Jonathan Simons
@jonathansimons.bsky.social
Partner, Public First and Head of Education Practice. Education strategy + policy advisory. Former civil servant + think tanker. Occasional loud LFC. Centrist Dad, so naturally I also have a Substack.
As someone who has a niche interest* in “the economics of popular culture”, I am all here for this
*annoying habit, according to most other people
*annoying habit, according to most other people
December 27, 2025 at 10:31 AM
As someone who has a niche interest* in “the economics of popular culture”, I am all here for this
*annoying habit, according to most other people
*annoying habit, according to most other people
December 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Simons
Half Ma’am Half Brisket
December 21, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Half Ma’am Half Brisket
Reposted by Jonathan Simons
I need the most Bluesky take you have- no, that's too Bluesky
December 17, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I need the most Bluesky take you have- no, that's too Bluesky
Fascinating straw in the wind. Is this that Reform:
A) has changed its mind - poss driven by its own councils
B) never believed it, was helpful as a dog whistle, but now they need to be serious
C) still believe it, but need to be serious
Which one it is bears relevance for lots of other issues!
A) has changed its mind - poss driven by its own councils
B) never believed it, was helpful as a dog whistle, but now they need to be serious
C) still believe it, but need to be serious
Which one it is bears relevance for lots of other issues!
December 16, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Fascinating straw in the wind. Is this that Reform:
A) has changed its mind - poss driven by its own councils
B) never believed it, was helpful as a dog whistle, but now they need to be serious
C) still believe it, but need to be serious
Which one it is bears relevance for lots of other issues!
A) has changed its mind - poss driven by its own councils
B) never believed it, was helpful as a dog whistle, but now they need to be serious
C) still believe it, but need to be serious
Which one it is bears relevance for lots of other issues!
So look, yes the club may cost you £500k to be a founder member. But you get Chat-Lizzie-T with it
December 13, 2025 at 9:52 AM
So look, yes the club may cost you £500k to be a founder member. But you get Chat-Lizzie-T with it
Reposted by Jonathan Simons
Breaking: Two 'elite' sixth forms proposed by Eton College and Star Academies have been approved, while the government blocked a third feweek.co.uk/eton-gets-go...
Eton gets go-ahead to develop 2 of 3 elite sixth forms
UTC among 28 of 44 free school proposals canned by DfE
feweek.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Breaking: Two 'elite' sixth forms proposed by Eton College and Star Academies have been approved, while the government blocked a third feweek.co.uk/eton-gets-go...
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Mary: ok…..thanks, I guess, third magi? For this present and your….good wishes for the future of my newborn baby?
Breathes a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Mary: ok…..thanks, I guess, third magi? For this present and your….good wishes for the future of my newborn baby?
December 11, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Mary: ok…..thanks, I guess, third magi? For this present and your….good wishes for the future of my newborn baby?
Breathes a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Mary: ok…..thanks, I guess, third magi? For this present and your….good wishes for the future of my newborn baby?
She’s found 1000 reasons to vote for Reform, and she did it all in 24 hours
New - Bonnie Blue nails her colours to the mast, writing in The Spectator:
“Reform has sensible positions on immigration and inheritance tax, so I stand with Nigel Farage.”
“Reform has sensible positions on immigration and inheritance tax, so I stand with Nigel Farage.”
December 11, 2025 at 7:26 AM
She’s found 1000 reasons to vote for Reform, and she did it all in 24 hours
I take no satisfaction in being right despite some Stokes and Jacks hope.
Still there’s always football. Oh.
Still there’s always football. Oh.
Under 300 all out by lunchtime tomorrow at this rate
December 7, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I take no satisfaction in being right despite some Stokes and Jacks hope.
Still there’s always football. Oh.
Still there’s always football. Oh.
Every. Single. Analyst / Commentator / Pundit / Coach: see off the new bowlers, keep it calm, the ball is doing more in the night, there’s a great opportunity with this pitch, don’t drive at wide balls out there deliberately for you
England top order: hold my beer
England top order: hold my beer
December 6, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Every. Single. Analyst / Commentator / Pundit / Coach: see off the new bowlers, keep it calm, the ball is doing more in the night, there’s a great opportunity with this pitch, don’t drive at wide balls out there deliberately for you
England top order: hold my beer
England top order: hold my beer
Reposted by Jonathan Simons
Please share this info. I cannot emphasise enough: all formulas are the same by law (*except prescription ones), you don’t need to spend £3-£5 more a tub for the branding. Spending more buys no extra quality and does not make you a better mama x
And where it comes to formula:
- all formulas are the same by law
- the cheapest is always Aldi Mamia at £7.50 or so a tub (only own brand on the market)
- follow-on milk is a marketing device to get round the ad ban - your baby doesn’t need it
- all formulas are the same by law
- the cheapest is always Aldi Mamia at £7.50 or so a tub (only own brand on the market)
- follow-on milk is a marketing device to get round the ad ban - your baby doesn’t need it
December 3, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Please share this info. I cannot emphasise enough: all formulas are the same by law (*except prescription ones), you don’t need to spend £3-£5 more a tub for the branding. Spending more buys no extra quality and does not make you a better mama x
Reposted by Jonathan Simons
Wes Streeting on R4 after being told a GP on the programme earlier had complained that new online consultation systems meant they being overwhelmed: “I appreciate that without patients the NHS would run more smoothly.”
December 3, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Wes Streeting on R4 after being told a GP on the programme earlier had complained that new online consultation systems meant they being overwhelmed: “I appreciate that without patients the NHS would run more smoothly.”
Reposted by Jonathan Simons
This is very clear on the UK's growth strategy. Explaining how it fits together and what they are doing and why.
All seems very sensible to me.
All seems very sensible to me.
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
November 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
This is very clear on the UK's growth strategy. Explaining how it fits together and what they are doing and why.
All seems very sensible to me.
All seems very sensible to me.
Reposted by Jonathan Simons
I would say this, but the IfG's budget live blog is already great, even before we get to the main event - where else do you get this kind of content?
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I would say this, but the IfG's budget live blog is already great, even before we get to the main event - where else do you get this kind of content?
This is all just smoke and mirrors, I want to see the numbers!
Sorry, just getting a head start on Bluesky wonk commentary this lunchtime
Sorry, just getting a head start on Bluesky wonk commentary this lunchtime
November 26, 2025 at 8:38 AM
This is all just smoke and mirrors, I want to see the numbers!
Sorry, just getting a head start on Bluesky wonk commentary this lunchtime
Sorry, just getting a head start on Bluesky wonk commentary this lunchtime
God love Test cricket
November 21, 2025 at 7:59 AM
God love Test cricket
Alarm set for 2am - see all the 🏏 lovers in a few hours….
November 20, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Alarm set for 2am - see all the 🏏 lovers in a few hours….
Great thread. But apart from this, there’s no issues
This has been my worry all along with the breakfast club nonsense. You can talk about funding all you like, the long and the short of it is that school leaders end up with another job on the list, another extension to their working day, and the job becomes ever harder...
And this is from DfE advice!
And this is from DfE advice!
November 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Great thread. But apart from this, there’s no issues
Reposted by Jonathan Simons
The BBC Scotland commentary for Kenny McLean’s halfway line goal is glorious. Stuff of dreams. 🔥
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The BBC Scotland commentary for Kenny McLean’s halfway line goal is glorious. Stuff of dreams. 🔥
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
Oh come on.
Tho I’m delighted that K+C has solved all serious problems in its borough, and therefore has spare resources for a stupid stunt
Tho I’m delighted that K+C has solved all serious problems in its borough, and therefore has spare resources for a stupid stunt
EXC: Kensington and Chelsea Council is investigating whether Lord Peter Mandelson committed an offence when he publicly urinated in the street last week
Kensington Council Investigating Peter Mandelson For Urinating In The Street
Exclusive: Kensington and Chelsea Council is investigating whether Lord Peter Mandelson committed an offence when he publicly urinated in the stree...
www.politicshome.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Oh come on.
Tho I’m delighted that K+C has solved all serious problems in its borough, and therefore has spare resources for a stupid stunt
Tho I’m delighted that K+C has solved all serious problems in its borough, and therefore has spare resources for a stupid stunt
Reposted by Jonathan Simons
Strong "recently divorced dad trying to hit on much younger women" energy here.
November 14, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Strong "recently divorced dad trying to hit on much younger women" energy here.
Quite a contrast to the BlueSky consensus the last 24 hours
Do you think the government was right or wrong to decide not to raise income tax at the Budget?
Right: 58%
Wrong: 21%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Right: 58%
Wrong: 21%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
November 14, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Quite a contrast to the BlueSky consensus the last 24 hours
Dear @britishairwaysque.bsky.social, when you put on a flight w a certain number of seats, and when people then buy those seats, and bring with them the hand luggage you allow them, please do not hector us that “the flight is very busy and we have no bag space”. You literally designed it this way!
November 14, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Dear @britishairwaysque.bsky.social, when you put on a flight w a certain number of seats, and when people then buy those seats, and bring with them the hand luggage you allow them, please do not hector us that “the flight is very busy and we have no bag space”. You literally designed it this way!