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.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jimlauder
https://open.substack.com/pub/jimlauder
Reposted by Jim Lauder
I have to say I find this alliance of well-meaning progressivism and AI pretty terrifying. Beyond how weakly formulated it all is - what is critical thinking? What is grappling? - it doesn’t seem to want to meaningfully engage with the issue of knowledge at all, apart from reheating Blooms taxonomy
February 15, 2026 at 5:31 PM
I have to say I find this alliance of well-meaning progressivism and AI pretty terrifying. Beyond how weakly formulated it all is - what is critical thinking? What is grappling? - it doesn’t seem to want to meaningfully engage with the issue of knowledge at all, apart from reheating Blooms taxonomy
@catus14.bsky.social made me shoulder of lamb with a nice Bordeaux, and I am a very happy man
February 15, 2026 at 6:07 PM
@catus14.bsky.social made me shoulder of lamb with a nice Bordeaux, and I am a very happy man
There's something in this, I think. We've all seen lessons prioritising correctness over productive struggle.
Critical thinking is an ill-defined bucket concept though, and there's a lot of harking back to a golden pre-Gove age that never existed. Or only existed for a few.
Critical thinking is an ill-defined bucket concept though, and there's a lot of harking back to a golden pre-Gove age that never existed. Or only existed for a few.
A series of well-intentioned reforms has led to a system that prioritises exam results over deep thinking, says Alice Whitby – but it’s not too late to reverse this
How critical thinking disappeared from the classroom
A series of well-intentioned reforms has led to a system that prioritises exam results over deep thinking, says Alice Whitby – but it's not too late to reverse this
www.tes.com
February 15, 2026 at 5:19 PM
There's something in this, I think. We've all seen lessons prioritising correctness over productive struggle.
Critical thinking is an ill-defined bucket concept though, and there's a lot of harking back to a golden pre-Gove age that never existed. Or only existed for a few.
Critical thinking is an ill-defined bucket concept though, and there's a lot of harking back to a golden pre-Gove age that never existed. Or only existed for a few.
Interesting thread. I work across four cities in three combined authorities, and the differences in Manchester are really palpable. Let's get some more agglomeration everywhere.
"It has been an exercise in what economists call "comparative advantage" & "agglomeration"...Manchester has young people, workers, space & lots of globally important cultural assets, from music to football & cycling. Above all, it has long had Europe's biggest university campus"
Could Manchester be a model for the UK to kickstart growth?
With an annual growth rate of 3.1%, Manchester's economy has performed twice as well as that of the UK as a whole.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Interesting thread. I work across four cities in three combined authorities, and the differences in Manchester are really palpable. Let's get some more agglomeration everywhere.
And lo, the annual charade is once again complete.
Diligent conversation with eldest's school for his EHCP annual review, where we suggest changes to make it better and bring it up to date.
Following sacred, time honoured tradition, the LA has refused to make any changes.
Diligent conversation with eldest's school for his EHCP annual review, where we suggest changes to make it better and bring it up to date.
Following sacred, time honoured tradition, the LA has refused to make any changes.
February 13, 2026 at 6:14 PM
And lo, the annual charade is once again complete.
Diligent conversation with eldest's school for his EHCP annual review, where we suggest changes to make it better and bring it up to date.
Following sacred, time honoured tradition, the LA has refused to make any changes.
Diligent conversation with eldest's school for his EHCP annual review, where we suggest changes to make it better and bring it up to date.
Following sacred, time honoured tradition, the LA has refused to make any changes.
Strong on inclusion bases from @tanialt.bsky.social. TL;DR = we need to see evidence, argument, accountability and safeguards for this policy direction. All of which have been conspicuously absent so far.
www.specialneedsjungle.com/inclusion-ba...
www.specialneedsjungle.com/inclusion-ba...
Inclusion bases: a new label, a big ambition, same unanswered questions - Special Needs Jungle
More government announcements—this time changing units and resourced provision to “Inclusion Bases”: new label, same unanswered questions
www.specialneedsjungle.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Strong on inclusion bases from @tanialt.bsky.social. TL;DR = we need to see evidence, argument, accountability and safeguards for this policy direction. All of which have been conspicuously absent so far.
www.specialneedsjungle.com/inclusion-ba...
www.specialneedsjungle.com/inclusion-ba...
Late to this after a long day. Long time followers will know I think this is a risky direction of travel.
It feels motivated by the fiscal rules as it can be classed as borrowing to invest.
I'm looking forward to seeing this contextualised further in the White Paper.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
It feels motivated by the fiscal rules as it can be classed as borrowing to invest.
I'm looking forward to seeing this contextualised further in the White Paper.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
10-year plan to revitalise schools and colleges for every child
Schools to be inclusive by design, with dedicated ‘inclusion bases’ and new guidance on adaptations to improve inclusivity and accessibility.
www.gov.uk
February 11, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Late to this after a long day. Long time followers will know I think this is a risky direction of travel.
It feels motivated by the fiscal rules as it can be classed as borrowing to invest.
I'm looking forward to seeing this contextualised further in the White Paper.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
It feels motivated by the fiscal rules as it can be classed as borrowing to invest.
I'm looking forward to seeing this contextualised further in the White Paper.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Hong Kong migration to the UK has been a fantastic success and brilliant for places like West Leeds.
恭喜發財!
A privilege to open two special Lunar New Year events in Leeds this weekend, attended by many of our Hong Kong neighbours from Leeds South West & Morley.
Thank you to everyone who attended my surgery in New Farnley too. If you missed it, I have two more next week, please email for details.
A privilege to open two special Lunar New Year events in Leeds this weekend, attended by many of our Hong Kong neighbours from Leeds South West & Morley.
Thank you to everyone who attended my surgery in New Farnley too. If you missed it, I have two more next week, please email for details.
February 8, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Hong Kong migration to the UK has been a fantastic success and brilliant for places like West Leeds.
Tonight's effort: pork chop, roast garlic mash, chickpea stew
February 7, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Tonight's effort: pork chop, roast garlic mash, chickpea stew
Reposted by Jim Lauder
School funding needs to be more fairly distributed.
Changes made to the National Funding Formula in 2018 benefited schools in less deprived areas.
These changes should be reversed, in order to rebalance funding back towards schools serving the most disadvantaged communities.
Changes made to the National Funding Formula in 2018 benefited schools in less deprived areas.
These changes should be reversed, in order to rebalance funding back towards schools serving the most disadvantaged communities.
February 7, 2026 at 10:30 AM
School funding needs to be more fairly distributed.
Changes made to the National Funding Formula in 2018 benefited schools in less deprived areas.
These changes should be reversed, in order to rebalance funding back towards schools serving the most disadvantaged communities.
Changes made to the National Funding Formula in 2018 benefited schools in less deprived areas.
These changes should be reversed, in order to rebalance funding back towards schools serving the most disadvantaged communities.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
#FridayFive is poorly.
1. Almost Cut My Hair. Crosby, Stills and Nash.
2. Wires. Athlete.
3. The Drugs Don't Work. The Verve.
4. Comfortably Numb. Pink Floyd.
5. Keep Yourself Warm. Frightened Rabbit.
1. Almost Cut My Hair. Crosby, Stills and Nash.
2. Wires. Athlete.
3. The Drugs Don't Work. The Verve.
4. Comfortably Numb. Pink Floyd.
5. Keep Yourself Warm. Frightened Rabbit.
February 6, 2026 at 4:03 PM
#FridayFive is poorly.
1. Almost Cut My Hair. Crosby, Stills and Nash.
2. Wires. Athlete.
3. The Drugs Don't Work. The Verve.
4. Comfortably Numb. Pink Floyd.
5. Keep Yourself Warm. Frightened Rabbit.
1. Almost Cut My Hair. Crosby, Stills and Nash.
2. Wires. Athlete.
3. The Drugs Don't Work. The Verve.
4. Comfortably Numb. Pink Floyd.
5. Keep Yourself Warm. Frightened Rabbit.
I love this. And I believe the manuscript of this passage is the only example we have of Shakespeare's handwriting.
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 5:59 PM
I love this. And I believe the manuscript of this passage is the only example we have of Shakespeare's handwriting.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
‘Oracy’ or the ability to be articulate is surely just another emergent property of knowing lots about the thing you’re discussing?
Better to focus on mismatch between the language of the home & community and that of academic disciplines, and explicitly giving pupils more control over the latter.
Better to focus on mismatch between the language of the home & community and that of academic disciplines, and explicitly giving pupils more control over the latter.
February 4, 2026 at 9:17 PM
‘Oracy’ or the ability to be articulate is surely just another emergent property of knowing lots about the thing you’re discussing?
Better to focus on mismatch between the language of the home & community and that of academic disciplines, and explicitly giving pupils more control over the latter.
Better to focus on mismatch between the language of the home & community and that of academic disciplines, and explicitly giving pupils more control over the latter.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
I spent some time last year working with a few others in trying to design a reliable oracy assessment framework; it was basically impossible to create one which didn't have some element of racism or classism baked in.
February 4, 2026 at 8:19 PM
I spent some time last year working with a few others in trying to design a reliable oracy assessment framework; it was basically impossible to create one which didn't have some element of racism or classism baked in.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
But that's just it - it's becoming an 'agenda'.
That in itself is a concern because it places a huge emphasis on 'being seen to be doing something' rather than grounding what is done in evidence-based practice (which doesn't really exist for oracy, as far as I can tell).
That in itself is a concern because it places a huge emphasis on 'being seen to be doing something' rather than grounding what is done in evidence-based practice (which doesn't really exist for oracy, as far as I can tell).
February 4, 2026 at 8:18 PM
But that's just it - it's becoming an 'agenda'.
That in itself is a concern because it places a huge emphasis on 'being seen to be doing something' rather than grounding what is done in evidence-based practice (which doesn't really exist for oracy, as far as I can tell).
That in itself is a concern because it places a huge emphasis on 'being seen to be doing something' rather than grounding what is done in evidence-based practice (which doesn't really exist for oracy, as far as I can tell).
My fears with oracy were always:
- promotes deficit narratives, especially around race and class
- is really about debunked approaches like enforced group work and 21st century skills
This seems to enthusiastically double down on both, plus makes some wild claims about the attainment gap, and AI.
- promotes deficit narratives, especially around race and class
- is really about debunked approaches like enforced group work and 21st century skills
This seems to enthusiastically double down on both, plus makes some wild claims about the attainment gap, and AI.
'Schools now have the impetus to make oracy the golden thread weaving through their plans, policies and curriculums. For schools serving deprived communities, this is the moment to place oracy at the heart of their mission'
schoolsweek.co.uk/talk-isnt-ch...
schoolsweek.co.uk/talk-isnt-ch...
Talk isn’t cheap: it sets up a child to thrive in class
Oracy must be nurtured across all settings – especially as navigating AI demands a mastery of language
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 6:36 PM
My fears with oracy were always:
- promotes deficit narratives, especially around race and class
- is really about debunked approaches like enforced group work and 21st century skills
This seems to enthusiastically double down on both, plus makes some wild claims about the attainment gap, and AI.
- promotes deficit narratives, especially around race and class
- is really about debunked approaches like enforced group work and 21st century skills
This seems to enthusiastically double down on both, plus makes some wild claims about the attainment gap, and AI.
On this point, I very much hope the SEND reforms will deal with the pretty awful structural mess the NHS has got itself into with all this.
Tonight's SEND admin: feedback on annual review documents.
Tomorrow's SEND admin: get on waiting lists for ADHD assessment, go private for ADHD assessment, write to GP practice to protest their shared care policy.
I will vote for anyone who reduces admin for SEND parents.
Tomorrow's SEND admin: get on waiting lists for ADHD assessment, go private for ADHD assessment, write to GP practice to protest their shared care policy.
I will vote for anyone who reduces admin for SEND parents.
February 1, 2026 at 8:02 PM
On this point, I very much hope the SEND reforms will deal with the pretty awful structural mess the NHS has got itself into with all this.
Look, the EHCP is a faff, hassle and full of nonsense. So at one level I'm fine if they just gave the money to my kid's school and got rid of it.
But then I'm at the mercy of someone in future deciding to dump him in a beanbag room or changing his provision to some other nonsense.
But then I'm at the mercy of someone in future deciding to dump him in a beanbag room or changing his provision to some other nonsense.
"Ministers on lobbying blitz to avoid Labour rebellion over SEND changes" Given MPs mailbags, we doubt it's going to work. And you can write to them and keep up the pressure: www.ipsea.org.uk/write-to-yo...
www.theguardian.com/politics...
www.theguardian.com/politics...
Ministers on lobbying blitz to avoid Labour rebellion over Send changes
Government has ‘learned lesson’ of botched welfare overhauls but MPs say they will not back cost-saving measures
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Look, the EHCP is a faff, hassle and full of nonsense. So at one level I'm fine if they just gave the money to my kid's school and got rid of it.
But then I'm at the mercy of someone in future deciding to dump him in a beanbag room or changing his provision to some other nonsense.
But then I'm at the mercy of someone in future deciding to dump him in a beanbag room or changing his provision to some other nonsense.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Beautiful blue dress
Something lovely for the weekend!
A 4,500 year-old ancient Egyptian faience beadnet dress.
Museum of Fine Arts Boston collections.mfa.org/objects/1465...
📷 by me
#Archaeology
A 4,500 year-old ancient Egyptian faience beadnet dress.
Museum of Fine Arts Boston collections.mfa.org/objects/1465...
📷 by me
#Archaeology
February 1, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Beautiful blue dress
Sunday morning daal
February 1, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Sunday morning daal
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Although to be clear I love my job and this isn't a moan. My job is to do this. It's demanding but this is the nature of the role.
Teachers too. The added complication of slt is how one event can happen that is then your whole day gone, unplanned, with no extra time to catch up the stuff you should have got done.
January 31, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Although to be clear I love my job and this isn't a moan. My job is to do this. It's demanding but this is the nature of the role.
I have some sympathy with BP's first point here which is often straightforwardly true. A rebalancing in some schools from suspension to internal exclusion might be a good idea.
But agree with Ben's overall point that DfE fiddling with the minutiae of how schools are run is rarely a good idea.
But agree with Ben's overall point that DfE fiddling with the minutiae of how schools are run is rarely a good idea.
9. BP making same error here - would be more accurate to say "potential lost learning." Also seems unfair to say that because children are now more online the balance of harm about suspension has changed to slant more against without talking about the consequences of this for schools.
January 29, 2026 at 5:13 PM
I have some sympathy with BP's first point here which is often straightforwardly true. A rebalancing in some schools from suspension to internal exclusion might be a good idea.
But agree with Ben's overall point that DfE fiddling with the minutiae of how schools are run is rarely a good idea.
But agree with Ben's overall point that DfE fiddling with the minutiae of how schools are run is rarely a good idea.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Great new book out edited by @mcazaola.bsky.social on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on education, focusing on learning disruption and recovery from that disruption.
www.bloomsbury.com/9781350520523
www.bloomsbury.com/9781350520523
January 26, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Great new book out edited by @mcazaola.bsky.social on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on education, focusing on learning disruption and recovery from that disruption.
www.bloomsbury.com/9781350520523
www.bloomsbury.com/9781350520523