January 26, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Good article, I stopped doing it for similar reasons. You might also like this (if you don't know it already) www.cambridge.org/insight/blog... there is a part 2 aswell.
New Blog Post 📝
I hate QLA.
Originally due to the time it sucked out of my PPA I now know that QLA documents do not provide the information we think they do.
I go over the justification for why I ditched QLA and the reasons why you should get rid of it too.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
I hate QLA.
Originally due to the time it sucked out of my PPA I now know that QLA documents do not provide the information we think they do.
I go over the justification for why I ditched QLA and the reasons why you should get rid of it too.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Death to the Spreadsheet: Why I Finally Ditched QLA
Question Level Analysis (QLA) is a staple in many schools. It is designed to turn exam results into a roadmap for student progress. But does it actually lead us where we need to go?
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:27 PM
New Blog Post 📝
I hate QLA.
Originally due to the time it sucked out of my PPA I now know that QLA documents do not provide the information we think they do.
I go over the justification for why I ditched QLA and the reasons why you should get rid of it too.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
I hate QLA.
Originally due to the time it sucked out of my PPA I now know that QLA documents do not provide the information we think they do.
I go over the justification for why I ditched QLA and the reasons why you should get rid of it too.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Reposted by Joel Kenyon
New Blog Post 📝
A fair amount of conversation is happening surrounding the causes of poor behaviour, however, what I wanted to highlight is the impact the poor behaviour of one pupil has on the other 29.
Even just a few minutes has, collectively, a large impact.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
A fair amount of conversation is happening surrounding the causes of poor behaviour, however, what I wanted to highlight is the impact the poor behaviour of one pupil has on the other 29.
Even just a few minutes has, collectively, a large impact.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Poor Behaviour: An Argument for the Other 29
Conversations surrounding behaviour are, sometimes rightly, focus on those students who display poor behaviour. However, the conversation doesn't often include those who show up and do the right thing
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:29 PM
New Blog Post 📝
A fair amount of conversation is happening surrounding the causes of poor behaviour, however, what I wanted to highlight is the impact the poor behaviour of one pupil has on the other 29.
Even just a few minutes has, collectively, a large impact.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
A fair amount of conversation is happening surrounding the causes of poor behaviour, however, what I wanted to highlight is the impact the poor behaviour of one pupil has on the other 29.
Even just a few minutes has, collectively, a large impact.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Reposted by Joel Kenyon
New Post 📝
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
January 18, 2026 at 9:13 PM
New Post 📝
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
New Post 📝
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
January 18, 2026 at 9:13 PM
New Post 📝
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
Student loan interest is back in the news again, and rightly so.
About 18 months ago, I wrote a blog post about the impact student loans have on take home wages and how it's getting worse.
Back then, I said my student loan debt was £70,000.
Today:
About 18 months ago, I wrote a blog post about the impact student loans have on take home wages and how it's getting worse.
Back then, I said my student loan debt was £70,000.
Today:
January 13, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Student loan interest is back in the news again, and rightly so.
About 18 months ago, I wrote a blog post about the impact student loans have on take home wages and how it's getting worse.
Back then, I said my student loan debt was £70,000.
Today:
About 18 months ago, I wrote a blog post about the impact student loans have on take home wages and how it's getting worse.
Back then, I said my student loan debt was £70,000.
Today:
New Science Story Post 📝
Would you swallow a pathogen to prove the medicine wrong?
From smallpox to the "accidental" discovery of the cure for ulcers, this is the story of the scientists who used their own bodies as a lab.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Would you swallow a pathogen to prove the medicine wrong?
From smallpox to the "accidental" discovery of the cure for ulcers, this is the story of the scientists who used their own bodies as a lab.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
January 12, 2026 at 5:30 PM
New Science Story Post 📝
Would you swallow a pathogen to prove the medicine wrong?
From smallpox to the "accidental" discovery of the cure for ulcers, this is the story of the scientists who used their own bodies as a lab.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Would you swallow a pathogen to prove the medicine wrong?
From smallpox to the "accidental" discovery of the cure for ulcers, this is the story of the scientists who used their own bodies as a lab.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Reposted by Joel Kenyon
I can’t “like” this enough. When we focus on the small number who don’t behave, making adjustments, constantly accommodating them and allowing them to take all the attention, we are failing the others. The other children matter.
New Blog Post 📝
A fair amount of conversation is happening surrounding the causes of poor behaviour, however, what I wanted to highlight is the impact the poor behaviour of one pupil has on the other 29.
Even just a few minutes has, collectively, a large impact.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
A fair amount of conversation is happening surrounding the causes of poor behaviour, however, what I wanted to highlight is the impact the poor behaviour of one pupil has on the other 29.
Even just a few minutes has, collectively, a large impact.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Poor Behaviour: An Argument for the Other 29
Conversations surrounding behaviour are, sometimes rightly, focus on those students who display poor behaviour. However, the conversation doesn't often include those who show up and do the right thing
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:11 PM
I can’t “like” this enough. When we focus on the small number who don’t behave, making adjustments, constantly accommodating them and allowing them to take all the attention, we are failing the others. The other children matter.
New Blog Post 📝
A fair amount of conversation is happening surrounding the causes of poor behaviour, however, what I wanted to highlight is the impact the poor behaviour of one pupil has on the other 29.
Even just a few minutes has, collectively, a large impact.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
A fair amount of conversation is happening surrounding the causes of poor behaviour, however, what I wanted to highlight is the impact the poor behaviour of one pupil has on the other 29.
Even just a few minutes has, collectively, a large impact.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Poor Behaviour: An Argument for the Other 29
Conversations surrounding behaviour are, sometimes rightly, focus on those students who display poor behaviour. However, the conversation doesn't often include those who show up and do the right thing
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:29 PM
New Blog Post 📝
A fair amount of conversation is happening surrounding the causes of poor behaviour, however, what I wanted to highlight is the impact the poor behaviour of one pupil has on the other 29.
Even just a few minutes has, collectively, a large impact.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
A fair amount of conversation is happening surrounding the causes of poor behaviour, however, what I wanted to highlight is the impact the poor behaviour of one pupil has on the other 29.
Even just a few minutes has, collectively, a large impact.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
For those ~25% of teachers, January is usually a good time to have a look at TES.
There are better schools out there. tes.com/jobs
There are better schools out there. tes.com/jobs
January 1, 2026 at 4:23 PM
For those ~25% of teachers, January is usually a good time to have a look at TES.
There are better schools out there. tes.com/jobs
There are better schools out there. tes.com/jobs
As a science teacher, I like to tell stories from the history of science to enrich our classrooms with stories that complement the curriculum.
I’ve always believed that to truly understand science, we have to look at the stories that live in the margins of the curriculum.
I’ve always believed that to truly understand science, we have to look at the stories that live in the margins of the curriculum.
December 30, 2025 at 9:03 PM
As a science teacher, I like to tell stories from the history of science to enrich our classrooms with stories that complement the curriculum.
I’ve always believed that to truly understand science, we have to look at the stories that live in the margins of the curriculum.
I’ve always believed that to truly understand science, we have to look at the stories that live in the margins of the curriculum.
Reposted by Joel Kenyon
Some schools do a test at the end of every topic. For some, this can mean 10 tests a year, not including end of year.
This may be trying to game the testing effect, but this isn't increasing outcomes as much as you may think.
We test three times a year. open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
This may be trying to game the testing effect, but this isn't increasing outcomes as much as you may think.
We test three times a year. open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
More Testing ≠ The Testing Effect: What is the Testing Effect?
The Testing Effect enhances long-term retention through retrieval practice, not frequent testing. Completing more tests doesn't mean you'll get the testing effect.
open.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Some schools do a test at the end of every topic. For some, this can mean 10 tests a year, not including end of year.
This may be trying to game the testing effect, but this isn't increasing outcomes as much as you may think.
We test three times a year. open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
This may be trying to game the testing effect, but this isn't increasing outcomes as much as you may think.
We test three times a year. open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...