Jonathan Mountstevens
@mrmountstevens.bsky.social
Deputy Head, History Teacher and Chartered Teacher Programme Lead. Mostly here to discuss curriculum, assessment, school leadership and history. Views my own.
Blog: https://occamshairdryer.wordpress.com
Blog: https://occamshairdryer.wordpress.com
Reposted by Jonathan Mountstevens
I have finally written another Substack, many months after my last one! It's on two of my favourite topics - Japan and schools so it goes on a bit. A tl:dr summary follows.
open.substack.com/pub/markgood...
open.substack.com/pub/markgood...
What Japan can teach us about running schools
It may not be what you think....
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I have finally written another Substack, many months after my last one! It's on two of my favourite topics - Japan and schools so it goes on a bit. A tl:dr summary follows.
open.substack.com/pub/markgood...
open.substack.com/pub/markgood...
Got a #KnowledgeRich Christmas card from two of my Yr 9s. It’s a Christmas tree in a trench with barbed wire, an unexploded shell and an army of more Christmas trees ready to advance behind it. They took great pains to explain it to me.
December 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Got a #KnowledgeRich Christmas card from two of my Yr 9s. It’s a Christmas tree in a trench with barbed wire, an unexploded shell and an army of more Christmas trees ready to advance behind it. They took great pains to explain it to me.
Reposted by Jonathan Mountstevens
Are predicted grades accurate?
This wonderful blog from @fftedudatalab.bsky.social explores the question, and my takehome is that *on average* they might be, but for an individual student it's pretty much guesswork.
Well worth a read.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/pred...
This wonderful blog from @fftedudatalab.bsky.social explores the question, and my takehome is that *on average* they might be, but for an individual student it's pretty much guesswork.
Well worth a read.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/pred...
December 10, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Are predicted grades accurate?
This wonderful blog from @fftedudatalab.bsky.social explores the question, and my takehome is that *on average* they might be, but for an individual student it's pretty much guesswork.
Well worth a read.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/pred...
This wonderful blog from @fftedudatalab.bsky.social explores the question, and my takehome is that *on average* they might be, but for an individual student it's pretty much guesswork.
Well worth a read.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/pred...
Bet the US border police can’t wait to hear my thoughts on curriculum, assessment, latest historical reading, random school anecdotes, bread photos etc. www.bbc.com/news/article...
US could ask tourists for five-year social media history before entry
The plan would affect people from countries, including the UK, which can fill out a form in lieu of a visa.
www.bbc.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Bet the US border police can’t wait to hear my thoughts on curriculum, assessment, latest historical reading, random school anecdotes, bread photos etc. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Jonathan Mountstevens
Monstrous school rules are outrageous. 😉
Gate duty earlier. Student arrived 10 mins late - v well-behaved girl, definitely not one of the usual suspects.
Me (thinking there mightt have been some problem at home): Hi, how are you? Is everything ok this morning?
Her: Hello Sir. I'm fine thanks. Very sorry. I just slept through my alarm.
...
Me (thinking there mightt have been some problem at home): Hi, how are you? Is everything ok this morning?
Her: Hello Sir. I'm fine thanks. Very sorry. I just slept through my alarm.
...
December 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Monstrous school rules are outrageous. 😉
Gate duty earlier. Student arrived 10 mins late - v well-behaved girl, definitely not one of the usual suspects.
Me (thinking there mightt have been some problem at home): Hi, how are you? Is everything ok this morning?
Her: Hello Sir. I'm fine thanks. Very sorry. I just slept through my alarm.
...
Me (thinking there mightt have been some problem at home): Hi, how are you? Is everything ok this morning?
Her: Hello Sir. I'm fine thanks. Very sorry. I just slept through my alarm.
...
December 9, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Gate duty earlier. Student arrived 10 mins late - v well-behaved girl, definitely not one of the usual suspects.
Me (thinking there mightt have been some problem at home): Hi, how are you? Is everything ok this morning?
Her: Hello Sir. I'm fine thanks. Very sorry. I just slept through my alarm.
...
Me (thinking there mightt have been some problem at home): Hi, how are you? Is everything ok this morning?
Her: Hello Sir. I'm fine thanks. Very sorry. I just slept through my alarm.
...
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Are full of passionate intensity.
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 6, 2025 at 10:52 PM
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Are full of passionate intensity.
After the publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review a few weeks ago I expressed concern about the future of languages in schools, particularly at KS4. The DfE’s response and Progress 8 proposals have only made me more worried. Here’s a quick thread to explain why. bsky.app/profile/mrmo...
Subjects:
- Threat to MFL from removal of EBacc. This is very precarious and needs strong protection.
- Will offer of Triple Science for all actually lead to greater equity or just mean lower grades for some?
- Threat to MFL from removal of EBacc. This is very precarious and needs strong protection.
- Will offer of Triple Science for all actually lead to greater equity or just mean lower grades for some?
December 3, 2025 at 3:48 PM
After the publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review a few weeks ago I expressed concern about the future of languages in schools, particularly at KS4. The DfE’s response and Progress 8 proposals have only made me more worried. Here’s a quick thread to explain why. bsky.app/profile/mrmo...
Is the Christmas Lobster a thing? Santa Claws?
November 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Is the Christmas Lobster a thing? Santa Claws?
Afternoon of rehearsal for daughter’s Christmas dance show, you say? Sounds like a great opportunity to write a story about the Tambov Rebellion for Yr 12, interspersed with helping with costume changes!
November 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Afternoon of rehearsal for daughter’s Christmas dance show, you say? Sounds like a great opportunity to write a story about the Tambov Rebellion for Yr 12, interspersed with helping with costume changes!
Excellent summary of the bind the government is in on SEND.
I wrote for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the special needs problem highlighted by the budget and the big political battle over it coming next year.
share.google/kTTENR1gX4Y4...
share.google/kTTENR1gX4Y4...
Labour’s holiday homework: solve the problem of special needs education | The Observer
share.google
November 30, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Excellent summary of the bind the government is in on SEND.
Was looking at this source this morning on the impact of Stakhanovism in the USSR and I couldn’t help being reminded a bit of target grade mindset amongst some senior leaders (albeit without the secret police, Gulag etc).
November 30, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Was looking at this source this morning on the impact of Stakhanovism in the USSR and I couldn’t help being reminded a bit of target grade mindset amongst some senior leaders (albeit without the secret police, Gulag etc).
Reposted by Jonathan Mountstevens
1. Reasons for the collapse of the Great Edu Conversation.
First important to acknowledge the whole thing was very unlikely. People writing essays about their jobs for free on the internet and engaging in deep conversations about other people's essays. So always fragile.
And then..
First important to acknowledge the whole thing was very unlikely. People writing essays about their jobs for free on the internet and engaging in deep conversations about other people's essays. So always fragile.
And then..
November 29, 2025 at 9:16 AM
1. Reasons for the collapse of the Great Edu Conversation.
First important to acknowledge the whole thing was very unlikely. People writing essays about their jobs for free on the internet and engaging in deep conversations about other people's essays. So always fragile.
And then..
First important to acknowledge the whole thing was very unlikely. People writing essays about their jobs for free on the internet and engaging in deep conversations about other people's essays. So always fragile.
And then..
Yr 13 student applying to university to study Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. Anyone out there with sufficient expertise in this field who might be willing to do a mock interview to help them prepare in exchange for the handsome reward of my eternal gratitude?
November 30, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Yr 13 student applying to university to study Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. Anyone out there with sufficient expertise in this field who might be willing to do a mock interview to help them prepare in exchange for the handsome reward of my eternal gratitude?
I find it vaguely amusing to apply for a school place with the LA with whom our daughter was CLA, having to submit their own documentation as evidence of the adoption, then getting told a few weeks later that after consideration they have concluded that she is indeed a child previously looked after.
November 25, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I find it vaguely amusing to apply for a school place with the LA with whom our daughter was CLA, having to submit their own documentation as evidence of the adoption, then getting told a few weeks later that after consideration they have concluded that she is indeed a child previously looked after.
There’s plenty here we have to work on, but I am absolutely certain that at least 50% would have said marking and feedback ten years ago. That’s progress and I think Ofsted has to take some credit (although arguably just undoing damage they did previously).
November 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
There’s plenty here we have to work on, but I am absolutely certain that at least 50% would have said marking and feedback ten years ago. That’s progress and I think Ofsted has to take some credit (although arguably just undoing damage they did previously).
I love having a community orchard just round the corner and this time of year is one of my favourites. Harvest season is nearly over, I’ve enjoyed picking the different varieties as they’ve ripened, the leaves are gone and only the D’Arcy Spice are left on the trees. We’ll enjoy them at Christmas.
November 15, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I love having a community orchard just round the corner and this time of year is one of my favourites. Harvest season is nearly over, I’ve enjoyed picking the different varieties as they’ve ripened, the leaves are gone and only the D’Arcy Spice are left on the trees. We’ll enjoy them at Christmas.
Great. Yet another commentary on Ofsted changes which allows people to make the assumption that the new framework will be more informative for parents. Plenty on stress and pressure, but it doesn’t even touch on on the fact the framework will make reports less reliable. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Great. Yet another commentary on Ofsted changes which allows people to make the assumption that the new framework will be more informative for parents. Plenty on stress and pressure, but it doesn’t even touch on on the fact the framework will make reports less reliable. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The textbook uses Stalin walking around the room intimidatingly during Politburo meetings as evidence of his dictatorship. Every year I point out it’s pretty weak evidence when there’s loads of far stronger stuff available, and yet every year my students trot it out in their essays without fail.
November 10, 2025 at 10:03 PM
The textbook uses Stalin walking around the room intimidatingly during Politburo meetings as evidence of his dictatorship. Every year I point out it’s pretty weak evidence when there’s loads of far stronger stuff available, and yet every year my students trot it out in their essays without fail.
I’ve got too much work to do today so obviously I decided to write a story for Yr 12.
November 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I’ve got too much work to do today so obviously I decided to write a story for Yr 12.
I get really irritated by the labelling of these subjects as the ‘creative’ ones because it ignores the huge non-creative element that goes into success in any of them while also overlooking the creativity inherent in many other subjects. History, for example, obviously requires lots of creativity.
November 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I get really irritated by the labelling of these subjects as the ‘creative’ ones because it ignores the huge non-creative element that goes into success in any of them while also overlooking the creativity inherent in many other subjects. History, for example, obviously requires lots of creativity.
Pleased with this question. Harnessing students’ reading of historical scholarship to enable them to be critical of the exam board specification.
November 9, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Pleased with this question. Harnessing students’ reading of historical scholarship to enable them to be critical of the exam board specification.
Interested that I heard some students in school talking about Mamdani’s win this week. Only a few of them but still I thought it was interesting.
November 8, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Interested that I heard some students in school talking about Mamdani’s win this week. Only a few of them but still I thought it was interesting.
My favourite fact what I learned this week is that Stalin killed more leaders of the German Communist Party than Hitler did.
November 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
My favourite fact what I learned this week is that Stalin killed more leaders of the German Communist Party than Hitler did.
If we really want students to develop grit and resilience we should put trying to recruit a Science teacher in the curriculum.
November 6, 2025 at 1:12 PM
If we really want students to develop grit and resilience we should put trying to recruit a Science teacher in the curriculum.