Andrew Old
@oldandrewuk.bsky.social
A few years ago, it reached the point where most boys were identified as SEND at some point. Even then, activists claimed not enough was done to identify SEND.
Demand for labels is not related to their usefulness. If everyone is special, nobody is.
Demand for labels is not related to their usefulness. If everyone is special, nobody is.
January 6, 2026 at 6:03 PM
A few years ago, it reached the point where most boys were identified as SEND at some point. Even then, activists claimed not enough was done to identify SEND.
Demand for labels is not related to their usefulness. If everyone is special, nobody is.
Demand for labels is not related to their usefulness. If everyone is special, nobody is.
I think this turned out to be largely correct.
January 5, 2026 at 6:02 PM
I think this turned out to be largely correct.
“What is this instead of?” is the most useful question to ask of new policies, initiatives, and methods in education.
Often, the answer reveals that a new idea is being used to remove something that works, without anyone saying so explicitly.
Often, the answer reveals that a new idea is being used to remove something that works, without anyone saying so explicitly.
January 4, 2026 at 6:01 PM
“What is this instead of?” is the most useful question to ask of new policies, initiatives, and methods in education.
Often, the answer reveals that a new idea is being used to remove something that works, without anyone saying so explicitly.
Often, the answer reveals that a new idea is being used to remove something that works, without anyone saying so explicitly.
One of the most damaging ideas in education over the last twenty-five years is the belief that SEND causes poor behaviour, and that enabling that behaviour is a reasonable adjustment.
January 3, 2026 at 6:01 PM
One of the most damaging ideas in education over the last twenty-five years is the belief that SEND causes poor behaviour, and that enabling that behaviour is a reasonable adjustment.
Allowing disruption in lessons does not mean you care more.
January 2, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Allowing disruption in lessons does not mean you care more.
One last time for this: Yesterday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
19 years later, I revisit my rant about PSHE.
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:30 AM
One last time for this: Yesterday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
Another reminder for this: Yesterday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
19 years later, I revisit my rant about PSHE.
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Another reminder for this: Yesterday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
People argue against school rules by saying adults do not face this in the workplace. That is irrelevant, since children are not adults and schools are not workplaces. But it is also wrong. Many workplaces are stricter about uniform, equipment, noise, punctuality, politeness, and even toilet breaks.
January 1, 2026 at 6:01 PM
People argue against school rules by saying adults do not face this in the workplace. That is irrelevant, since children are not adults and schools are not workplaces. But it is also wrong. Many workplaces are stricter about uniform, equipment, noise, punctuality, politeness, and even toilet breaks.
In case you missed it: Yesterday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
19 years later, I revisit my rant about PSHE.
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:30 AM
In case you missed it: Yesterday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
One last time for this: Tuesday’s blog post.
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PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
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PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
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PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
An Interlude in the Hackney series.
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:01 AM
One last time for this: Tuesday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
Another reminder for this: Yesterday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
An Interlude in the Hackney series.
open.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Another reminder for this: Yesterday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
New blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
19 years later, I revisit my rant about PSHE.
open.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:36 PM
New blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
Enforcing rules is hard work. No school does it for fun.
But the alternative, letting children do whatever they like, turns everything into hard work.
But the alternative, letting children do whatever they like, turns everything into hard work.
December 31, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Enforcing rules is hard work. No school does it for fun.
But the alternative, letting children do whatever they like, turns everything into hard work.
But the alternative, letting children do whatever they like, turns everything into hard work.
In case you missed it: Yesterday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
An Interlude in the Hackney series.
open.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:00 AM
In case you missed it: Yesterday’s blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
New blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
An Interlude in the Hackney series.
open.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:09 PM
New blog post.
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
(£ or free trial)
PREMIUM: Hackney: Where did the allegations about MVPA come from? Part 1
open.substack.com/pub/andrewol...
Conquest’s Third Law is useful for understanding the education establishment:
“The simplest way to explain the behaviour of any bureaucratic organisation is to assume that it is controlled by a cabal of its enemies.”
Assume that, and a lot suddenly makes sense.
“The simplest way to explain the behaviour of any bureaucratic organisation is to assume that it is controlled by a cabal of its enemies.”
Assume that, and a lot suddenly makes sense.
December 30, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Conquest’s Third Law is useful for understanding the education establishment:
“The simplest way to explain the behaviour of any bureaucratic organisation is to assume that it is controlled by a cabal of its enemies.”
Assume that, and a lot suddenly makes sense.
“The simplest way to explain the behaviour of any bureaucratic organisation is to assume that it is controlled by a cabal of its enemies.”
Assume that, and a lot suddenly makes sense.
Throughout the 2000s, the problem with secondary schools was that they did not enforce their own rules.
Now some do, and it is treated as deeply controversial.
To oppose this, critics have to pretend that something far more sinister is going on.
Now some do, and it is treated as deeply controversial.
To oppose this, critics have to pretend that something far more sinister is going on.
December 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Throughout the 2000s, the problem with secondary schools was that they did not enforce their own rules.
Now some do, and it is treated as deeply controversial.
To oppose this, critics have to pretend that something far more sinister is going on.
Now some do, and it is treated as deeply controversial.
To oppose this, critics have to pretend that something far more sinister is going on.
You do not have to work in a school to have a valid opinion about education.
However, if you do not, you should not argue with those who do about what happens in schools, or imply that you are more caring, better at teaching, or in any way superior to them.
However, if you do not, you should not argue with those who do about what happens in schools, or imply that you are more caring, better at teaching, or in any way superior to them.
December 28, 2025 at 6:01 PM
You do not have to work in a school to have a valid opinion about education.
However, if you do not, you should not argue with those who do about what happens in schools, or imply that you are more caring, better at teaching, or in any way superior to them.
However, if you do not, you should not argue with those who do about what happens in schools, or imply that you are more caring, better at teaching, or in any way superior to them.
Most ideas in education have been tried before.
That is why the worst ones usually arrive with new labels, or with language so vague that you cannot work out what they mean until after the damage is done.
That is why the worst ones usually arrive with new labels, or with language so vague that you cannot work out what they mean until after the damage is done.
December 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Most ideas in education have been tried before.
That is why the worst ones usually arrive with new labels, or with language so vague that you cannot work out what they mean until after the damage is done.
That is why the worst ones usually arrive with new labels, or with language so vague that you cannot work out what they mean until after the damage is done.
I still get wound up by people using the word “dysregulated”.
If you mean "upset", say so.
If you mean "went on a violent rampage," say so.
Don't say “dysregulated” and expect us to guess.
If you mean "upset", say so.
If you mean "went on a violent rampage," say so.
Don't say “dysregulated” and expect us to guess.
December 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I still get wound up by people using the word “dysregulated”.
If you mean "upset", say so.
If you mean "went on a violent rampage," say so.
Don't say “dysregulated” and expect us to guess.
If you mean "upset", say so.
If you mean "went on a violent rampage," say so.
Don't say “dysregulated” and expect us to guess.
Just rereading the original Observer story about MVPA.
The two things that stand out.
"Parents... have urged the local authority to exercise extraordinary powers to intervene."
and... (1/3)
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
The two things that stand out.
"Parents... have urged the local authority to exercise extraordinary powers to intervene."
and... (1/3)
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Teachers at top academy in Hackney ‘screamed at’ and humiliated pupils, say angry parents
Mossbourne academy accused of bullying and damaging children’s mental health as local authority asked to step in
www.theguardian.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Just rereading the original Observer story about MVPA.
The two things that stand out.
"Parents... have urged the local authority to exercise extraordinary powers to intervene."
and... (1/3)
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
The two things that stand out.
"Parents... have urged the local authority to exercise extraordinary powers to intervene."
and... (1/3)
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Can anyone double check this for me? I don't think this claim actually appears in the MVPA review, except by insinuation. It mentions around half of pupils receiving sanctions were PP or FSM, but, it does not claim this is disproportionate. I can find no current data supporting the idea that it is.
December 23, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Can anyone double check this for me? I don't think this claim actually appears in the MVPA review, except by insinuation. It mentions around half of pupils receiving sanctions were PP or FSM, but, it does not claim this is disproportionate. I can find no current data supporting the idea that it is.
If you were wondering how people can be outrageously dishonest in the MVPA debate, but still consider themselves the good guys, read this:
jessesingal.substack.com/p/rightside-...
jessesingal.substack.com/p/rightside-...
Rightside Norms, Accuracy Norms, And Internet Garbage-Fights
It's easy to be an ardent rightsider, but it's also bad
jessesingal.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:30 AM
If you were wondering how people can be outrageously dishonest in the MVPA debate, but still consider themselves the good guys, read this:
jessesingal.substack.com/p/rightside-...
jessesingal.substack.com/p/rightside-...
The people who claim @ttradioofficial.bsky.social is biased are people who claim that clearly partisan institutions and individuals are just "experts" and their critics are ideological. They cannot imagine anyone claiming to be non-partisan is sincere, because they are never sincere.
December 22, 2025 at 10:17 AM
The people who claim @ttradioofficial.bsky.social is biased are people who claim that clearly partisan institutions and individuals are just "experts" and their critics are ideological. They cannot imagine anyone claiming to be non-partisan is sincere, because they are never sincere.