Laura McInerney
@missmc.bsky.social
Co-Founder of TeacherTapp, daily poll of 12k teachers. Former editor of Schools Week & Guardian columnist. Once a teacher, always a teacher.
SAY: Laura 'Mack & Ernie' (like there's 3 of us!)
SAY: Laura 'Mack & Ernie' (like there's 3 of us!)
Watched the new Anaconda movie last night, which is every bit as silly but as satisfying as it needed to be.
Also a reminder that Luhrmann’s biggest mistake in Romeo + Juliet was casting Paul Rudd as Paris.
Paul Rudd goony dancing as an astronaut? I’d take that over soggy fishtank boy any day.
Also a reminder that Luhrmann’s biggest mistake in Romeo + Juliet was casting Paul Rudd as Paris.
Paul Rudd goony dancing as an astronaut? I’d take that over soggy fishtank boy any day.
January 1, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Watched the new Anaconda movie last night, which is every bit as silly but as satisfying as it needed to be.
Also a reminder that Luhrmann’s biggest mistake in Romeo + Juliet was casting Paul Rudd as Paris.
Paul Rudd goony dancing as an astronaut? I’d take that over soggy fishtank boy any day.
Also a reminder that Luhrmann’s biggest mistake in Romeo + Juliet was casting Paul Rudd as Paris.
Paul Rudd goony dancing as an astronaut? I’d take that over soggy fishtank boy any day.
Ronan Keating is now… *squints*… Tom Jones?
Dear god. What a way to make me feel old at the start of the year!
Dear god. What a way to make me feel old at the start of the year!
December 31, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Ronan Keating is now… *squints*… Tom Jones?
Dear god. What a way to make me feel old at the start of the year!
Dear god. What a way to make me feel old at the start of the year!
Reposted by Laura McInerney
As someone once pointed out (@missmc.bsky.social possibly?) schools have the budget to do what they were doing in c2010. The problem is so many agencies have retreated/closed that schools pick up the slack without the full budget nor skills to do it properly. Then getting blame when it goes wrong…
December 31, 2025 at 12:08 PM
As someone once pointed out (@missmc.bsky.social possibly?) schools have the budget to do what they were doing in c2010. The problem is so many agencies have retreated/closed that schools pick up the slack without the full budget nor skills to do it properly. Then getting blame when it goes wrong…
Reposted by Laura McInerney
if you can't afford clothes, it's not clothing poverty, it's poverty. If you can't afford sanitary protection, it's not period poverty, it's poverty. Divvying up poverty into little bits hides the fact that poverty is poverty and gives right-wingers an in to say "poor people need to budget better."
Charity warns of rise in 'clothing poverty'.
Profiteering and cuts in real wages force people rely on charity.
Charity provides food, clothing, air ambulance, hospices and more in the 6th largest economy.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Profiteering and cuts in real wages force people rely on charity.
Charity provides food, clothing, air ambulance, hospices and more in the 6th largest economy.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Charity warns of rise in 'clothing poverty' among working people
The Sharewear Clothing Scheme in Nottingham says demand is so high it is running out of clothes.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 9:06 AM
if you can't afford clothes, it's not clothing poverty, it's poverty. If you can't afford sanitary protection, it's not period poverty, it's poverty. Divvying up poverty into little bits hides the fact that poverty is poverty and gives right-wingers an in to say "poor people need to budget better."
Huge rise… compared to 2020-2021, when you were banned from leaving your house with a cough. And probably wouldn’t go to a Covid den just for hiccups.
Very strange set of comparative data.
Very strange set of comparative data.
December 31, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Huge rise… compared to 2020-2021, when you were banned from leaving your house with a cough. And probably wouldn’t go to a Covid den just for hiccups.
Very strange set of comparative data.
Very strange set of comparative data.
Excellent blog.
My main take on Twitter was always: ‘If this was a pub, would I visit?’
I can put up with disagreement, rowdy evenings, occasional fights. But hard life rule: I don’t frequent hooligan pubs.
My main take on Twitter was always: ‘If this was a pub, would I visit?’
I can put up with disagreement, rowdy evenings, occasional fights. But hard life rule: I don’t frequent hooligan pubs.
This from @markgoodrich.bsky.social, is one of the only reasons I've found where I wish I were still on twitter - so I could share it to encourage others to leave
open.substack.com/pub/markgood...
open.substack.com/pub/markgood...
A New Year's Resolution for Teachers: Quit X
The best time to do so was when Musk started poisoning it; the second-best time is now
open.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Excellent blog.
My main take on Twitter was always: ‘If this was a pub, would I visit?’
I can put up with disagreement, rowdy evenings, occasional fights. But hard life rule: I don’t frequent hooligan pubs.
My main take on Twitter was always: ‘If this was a pub, would I visit?’
I can put up with disagreement, rowdy evenings, occasional fights. But hard life rule: I don’t frequent hooligan pubs.
Reposted by Laura McInerney
When I was in DHSC I thought we could change the law to reduce or eliminate a lot of this tick box training. Found out there is no law requiring it. No DHSC policy either. Or NHS-England policy. It has just become commonplace - people think it is required, so they arrange it, but it isn't.
A year or so ago a Question Time audience member suggested the NHS could save millions by having doctors & nurses do quizzes at start of annual mandatory training courses - and only make you do it if you fail.
I think it could go for most jobs tbh.
I think it could go for most jobs tbh.
December 30, 2025 at 11:34 PM
When I was in DHSC I thought we could change the law to reduce or eliminate a lot of this tick box training. Found out there is no law requiring it. No DHSC policy either. Or NHS-England policy. It has just become commonplace - people think it is required, so they arrange it, but it isn't.
Reposted by Laura McInerney
(on a more serious note, companies must lose a phenomenal amount of time on this stuff, and I'm not sure what purpose it serves, certainly in the way I've seen it being done, where it couldn't be more clearly a tick-box exercise)
December 30, 2025 at 6:48 PM
(on a more serious note, companies must lose a phenomenal amount of time on this stuff, and I'm not sure what purpose it serves, certainly in the way I've seen it being done, where it couldn't be more clearly a tick-box exercise)
Reposted by Laura McInerney
I especially loved the annual LA mandatory online asbestos training. Especially as our building opened in 1999 and so was asbestos free.
December 30, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I especially loved the annual LA mandatory online asbestos training. Especially as our building opened in 1999 and so was asbestos free.
Reposted by Laura McInerney
community and the number of staff who require training in each area. However it does feel as though we are being affected by seemingly arbitrary decisions to reduce renewal cycles to annual with maximum training groups of 12. A licence to print money with limited evidence of need. 2/2
December 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
community and the number of staff who require training in each area. However it does feel as though we are being affected by seemingly arbitrary decisions to reduce renewal cycles to annual with maximum training groups of 12. A licence to print money with limited evidence of need. 2/2
Reposted by Laura McInerney
The amount of content we are now required to cover annually, either by the LA, NHS or via commercial training providers has resulted in us consulting on reducing the teaching week by an hour in order to accommodate it all. It’s a particular issue for Special schools due to the nature of our 1/2
December 30, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The amount of content we are now required to cover annually, either by the LA, NHS or via commercial training providers has resulted in us consulting on reducing the teaching week by an hour in order to accommodate it all. It’s a particular issue for Special schools due to the nature of our 1/2
Reposted by Laura McInerney
We had one module (can’t remember which one) where I’d never done the module before and I just went straight for the test and passed.
Most of this stuff isn’t difficult and shouldn’t be difficult, but they make it out to be such a big deal.
Most of this stuff isn’t difficult and shouldn’t be difficult, but they make it out to be such a big deal.
December 30, 2025 at 9:22 PM
We had one module (can’t remember which one) where I’d never done the module before and I just went straight for the test and passed.
Most of this stuff isn’t difficult and shouldn’t be difficult, but they make it out to be such a big deal.
Most of this stuff isn’t difficult and shouldn’t be difficult, but they make it out to be such a big deal.
Reposted by Laura McInerney
10000000000000000%. If I have to do another bullshit EDI, GDPR, safeguarding or e-safety module again I may lose it.
December 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
10000000000000000%. If I have to do another bullshit EDI, GDPR, safeguarding or e-safety module again I may lose it.
Reposted by Laura McInerney
Most of our annual mandatory training at work has this (we have to do a fair bit because of being in a heavily regulated industry, as well as being responsible for critical national infrastructure) - there’s a screening quiz first and if you get it all correct, you can skip most of the training.
December 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Most of our annual mandatory training at work has this (we have to do a fair bit because of being in a heavily regulated industry, as well as being responsible for critical national infrastructure) - there’s a screening quiz first and if you get it all correct, you can skip most of the training.
Reposted by Laura McInerney
And for school governors especially those of us who are retired headteachers. Watched all the mandatory videos at double speed but still hours of time wasted.
December 30, 2025 at 6:28 PM
And for school governors especially those of us who are retired headteachers. Watched all the mandatory videos at double speed but still hours of time wasted.
Reposted by Laura McInerney
Some alternative questions:
1. Should I add butter to this food?
2. Would melted cheese on top improve this food?
3. Should I add a bit more butter to this food?
4. What's on telly?
1. Should I add butter to this food?
2. Would melted cheese on top improve this food?
3. Should I add a bit more butter to this food?
4. What's on telly?
December 30, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Some alternative questions:
1. Should I add butter to this food?
2. Would melted cheese on top improve this food?
3. Should I add a bit more butter to this food?
4. What's on telly?
1. Should I add butter to this food?
2. Would melted cheese on top improve this food?
3. Should I add a bit more butter to this food?
4. What's on telly?
A year or so ago a Question Time audience member suggested the NHS could save millions by having doctors & nurses do quizzes at start of annual mandatory training courses - and only make you do it if you fail.
I think it could go for most jobs tbh.
I think it could go for most jobs tbh.
December 30, 2025 at 6:15 PM
A year or so ago a Question Time audience member suggested the NHS could save millions by having doctors & nurses do quizzes at start of annual mandatory training courses - and only make you do it if you fail.
I think it could go for most jobs tbh.
I think it could go for most jobs tbh.
Reposted by Laura McInerney
Got this fantastically clever Christmas gift. It's a dedicated algorithm free music player that you can carry around without the distractions of your phone, and it can hold thousands of songs without needing an internet connection. The UI is so simple anyone can manage it. Fantastic
December 28, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Got this fantastically clever Christmas gift. It's a dedicated algorithm free music player that you can carry around without the distractions of your phone, and it can hold thousands of songs without needing an internet connection. The UI is so simple anyone can manage it. Fantastic
Great Twixmas activity this morning:
- dictated notes on every clothes/shoes item into Notes on iPhone
- copy and pasted into chatgpt & asked what I should get rid of/what I need
- then copy and pasted into separate chat and asked for outfit idea given today’s weather/planned activities
- dictated notes on every clothes/shoes item into Notes on iPhone
- copy and pasted into chatgpt & asked what I should get rid of/what I need
- then copy and pasted into separate chat and asked for outfit idea given today’s weather/planned activities
December 28, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Great Twixmas activity this morning:
- dictated notes on every clothes/shoes item into Notes on iPhone
- copy and pasted into chatgpt & asked what I should get rid of/what I need
- then copy and pasted into separate chat and asked for outfit idea given today’s weather/planned activities
- dictated notes on every clothes/shoes item into Notes on iPhone
- copy and pasted into chatgpt & asked what I should get rid of/what I need
- then copy and pasted into separate chat and asked for outfit idea given today’s weather/planned activities
Teacher salaries haven’t increased as much as average earnings. (Doctor lines are same).
But I always wonder: how much of this is because of huge minimum wage increases bringing the average up?
But I always wonder: how much of this is because of huge minimum wage increases bringing the average up?
December 22, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Teacher salaries haven’t increased as much as average earnings. (Doctor lines are same).
But I always wonder: how much of this is because of huge minimum wage increases bringing the average up?
But I always wonder: how much of this is because of huge minimum wage increases bringing the average up?
Was oddly pleased to hear the PM pop up on You & Yours today, my fave Radio 4 consumer show.
Alas, this strategy of sending him out to talk with ‘The Public’ is stymied by the fact that it sounded like 15 minutes of him reading agenda item 7(b) at a municipal meeting that could’ve been an email. 🫠
Alas, this strategy of sending him out to talk with ‘The Public’ is stymied by the fact that it sounded like 15 minutes of him reading agenda item 7(b) at a municipal meeting that could’ve been an email. 🫠
December 15, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Was oddly pleased to hear the PM pop up on You & Yours today, my fave Radio 4 consumer show.
Alas, this strategy of sending him out to talk with ‘The Public’ is stymied by the fact that it sounded like 15 minutes of him reading agenda item 7(b) at a municipal meeting that could’ve been an email. 🫠
Alas, this strategy of sending him out to talk with ‘The Public’ is stymied by the fact that it sounded like 15 minutes of him reading agenda item 7(b) at a municipal meeting that could’ve been an email. 🫠
Reposted by Laura McInerney
We're looking for case studies! 📢
The @suttontrust.bsky.social and @smfthinktank.bsky.social are researching school based nurseries - and we're looking far and wide for schools and early years settings with strong partnerships....
The @suttontrust.bsky.social and @smfthinktank.bsky.social are researching school based nurseries - and we're looking far and wide for schools and early years settings with strong partnerships....
December 5, 2025 at 5:04 PM
We're looking for case studies! 📢
The @suttontrust.bsky.social and @smfthinktank.bsky.social are researching school based nurseries - and we're looking far and wide for schools and early years settings with strong partnerships....
The @suttontrust.bsky.social and @smfthinktank.bsky.social are researching school based nurseries - and we're looking far and wide for schools and early years settings with strong partnerships....
Always worth remembering that, when it comes to populist leadership (and cults), the ideas and policies are not supposed to make sense. Hypocritical whiplash is part of the power.
As cult psychologists discovered ages ago: after a certain commitment point, inconsistency *increases* belief strength.
As cult psychologists discovered ages ago: after a certain commitment point, inconsistency *increases* belief strength.
December 15, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Always worth remembering that, when it comes to populist leadership (and cults), the ideas and policies are not supposed to make sense. Hypocritical whiplash is part of the power.
As cult psychologists discovered ages ago: after a certain commitment point, inconsistency *increases* belief strength.
As cult psychologists discovered ages ago: after a certain commitment point, inconsistency *increases* belief strength.
Reposted by Laura McInerney
Good luck to everyone attempting to get young people out of the door (well, let's face it, out of bed) at the end of term, at the start of the darkest week of the school year
December 15, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Good luck to everyone attempting to get young people out of the door (well, let's face it, out of bed) at the end of term, at the start of the darkest week of the school year
I think this was probably my favourite book of 2025. Eye opening, occasionally unsettling, couldn’t work out if I agreed or disagreed. Everything a book should be to make you think!
If anyone wants to get further down this rabbit hole I heartily recommend Ivo Moseley’s ‘In The Name Of The People’
(And yes, grandson of *that* Moseley. Which is one reason he’s quite concerned about, and quite knowledgeable about, fascism).
(And yes, grandson of *that* Moseley. Which is one reason he’s quite concerned about, and quite knowledgeable about, fascism).
December 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I think this was probably my favourite book of 2025. Eye opening, occasionally unsettling, couldn’t work out if I agreed or disagreed. Everything a book should be to make you think!