Katie Finlayson
@learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social
Home educator, data nerd, home ed exams specialist, Chair of Governors and one time computer programmer. Expect eclectic thoughts.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
This is clearly a post from within cognitivism.
But what do the EduCogSciers have to say about this? For me, it clearly draws a distinction between knowledge and understanding. Something that many EduCogSciers have denied (knowledge = understanding).
#EduSky
But what do the EduCogSciers have to say about this? For me, it clearly draws a distinction between knowledge and understanding. Something that many EduCogSciers have denied (knowledge = understanding).
#EduSky
On the difference between learning that scales and learning that doesn't, and what a concept from computer science can teach us about where educational technology succeeds and where it reliably fails. carlhendrick.substack.com/p/the-embarr...
Mastered But Not Understood: Why Learning Doesn’t Scale the Way We Think It Does
On the "embarrassingly parallel problem" and what it reveals about the limits of learning technology.
carlhendrick.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:38 AM
This is clearly a post from within cognitivism.
But what do the EduCogSciers have to say about this? For me, it clearly draws a distinction between knowledge and understanding. Something that many EduCogSciers have denied (knowledge = understanding).
#EduSky
But what do the EduCogSciers have to say about this? For me, it clearly draws a distinction between knowledge and understanding. Something that many EduCogSciers have denied (knowledge = understanding).
#EduSky
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Somewhere along the line **someone** has to do the uncomfortable work of understanding what the hell is going on with the code and project (and keeping that understanding current in the face of ongoing changes to the project)
Vibe coding is trading that understanding for short-term gains
Vibe coding is trading that understanding for short-term gains
February 7, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Somewhere along the line **someone** has to do the uncomfortable work of understanding what the hell is going on with the code and project (and keeping that understanding current in the face of ongoing changes to the project)
Vibe coding is trading that understanding for short-term gains
Vibe coding is trading that understanding for short-term gains
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Three years ago we made an early News Agents on the student loan scandal and the sky high marginal tax rates it creates. Three years on, govts since have made it all worse still. We’ve made a special follow up, centred on our listeners own experiences.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
How the government became a student loan shark
Podcast Episode · The News Agents · 06/02/2026 · 50m
podcasts.apple.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Three years ago we made an early News Agents on the student loan scandal and the sky high marginal tax rates it creates. Three years on, govts since have made it all worse still. We’ve made a special follow up, centred on our listeners own experiences.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
In case you've not read it yet 'Disabled people's lived experience of education in the UK' is not going to surprise anyone with direct knowledge but it's still is tough to process. And those less familiar with disability should prioritise reading and acting on this report www.gov.uk/government/p...
Disabled people's lived experience of education in the UK
A qualitative evidence review that explores evidence on disabled people’s lived experiences of education.
www.gov.uk
February 7, 2026 at 10:53 AM
In case you've not read it yet 'Disabled people's lived experience of education in the UK' is not going to surprise anyone with direct knowledge but it's still is tough to process. And those less familiar with disability should prioritise reading and acting on this report www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Goodness, how we tried to make the system work for years before leaving it.The idea that anyone from the state has any right to lecture us when we've experienced service failure after service failure...
We will not find a raft of hidden children. A few perfectly content previously unknown families, sure. But the majority of currently home educating families deregistered from school after years of fighting for support and we know perfectly well who they are and why they chose that.
February 7, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Goodness, how we tried to make the system work for years before leaving it.The idea that anyone from the state has any right to lecture us when we've experienced service failure after service failure...
I’m reminded of this piece from a year ago. No wonder I’m tired. learnwhatyoulive.substack.com/p/who-are-th...
Can we please just remember that at the other end of this are thousands of families who are trying to do right by their children?
Can we please just remember that at the other end of this are thousands of families who are trying to do right by their children?
Now I appreciate he's on the ropes, but Starmer seems to have been letting his dog-whistle speechwriter out again in Hastings.
I'm not *keen* on the implication that wanting to spend more time with your family = terrorism but, possibly more painful, he's misrepresenting the legislative changes.
I'm not *keen* on the implication that wanting to spend more time with your family = terrorism but, possibly more painful, he's misrepresenting the legislative changes.
February 7, 2026 at 10:31 AM
I’m reminded of this piece from a year ago. No wonder I’m tired. learnwhatyoulive.substack.com/p/who-are-th...
Can we please just remember that at the other end of this are thousands of families who are trying to do right by their children?
Can we please just remember that at the other end of this are thousands of families who are trying to do right by their children?
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
I am passionate about state schooling. But that is not the only way children can get a good education- and for many families, it currently isn't a viable way.
I have witnessed home education at close hand and, honestly, it can be better than anything that schools currently offer.
I have witnessed home education at close hand and, honestly, it can be better than anything that schools currently offer.
And yes, schools can be centres of belonging and integration and ways to bring disparate communities together. They can also be places where children feel scared and shamed for standing out, or where they are radicalised. The picture is not as smooth as all that.
February 7, 2026 at 9:49 AM
I am passionate about state schooling. But that is not the only way children can get a good education- and for many families, it currently isn't a viable way.
I have witnessed home education at close hand and, honestly, it can be better than anything that schools currently offer.
I have witnessed home education at close hand and, honestly, it can be better than anything that schools currently offer.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Katie is spot on as usual.
The PM missing an opportunity to provide support for home education communities.
Frustrating.
The PM missing an opportunity to provide support for home education communities.
Frustrating.
Now I appreciate he's on the ropes, but Starmer seems to have been letting his dog-whistle speechwriter out again in Hastings.
I'm not *keen* on the implication that wanting to spend more time with your family = terrorism but, possibly more painful, he's misrepresenting the legislative changes.
I'm not *keen* on the implication that wanting to spend more time with your family = terrorism but, possibly more painful, he's misrepresenting the legislative changes.
February 7, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Katie is spot on as usual.
The PM missing an opportunity to provide support for home education communities.
Frustrating.
The PM missing an opportunity to provide support for home education communities.
Frustrating.
Now I appreciate he's on the ropes, but Starmer seems to have been letting his dog-whistle speechwriter out again in Hastings.
I'm not *keen* on the implication that wanting to spend more time with your family = terrorism but, possibly more painful, he's misrepresenting the legislative changes.
I'm not *keen* on the implication that wanting to spend more time with your family = terrorism but, possibly more painful, he's misrepresenting the legislative changes.
February 7, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Now I appreciate he's on the ropes, but Starmer seems to have been letting his dog-whistle speechwriter out again in Hastings.
I'm not *keen* on the implication that wanting to spend more time with your family = terrorism but, possibly more painful, he's misrepresenting the legislative changes.
I'm not *keen* on the implication that wanting to spend more time with your family = terrorism but, possibly more painful, he's misrepresenting the legislative changes.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
And of course we ALL need to play. All the time. Because that's what it is to be, I was going to say human, but certainly mammillan.
February 7, 2026 at 7:57 AM
And of course we ALL need to play. All the time. Because that's what it is to be, I was going to say human, but certainly mammillan.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Speaking to a Head last week, near 25% of the incoming cohort has EHCPs. Not just SEND - that list is bigger still - but EHCP. Either this system is broke, or there has been such a huge rise in special needs and disabilities that there needs to be a full national enquiry
February 5, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Speaking to a Head last week, near 25% of the incoming cohort has EHCPs. Not just SEND - that list is bigger still - but EHCP. Either this system is broke, or there has been such a huge rise in special needs and disabilities that there needs to be a full national enquiry
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
If you were looking for an exposition of what British values *could* be you could do a lot worse than Ian McKellen wielding Shakespeare like a rapier.
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 1:13 PM
If you were looking for an exposition of what British values *could* be you could do a lot worse than Ian McKellen wielding Shakespeare like a rapier.
Having the “examiners don’t care about the answer to the question, they are just trying to get you to demonstrate a particular form of skill or knowledge” conversation with youngest child. He’s going to need some time to come to terms with this.
February 5, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Having the “examiners don’t care about the answer to the question, they are just trying to get you to demonstrate a particular form of skill or knowledge” conversation with youngest child. He’s going to need some time to come to terms with this.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Additional problem: MPs’ casework is almost entirely caused by state capacity failure elsewhere. It shouldn’t be part of their job – that should be fixing those systems. But because the systems do fail, people need their MP as caseworker, and so expect it. Bad cycle!
February 5, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Additional problem: MPs’ casework is almost entirely caused by state capacity failure elsewhere. It shouldn’t be part of their job – that should be fixing those systems. But because the systems do fail, people need their MP as caseworker, and so expect it. Bad cycle!
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Right, I have done another blog. This one gives advice on how to ensure whole school Inclusion. I am sure there is lots missing, but if you follow this you won't be far off. In my opinion, obviously...
philsalisbury.wordpress.com/2026/02/04/s...
philsalisbury.wordpress.com/2026/02/04/s...
Strategic Inclusion
My previous blog talked about how we can make our teaching more inclusive. I had lots of responses to this, and one of the key themes of the responses was people discussing things that get in the w…
philsalisbury.wordpress.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Right, I have done another blog. This one gives advice on how to ensure whole school Inclusion. I am sure there is lots missing, but if you follow this you won't be far off. In my opinion, obviously...
philsalisbury.wordpress.com/2026/02/04/s...
philsalisbury.wordpress.com/2026/02/04/s...
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
What a wonderful facility: Four years of growth in Derwen College’s Nurture Provision - Natspec - natspec.org.uk/well-get-ther...
We’ll get there: four years of growth in Derwen College’s Nurture Provision - Natspec
Championing students with PMLD to thrive.
natspec.org.uk
February 4, 2026 at 9:53 AM
What a wonderful facility: Four years of growth in Derwen College’s Nurture Provision - Natspec - natspec.org.uk/well-get-ther...
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Striking paper from researchers at Anthropic using a randomised control trial to look at the effects of AI use on skills acquisition.
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
February 4, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Striking paper from researchers at Anthropic using a randomised control trial to look at the effects of AI use on skills acquisition.
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
This is the perfect amount of snow. Enough to look pretty but not blocking the drive as I have another home ed admissions event at the college today.
February 4, 2026 at 7:49 AM
This is the perfect amount of snow. Enough to look pretty but not blocking the drive as I have another home ed admissions event at the college today.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
The tension isn't just intensity vs. time wasting - it's structure vs. autonomy.
We all know schools can be both inefficient *and* overwhelming because we've optimised for management not learning.
The real question is whether children get agency over their attention & time in a bloated curriculum
We all know schools can be both inefficient *and* overwhelming because we've optimised for management not learning.
The real question is whether children get agency over their attention & time in a bloated curriculum
February 3, 2026 at 9:17 PM
The tension isn't just intensity vs. time wasting - it's structure vs. autonomy.
We all know schools can be both inefficient *and* overwhelming because we've optimised for management not learning.
The real question is whether children get agency over their attention & time in a bloated curriculum
We all know schools can be both inefficient *and* overwhelming because we've optimised for management not learning.
The real question is whether children get agency over their attention & time in a bloated curriculum
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Hi #EduSky - it's time for my #Saturday3 and despite seeing many laments for the golden age of EduTwitter, I again find there was a huge amount of quality blogs published this week. So much so that I had to adopt a theme to whittle them down. So welcome to "things not to do" week!
January 31, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Hi #EduSky - it's time for my #Saturday3 and despite seeing many laments for the golden age of EduTwitter, I again find there was a huge amount of quality blogs published this week. So much so that I had to adopt a theme to whittle them down. So welcome to "things not to do" week!
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Material conditions are what matter
Make sure kids aren’t hungry or cold. Make sure they live in a decent home. Make sure they have clothes and shoes - yes, and books and toys. Make sure their parents have time and headspace to spend time with them
Do all that - then talk to me about aspiration
Make sure kids aren’t hungry or cold. Make sure they live in a decent home. Make sure they have clothes and shoes - yes, and books and toys. Make sure their parents have time and headspace to spend time with them
Do all that - then talk to me about aspiration
February 3, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Material conditions are what matter
Make sure kids aren’t hungry or cold. Make sure they live in a decent home. Make sure they have clothes and shoes - yes, and books and toys. Make sure their parents have time and headspace to spend time with them
Do all that - then talk to me about aspiration
Make sure kids aren’t hungry or cold. Make sure they live in a decent home. Make sure they have clothes and shoes - yes, and books and toys. Make sure their parents have time and headspace to spend time with them
Do all that - then talk to me about aspiration
Whole household is in deep rage with the OSA right now. Deeply annoyed that I have to provide my personal data just so my kids can create D&D characters.
February 3, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Whole household is in deep rage with the OSA right now. Deeply annoyed that I have to provide my personal data just so my kids can create D&D characters.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Most of the Sara Sharif safeguarding review recommendations are quietly being ignored as government focuses on the home education aspect NEW PAGE edyourself.org/sara-sharif/ #HomeEducation
Sara Sharif – Ed Yourself
edyourself.org
February 3, 2026 at 6:51 AM
Most of the Sara Sharif safeguarding review recommendations are quietly being ignored as government focuses on the home education aspect NEW PAGE edyourself.org/sara-sharif/ #HomeEducation
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
The DfE’s behaviour hubs programme saw schools shifting towards restorative rather than zero-tolerance behaviour management policies, says final evaluation report
Rewarding good behaviour key to success, hubs evaluation finds
The DfE's behaviour hubs programme saw schools shifting towards restorative rather than zero-tolerance behaviour management policies, says final evaluation report
www.tes.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:05 PM
The DfE’s behaviour hubs programme saw schools shifting towards restorative rather than zero-tolerance behaviour management policies, says final evaluation report
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
New research from Professor John Jerrim finds 'feeling in control' can accelerate students' progress in reading by up to two months.
Prof Jerrim tells me there are 'similarities' between his work and the findings of Carol Dweck. For @tesmagazine.bsky.social:
Prof Jerrim tells me there are 'similarities' between his work and the findings of Carol Dweck. For @tesmagazine.bsky.social:
Feeling 'in control' helps students make stronger reading progress
Researchers find a notable decline in students' sense of control over their academic outcomes as they progress through key stage 3
www.tes.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:00 AM
New research from Professor John Jerrim finds 'feeling in control' can accelerate students' progress in reading by up to two months.
Prof Jerrim tells me there are 'similarities' between his work and the findings of Carol Dweck. For @tesmagazine.bsky.social:
Prof Jerrim tells me there are 'similarities' between his work and the findings of Carol Dweck. For @tesmagazine.bsky.social: