Jim Lauder
@mrjlauder.bsky.social
Dixons Academies. Schools as civic institutions - ensuring our communities have a voice and power. Building place based partnerships. Views my own.
At weekends I post about cooking.
At weekends I post about cooking.
Nowhere close to good enough. Lacking core organising principles and coherent direction/strategy leading to basic tactical errors. Tired and badly in need of a refresh. Some key fundamentals missing.
UK govt/All Blacks delete as appropriate 😂
UK govt/All Blacks delete as appropriate 😂
November 15, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Nowhere close to good enough. Lacking core organising principles and coherent direction/strategy leading to basic tactical errors. Tired and badly in need of a refresh. Some key fundamentals missing.
UK govt/All Blacks delete as appropriate 😂
UK govt/All Blacks delete as appropriate 😂
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Excellent news - as called for in reports both by @samfr.bsky.social and myself over the past year.
Building on previous reforms in Greater Manchester and other areas, the government is now giving mayors control with clear accountability and potential for alignment with other public services.
Building on previous reforms in Greater Manchester and other areas, the government is now giving mayors control with clear accountability and potential for alignment with other public services.
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
System introduced in 2012 across England and Wales has faced criticism from police chiefs
*
UK politics live – latest updates
The controversial system of police and crime commissioners is to be abolished by the government, the Guardian has learned.
Under the system, introduced under the Conservatives, all 43 police forces covering local areas across England and Wales had to answer to an elected official. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Excellent news - as called for in reports both by @samfr.bsky.social and myself over the past year.
Building on previous reforms in Greater Manchester and other areas, the government is now giving mayors control with clear accountability and potential for alignment with other public services.
Building on previous reforms in Greater Manchester and other areas, the government is now giving mayors control with clear accountability and potential for alignment with other public services.
Everything here is fine, but it's v much siloed thinking. We need ambitious local partnerships between schools, LAs and CAs, NHS and DWP.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Education Secretary sets roadmap to improve attendance levels
Every school to be set an individual minimum target to improve attendance and set up every child to achieve and thrive.
www.gov.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Everything here is fine, but it's v much siloed thinking. We need ambitious local partnerships between schools, LAs and CAs, NHS and DWP.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Jim Lauder
I think the idea of sidelining Ofsted is good and I like the idea of getting services into settings. Imo all the evidence says that early years is where you can make the difference so my idea would be to unlink funding from its tie to 'working families'. The EPI and Sutton trust both agree I think.
November 11, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I think the idea of sidelining Ofsted is good and I like the idea of getting services into settings. Imo all the evidence says that early years is where you can make the difference so my idea would be to unlink funding from its tie to 'working families'. The EPI and Sutton trust both agree I think.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
It seems like it’s human nature to polarise, but solutions with depth are unlikely to be either or when it comes to complex challenges. This isn’t about standards or support; it’s standards and support - there isn’t a child that isn’t entitled to both. Great, as always, @mrjlauder.bsky.social
Finally got round to writing about this. We're not making enough progress with challenging educational disadvantage. We should pick key areas that face wicked problems, suspend how we normally do things, and try radical collaboration:
open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...
open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...
November 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
It seems like it’s human nature to polarise, but solutions with depth are unlikely to be either or when it comes to complex challenges. This isn’t about standards or support; it’s standards and support - there isn’t a child that isn’t entitled to both. Great, as always, @mrjlauder.bsky.social
Finally got round to writing about this. We're not making enough progress with challenging educational disadvantage. We should pick key areas that face wicked problems, suspend how we normally do things, and try radical collaboration:
open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...
open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...
November 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Finally got round to writing about this. We're not making enough progress with challenging educational disadvantage. We should pick key areas that face wicked problems, suspend how we normally do things, and try radical collaboration:
open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...
open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...
Reposted by Jim Lauder
I have to say, I find this letter completely baffling for a number of reasons:
Britain’s top scientists have written to the PM warning that the education system is holding back children and the country and expressing concern about the timidity of the government’s curriculum and assessment review @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Broken education system is holding back the young, top scientists warn PM | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 10:13 AM
I have to say, I find this letter completely baffling for a number of reasons:
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Absolutely agree, @mrjlauder.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Absolutely agree, @mrjlauder.bsky.social
A big part of my work is facilitating students speaking up for themselves, and on behalf of their peers, in political contexts.
We've had students speaking truth to MPs, ministers, Mayors, councillors, NHS leaders etc.
Oracy in principle is fine. The issue is always centralisation and edu diktat.
We've had students speaking truth to MPs, ministers, Mayors, councillors, NHS leaders etc.
Oracy in principle is fine. The issue is always centralisation and edu diktat.
This has always been the fear with the oracy agenda - that it will lead to the DfE dictating pedagogy and the return of compulsory group work by the back door.
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
November 9, 2025 at 10:25 AM
A big part of my work is facilitating students speaking up for themselves, and on behalf of their peers, in political contexts.
We've had students speaking truth to MPs, ministers, Mayors, councillors, NHS leaders etc.
Oracy in principle is fine. The issue is always centralisation and edu diktat.
We've had students speaking truth to MPs, ministers, Mayors, councillors, NHS leaders etc.
Oracy in principle is fine. The issue is always centralisation and edu diktat.
On the theme of ideological capture - very similar to, but much more serious than what we've seen in education - the natural birth movement still seems pretty entrenched in midwife education which causes huge issues.
Great journalism again from @shaunlintern.bsky.social
Great journalism again from @shaunlintern.bsky.social
"I see evidence midwives don’t have the training, understanding, to manage women who are very sick because of the change in the characteristics of women giving birth. What worries me is curricula are not moving with the times to recognise that change" - Prof Marian Knight of @Mbrrace
🚨 INVESTIGATION: Britain's maternity crisis has deeper roots, extending into the universities trusted to train the next generation of midwives. A majority are still promoting a normal birth ideology while women are more complex than ever:
READ: www.thetimes.com/article/b4fe...
READ: www.thetimes.com/article/b4fe...
November 9, 2025 at 9:11 AM
On the theme of ideological capture - very similar to, but much more serious than what we've seen in education - the natural birth movement still seems pretty entrenched in midwife education which causes huge issues.
Great journalism again from @shaunlintern.bsky.social
Great journalism again from @shaunlintern.bsky.social
Reposted by Jim Lauder
🚨 INVESTIGATION: Britain's maternity crisis has deeper roots, extending into the universities trusted to train the next generation of midwives. A majority are still promoting a normal birth ideology while women are more complex than ever:
READ: www.thetimes.com/article/b4fe...
READ: www.thetimes.com/article/b4fe...
Stop promoting natural birth ideology, midwife courses told
Despite a litany of scandals, universities are still pushing ‘normal birth’ over medical interventions. Now our investigation has prompted the regulator to act
www.thetimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:29 PM
🚨 INVESTIGATION: Britain's maternity crisis has deeper roots, extending into the universities trusted to train the next generation of midwives. A majority are still promoting a normal birth ideology while women are more complex than ever:
READ: www.thetimes.com/article/b4fe...
READ: www.thetimes.com/article/b4fe...
This has always been the fear with the oracy agenda - that it will lead to the DfE dictating pedagogy and the return of compulsory group work by the back door.
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
November 9, 2025 at 8:32 AM
This has always been the fear with the oracy agenda - that it will lead to the DfE dictating pedagogy and the return of compulsory group work by the back door.
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
Reposted by Jim Lauder
A tale from the commission - when Prince Charles (as he then was) called for the slave trade to be on the curriculum as the Holocaust is, one v good journalist at the Jewish News wrote a v good piece on that debate after speaking to me and others:
November 7, 2025 at 6:38 PM
A tale from the commission - when Prince Charles (as he then was) called for the slave trade to be on the curriculum as the Holocaust is, one v good journalist at the Jewish News wrote a v good piece on that debate after speaking to me and others:
Reposted by Jim Lauder
oh my god yes. you only have to look at how often people complain about not being taught something in school that they absolutely were taught in school. education isn't a magic bullet!
For political hacks like myself, 'put it in the curriculum' is the oldest and hattiest of old hat policy ideas.
Why do we think schools should solve all our problems? What if we thought differently about life skills and civic education?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/schools-ca...
Why do we think schools should solve all our problems? What if we thought differently about life skills and civic education?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/schools-ca...
Schools cannot solve all our problems
The limits of ‘put it in the curriculum’ politics
howtorunacountry.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:47 PM
oh my god yes. you only have to look at how often people complain about not being taught something in school that they absolutely were taught in school. education isn't a magic bullet!
Reposted by Jim Lauder
The left thinks state information is compromised because it’s produced by a western patriarchy. The right thinks it’s produced by a woke establishment elite.
And so we have given up on building and propagating any kind of shared knowledge infrastructure.
Instead we say “put it in the curriculum”
And so we have given up on building and propagating any kind of shared knowledge infrastructure.
Instead we say “put it in the curriculum”
For political hacks like myself, 'put it in the curriculum' is the oldest and hattiest of old hat policy ideas.
Why do we think schools should solve all our problems? What if we thought differently about life skills and civic education?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/schools-ca...
Why do we think schools should solve all our problems? What if we thought differently about life skills and civic education?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/schools-ca...
Schools cannot solve all our problems
The limits of ‘put it in the curriculum’ politics
howtorunacountry.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
The left thinks state information is compromised because it’s produced by a western patriarchy. The right thinks it’s produced by a woke establishment elite.
And so we have given up on building and propagating any kind of shared knowledge infrastructure.
Instead we say “put it in the curriculum”
And so we have given up on building and propagating any kind of shared knowledge infrastructure.
Instead we say “put it in the curriculum”
Reducing the number of assistant heads in schools most probably means reducing the 'fourth emergency service' role that schools have played post-austerity.
Sadly an example of siloed, short termist thinking from govt.
Sadly an example of siloed, short termist thinking from govt.
November 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reducing the number of assistant heads in schools most probably means reducing the 'fourth emergency service' role that schools have played post-austerity.
Sadly an example of siloed, short termist thinking from govt.
Sadly an example of siloed, short termist thinking from govt.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
The Liverpool City Region has been growing strongly in recent years – not too far behind Greater Manchester and third in the leaderboard of Northern productivity growth.
But why is this the case? And what can we learn for the UK productivity problem?
Short 🧵
1/5
But why is this the case? And what can we learn for the UK productivity problem?
Short 🧵
1/5
November 6, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The Liverpool City Region has been growing strongly in recent years – not too far behind Greater Manchester and third in the leaderboard of Northern productivity growth.
But why is this the case? And what can we learn for the UK productivity problem?
Short 🧵
1/5
But why is this the case? And what can we learn for the UK productivity problem?
Short 🧵
1/5
Reposted by Jim Lauder
underpinned by its endorsement of “the principle that non-exam assessment should be used only when it is the only valid way to assess essential elements of a subject” which reflects the risks emphasised in CEPEO’s evidence of bias from teacher assessment.
November 6, 2025 at 2:49 PM
underpinned by its endorsement of “the principle that non-exam assessment should be used only when it is the only valid way to assess essential elements of a subject” which reflects the risks emphasised in CEPEO’s evidence of bias from teacher assessment.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
We broadly welcome the recommendations of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, in particular citing CEPEO’s briefing note on the value of GCSEs (econpapers.repec.org/RePEc:ucl:ce...) and...
EconPapers: Should we abolish GCSEs?
By Gill Wyness; Abstract: The Covid-19 pandemic and resulting disruption to schooling led to the Government cancelling GCSE and A level exams in
econpapers.repec.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:49 PM
We broadly welcome the recommendations of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, in particular citing CEPEO’s briefing note on the value of GCSEs (econpapers.repec.org/RePEc:ucl:ce...) and...
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Teachers! DfE seeks class teachers to help shape policy. Must have a 60% teaching timetable, not in snr role, have contributed to policy implementation & be able to deminstrate inclusive practice. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
DfE seeks teachers for policy ‘sounding board’
The government is looking for primary and secondary teachers to join the latest cohort of its Teacher Reference Group
www.tes.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Teachers! DfE seeks class teachers to help shape policy. Must have a 60% teaching timetable, not in snr role, have contributed to policy implementation & be able to deminstrate inclusive practice. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
She's been! She's been! @beckyfrancis.bsky.social curriculum santa has been!
November 5, 2025 at 7:49 AM
She's been! She's been! @beckyfrancis.bsky.social curriculum santa has been!
Reposted by Jim Lauder
🚨 Reform the National Funding Formula 🚨
Previous changes to the NFF have had a disproportionately negative impact on schools in deprived areas.
We're calling for it to be reformed to rebalance funding back towards schools that need it the most.
Previous changes to the NFF have had a disproportionately negative impact on schools in deprived areas.
We're calling for it to be reformed to rebalance funding back towards schools that need it the most.
November 3, 2025 at 8:44 PM
🚨 Reform the National Funding Formula 🚨
Previous changes to the NFF have had a disproportionately negative impact on schools in deprived areas.
We're calling for it to be reformed to rebalance funding back towards schools that need it the most.
Previous changes to the NFF have had a disproportionately negative impact on schools in deprived areas.
We're calling for it to be reformed to rebalance funding back towards schools that need it the most.
A non-zero number of young people are, sadly, really into violence. Kids are very much just watching murder videos on their phones. A small minority, but it's definitely there and not something that used to happen.
Yeah - as I wrote at the time, I think we find “he was a terrorist” and “he was psychotic” easier to understand than “he just liked violence” - which is why there is so much conspiracising to both ends on the case:
November 3, 2025 at 2:07 PM
A non-zero number of young people are, sadly, really into violence. Kids are very much just watching murder videos on their phones. A small minority, but it's definitely there and not something that used to happen.
Friday's pumpkin and last night's Greek veg turned into tonight's lasagne.
November 2, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Friday's pumpkin and last night's Greek veg turned into tonight's lasagne.