Katie Finlayson
@learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social
Home educator, data nerd, home ed exams specialist, Chair of Governors and one time computer programmer. Expect eclectic thoughts.
Love is… coming back from uni during reading week and playing the card game your little brother has invented. He’s made her a customised deck 😍
November 15, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Love is… coming back from uni during reading week and playing the card game your little brother has invented. He’s made her a customised deck 😍
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
1/2 This autumn must be one of the best we have seen for years. The colours have been incredible, turning a simple walk into a true feast for the senses. I couldn't resist following this carpet of glorious, crunchy orange leaves along Wenlock Edge, but the shot needed something extra. #Shropshire
November 14, 2025 at 8:02 AM
1/2 This autumn must be one of the best we have seen for years. The colours have been incredible, turning a simple walk into a true feast for the senses. I couldn't resist following this carpet of glorious, crunchy orange leaves along Wenlock Edge, but the shot needed something extra. #Shropshire
Thank you @schoolsweek.bsky.social for highlighting this - a really thorough and well researched article.
Exclusive: A surge in home education has left many families struggling to find places for their children to sit GCSEs, with some 'reduced to begging' as overwhelmed exam centres shut their doors
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/home-education-children-forced-to-travel-miles-to-sit-exams/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/home-education-children-forced-to-travel-miles-to-sit-exams/
November 14, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Thank you @schoolsweek.bsky.social for highlighting this - a really thorough and well researched article.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
This is I think an underrated truth: being intelligent is I think primarily a matter of habit. Do you actually listen and try and take on board what you've heard or read before responding? Do you go 'okay, is that true?' about your own thoughts and prejudices? These are learnt, not innate.
and ultimately I think if you’re constantly saying stupid stuff then it just makes you stupid.
November 13, 2025 at 1:27 PM
This is I think an underrated truth: being intelligent is I think primarily a matter of habit. Do you actually listen and try and take on board what you've heard or read before responding? Do you go 'okay, is that true?' about your own thoughts and prejudices? These are learnt, not innate.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
"A need for lots of adult interaction implies there are few economies of scale to be found in the care of babies and infants. By school age, an adult can oversee 20-30 children. At pre-school, they watch 12-15. In the best nurseries a carer looks after 2 or 3"
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
1/
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
1/
Universal child care can harm children
Its growing popularity in America is a concern
www.economist.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:56 AM
"A need for lots of adult interaction implies there are few economies of scale to be found in the care of babies and infants. By school age, an adult can oversee 20-30 children. At pre-school, they watch 12-15. In the best nurseries a carer looks after 2 or 3"
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
1/
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
1/
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
As noted, VPNs have legitimate and in many cases mandatory applications in IT security and everyday corporate life. This whole approach by the govt is painfully technically illiterate and a massive overreach.
November 13, 2025 at 4:35 AM
As noted, VPNs have legitimate and in many cases mandatory applications in IT security and everyday corporate life. This whole approach by the govt is painfully technically illiterate and a massive overreach.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
❗Some schools are at 'breaking point' amid a widening gap between the schools with the most and fewest numbers of pupils with education, health and care plans, research warns
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-at-b...
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-at-b...
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:30 AM
❗Some schools are at 'breaking point' amid a widening gap between the schools with the most and fewest numbers of pupils with education, health and care plans, research warns
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-at-b...
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-at-b...
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
I’m always bragging about my brilliant books on here so I probably ought to balance that by letting you know I got TWO rejection emails yesterday, one of which said my ideas were “too educational” and not “commercial” enough. You can help me prove them wrong by buying lots of my books.
November 12, 2025 at 7:27 AM
I’m always bragging about my brilliant books on here so I probably ought to balance that by letting you know I got TWO rejection emails yesterday, one of which said my ideas were “too educational” and not “commercial” enough. You can help me prove them wrong by buying lots of my books.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Of course. Yes this needs looking at.
Hearing more and more stories of exam centres overwhelmed with private candidates and considering cutting down or stopping their support. In a context of >3% of KS4 children EHE. This is very bad, and no-one is paying any attention.
@johndickenssw.bsky.social @jonsevers.bsky.social @tom-richmond.com
@johndickenssw.bsky.social @jonsevers.bsky.social @tom-richmond.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Of course. Yes this needs looking at.
Hearing more and more stories of exam centres overwhelmed with private candidates and considering cutting down or stopping their support. In a context of >3% of KS4 children EHE. This is very bad, and no-one is paying any attention.
@johndickenssw.bsky.social @jonsevers.bsky.social @tom-richmond.com
@johndickenssw.bsky.social @jonsevers.bsky.social @tom-richmond.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Hearing more and more stories of exam centres overwhelmed with private candidates and considering cutting down or stopping their support. In a context of >3% of KS4 children EHE. This is very bad, and no-one is paying any attention.
@johndickenssw.bsky.social @jonsevers.bsky.social @tom-richmond.com
@johndickenssw.bsky.social @jonsevers.bsky.social @tom-richmond.com
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
It's strange how quickly we've forgotten things like that. We were watching an old TOTP on BBC4 and they invited people to vote for best single at the Brit Awards - by sending a postcard. And lots of things seemed to involve cutting out coupons and sending off postal orders.
November 10, 2025 at 9:07 AM
It's strange how quickly we've forgotten things like that. We were watching an old TOTP on BBC4 and they invited people to vote for best single at the Brit Awards - by sending a postcard. And lots of things seemed to involve cutting out coupons and sending off postal orders.
In 1992 my dad was sent a telegram (delivered by the postie to our house in Telford) offering him a job in Tanzania. When I moved back alone in 1993, a letter took anywhere from 4 days to 4 weeks to arrive. By 1994 we were emailing (albeit dialup, so only when they had power to connect).
When I was a child my dad once sent me a telegram to wish me luck for a dance show because he was working overseas at the time. (I've still got it tucked away somewhere.) If you think about it, it's incredible how easy international communication has come on in a generation. Who remembers faxes? 🤷♀️😂
November 10, 2025 at 6:28 AM
In 1992 my dad was sent a telegram (delivered by the postie to our house in Telford) offering him a job in Tanzania. When I moved back alone in 1993, a letter took anywhere from 4 days to 4 weeks to arrive. By 1994 we were emailing (albeit dialup, so only when they had power to connect).
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
NEW POST: The privacy dangers for children and their families in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Rose Arnold of campaign group Reclaim Rights for Children explains why they're concerned www.specialneedsjungle.com/p...
November 10, 2025 at 6:02 AM
NEW POST: The privacy dangers for children and their families in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Rose Arnold of campaign group Reclaim Rights for Children explains why they're concerned www.specialneedsjungle.com/p...
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
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 8:19 AM
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?
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Feeling a little tired and Novembery (yes that’s a word), please share your ‘ta da’ list with me!
Like a to-do list, but the opposite! Sharing what you’ve achieved this week!
I have:
1. Sent off an article
2. Prioritised a poorly baba
3. Analysed EdD data
4. Worked with our vocational kids
Like a to-do list, but the opposite! Sharing what you’ve achieved this week!
I have:
1. Sent off an article
2. Prioritised a poorly baba
3. Analysed EdD data
4. Worked with our vocational kids
November 7, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Feeling a little tired and Novembery (yes that’s a word), please share your ‘ta da’ list with me!
Like a to-do list, but the opposite! Sharing what you’ve achieved this week!
I have:
1. Sent off an article
2. Prioritised a poorly baba
3. Analysed EdD data
4. Worked with our vocational kids
Like a to-do list, but the opposite! Sharing what you’ve achieved this week!
I have:
1. Sent off an article
2. Prioritised a poorly baba
3. Analysed EdD data
4. Worked with our vocational kids
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
The government will struggle to solve the crisis in special educational needs and disabilities support or close the disadvantage-related attainment gap under its current spending plans, a new policy analysis warns www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Government ‘will struggle to fix SEND crisis by 2029’
The government’s approach to SEND reform is ‘disjointed’ and its ambitions will be restricted by the budget it has set for this parliament, new analysis warns
www.tes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:27 AM
The government will struggle to solve the crisis in special educational needs and disabilities support or close the disadvantage-related attainment gap under its current spending plans, a new policy analysis warns www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
We, @meimaths.bsky.social, are still taking applications for students wanting live online tuition for the TMUA in January. Also our on demand courses are still open and SUMS magazine is available monthly. Please share with students 😁
mei.org.uk/online-tmua/
mei.org.uk/preparing-fo...
mei.org.uk/online-tmua/
mei.org.uk/preparing-fo...
Online Support for the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) - MEI
Our Online Support for the Maths Admissions Test (MAT) course gives students the tools to achieve in the MAT exams, learn more
mei.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 9:10 AM
We, @meimaths.bsky.social, are still taking applications for students wanting live online tuition for the TMUA in January. Also our on demand courses are still open and SUMS magazine is available monthly. Please share with students 😁
mei.org.uk/online-tmua/
mei.org.uk/preparing-fo...
mei.org.uk/online-tmua/
mei.org.uk/preparing-fo...
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Question for BlueSky mind: who are the great contemporary sociologists? People writing ethnographic studies of the character of daily life in a digital / social media age.
“Each decade we shiftily declare we have buried class and each decade the coffin stands empty.”
November 6, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Question for BlueSky mind: who are the great contemporary sociologists? People writing ethnographic studies of the character of daily life in a digital / social media age.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Also: medicine isn’t like that either and it’s a mistake for us to think it is.
Medicine is FAR more slippery than we like to think.
Medicine is FAR more slippery than we like to think.
November 5, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Also: medicine isn’t like that either and it’s a mistake for us to think it is.
Medicine is FAR more slippery than we like to think.
Medicine is FAR more slippery than we like to think.
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
The storage and retrieval metaphor falls apart as soon as you ask any one for the mechanism of retrieval: exactly how is the memory retrieved from storage?
How would secondary education be different if we substituted out "storage and retrieval" for "traces of enaction and reenact"?
#EduSky #UKEd
How would secondary education be different if we substituted out "storage and retrieval" for "traces of enaction and reenact"?
#EduSky #UKEd
It's time to move on from the storage and retrieval metaphor of memory. How would teaching change with an enactive view?
● Memory isn't a library, but the traces of what we have enacted.
Which, I think, is compatible with (but more encompassing than) "memory is the residue of thought".
● Memory isn't a library, but the traces of what we have enacted.
Which, I think, is compatible with (but more encompassing than) "memory is the residue of thought".
"On the one hand, memory is not a library of memories, even if they are episodic; on the other, memory is not the memory of information that enters the system ... [but] the traces of what has been enacted by our actions."
www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
November 4, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Our popular PD course for #ALevelMaths teachers: 'The Maths of Data Science and AI' is now recruiting for the spring term
It's 5 online sessions and a study day (with a £350 bursary to attend the day)
You can sign-up now at: amsp.org.uk/event/b23514...
It's 5 online sessions and a study day (with a £350 bursary to attend the day)
You can sign-up now at: amsp.org.uk/event/b23514...
November 3, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Our popular PD course for #ALevelMaths teachers: 'The Maths of Data Science and AI' is now recruiting for the spring term
It's 5 online sessions and a study day (with a £350 bursary to attend the day)
You can sign-up now at: amsp.org.uk/event/b23514...
It's 5 online sessions and a study day (with a £350 bursary to attend the day)
You can sign-up now at: amsp.org.uk/event/b23514...
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
www.tickettailor.com/events/prusa... This is tomorrow which is exploring the DofE and AP @dofe.org & @prusap.bsky.social #thisisAP #EduSky. Please share and come :)
Select tickets – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) and Alternative Provision – Zoom
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) and Alternative Provision – Zoom, Tue 4 Nov 2025 - PRUsAP invites you to a special event exploring how The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) can be successfully int...
www.tickettailor.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:55 AM
www.tickettailor.com/events/prusa... This is tomorrow which is exploring the DofE and AP @dofe.org & @prusap.bsky.social #thisisAP #EduSky. Please share and come :)
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
Use with caution…
November 3, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Use with caution…
Reposted by Katie Finlayson
One of my favourite NHS quotes on the topic is this one. "Children under 5 should not be inactive for long periods, except when they're asleep." Evidence matters! ☺️ #EduSky
Physical activity guidelines for children (under 5 years)
Physical activity guidelines for children under 5 years to keep them fit and healthy, including simple ways to build activity into their day.
share.google
November 2, 2025 at 11:52 AM
One of my favourite NHS quotes on the topic is this one. "Children under 5 should not be inactive for long periods, except when they're asleep." Evidence matters! ☺️ #EduSky
Second qualified lifeguard in the family :)
October 31, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Second qualified lifeguard in the family :)