Olivia Drennan
@oliviadrennaned.bsky.social
Faculty Head in Glasgow, interested in all things pedagogy & curriculum along with politics, history and culture. Not looking for an echo chamber but sick of Elon and his bros.
I don’t give a mince about digital ID, carry loads already. However, if they call it ‘Brit Card’ in Scotland it is clearly doomed 😛
Every adult in Britain to require new ‘Brit Card’ ID
Every adult in Britain to require new ‘Brit Card’ ID
www.independent.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I don’t give a mince about digital ID, carry loads already. However, if they call it ‘Brit Card’ in Scotland it is clearly doomed 😛
Excellent BBC analysis of issues both with the attainment gap and its reporting www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Has Scotland closed the attainment gap in schools?
John Swinney is expected to renew a commitment to improving the prospects of Scotland's poorest pupils.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 1, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Excellent BBC analysis of issues both with the attainment gap and its reporting www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
There's no credible evidence asylum seekers commit more crime, or are guilty of more sexual assaults. I am so sick of being force-fed lies by these mendacious thugs in their expensive suits.
share.google/WCAREyAQN5TG...
share.google/WCAREyAQN5TG...
August 20, 2025 at 4:23 PM
There's no credible evidence asylum seekers commit more crime, or are guilty of more sexual assaults. I am so sick of being force-fed lies by these mendacious thugs in their expensive suits.
share.google/WCAREyAQN5TG...
share.google/WCAREyAQN5TG...
While I follow lots of educators, I’m not yet seeing much sharing of practice on BlueSky the way I used to on Twitter (pre Musk). So, I’m going to do a wee weekly highlight of what’s been going on in my practice in the hope it encourages others to share.
May 3, 2025 at 7:44 AM
While I follow lots of educators, I’m not yet seeing much sharing of practice on BlueSky the way I used to on Twitter (pre Musk). So, I’m going to do a wee weekly highlight of what’s been going on in my practice in the hope it encourages others to share.
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
Mohsen Mahdawi in the NYT:
"If we cannot speak up against the killing of children and what human rights experts have called a genocide in Gaza, what can we speak out against?"
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/o...
"If we cannot speak up against the killing of children and what human rights experts have called a genocide in Gaza, what can we speak out against?"
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/o...
Opinion | Mohsen Mahdawi: I Never Lost Hope in the Principles of Democracy (Gift Article)
Detained at his citizenship interview, the Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi speaks of his ordeal.
www.nytimes.com
May 3, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Mohsen Mahdawi in the NYT:
"If we cannot speak up against the killing of children and what human rights experts have called a genocide in Gaza, what can we speak out against?"
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/o...
"If we cannot speak up against the killing of children and what human rights experts have called a genocide in Gaza, what can we speak out against?"
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/o...
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
📣 The School of Education is working with the sector to shape priorities for the new Centre for Teaching Excellence. We’re keen to talk with teachers across Scotland in focus groups that will inform our national survey.
Find out more and sign up here:
www.gla.ac.uk/schools/educ...
Please share!
Find out more and sign up here:
www.gla.ac.uk/schools/educ...
Please share!
University of Glasgow - Schools - School of Education - CfTE Focus GroupsSearch iconClose menu iconMenu icon bar 1Menu icon bar 2Menu icon bar 3
www.gla.ac.uk
April 26, 2025 at 6:02 AM
📣 The School of Education is working with the sector to shape priorities for the new Centre for Teaching Excellence. We’re keen to talk with teachers across Scotland in focus groups that will inform our national survey.
Find out more and sign up here:
www.gla.ac.uk/schools/educ...
Please share!
Find out more and sign up here:
www.gla.ac.uk/schools/educ...
Please share!
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
The Curriculum Improvement Cycle is a systematic review of the Scottish curriculum to ensure it remains up to date and relevant for children and young people. Watch this short introduction video outlining the aims and where you can get the latest information.
www.linkedin.com/posts/educat...
www.linkedin.com/posts/educat...
Education Scotland on LinkedIn: The Curriculum Improvement Cycle is a systematic review of the Scottish…
The Curriculum Improvement Cycle is a systematic review of the Scottish curriculum to ensure it remains up to date and relevant for children and young people…
www.linkedin.com
January 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The Curriculum Improvement Cycle is a systematic review of the Scottish curriculum to ensure it remains up to date and relevant for children and young people. Watch this short introduction video outlining the aims and where you can get the latest information.
www.linkedin.com/posts/educat...
www.linkedin.com/posts/educat...
70 years ago, my dad was one of many Glasgow weans who got taken on holiday to Plockton every summer by the council. This was their only holiday, and sparked a love of the outdoors that has lasted a lifetime. My New Year’s wish for education is that we can start giving opportunities like this again.
December 31, 2024 at 12:44 PM
70 years ago, my dad was one of many Glasgow weans who got taken on holiday to Plockton every summer by the council. This was their only holiday, and sparked a love of the outdoors that has lasted a lifetime. My New Year’s wish for education is that we can start giving opportunities like this again.
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
Today: a thread of ACTUAL Fair Botanists cos my novel did not come from nowhere. Hunners of amazing Scottish women were vital to botanical history. This is Jeanne Baret (1740-1807) 1st woman to circumnavigate the globe. Disguised as a man she collected 6000 plants. Total legend! /1
December 29, 2024 at 10:47 AM
Today: a thread of ACTUAL Fair Botanists cos my novel did not come from nowhere. Hunners of amazing Scottish women were vital to botanical history. This is Jeanne Baret (1740-1807) 1st woman to circumnavigate the globe. Disguised as a man she collected 6000 plants. Total legend! /1
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
Here is the latest Education Scotland paper on the CFE reform cycle. To be read by all working in Scottish education. The beginning of the end for CfE’s outcomes-based framework
Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC): Towards an Evolved
Technical Framework
blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/pu...
Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC): Towards an Evolved
Technical Framework
blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/pu...
blogs.glowscotland.org.uk
December 19, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Here is the latest Education Scotland paper on the CFE reform cycle. To be read by all working in Scottish education. The beginning of the end for CfE’s outcomes-based framework
Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC): Towards an Evolved
Technical Framework
blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/pu...
Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC): Towards an Evolved
Technical Framework
blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/pu...
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
This a good and very measured piece from @emmaseith.bsky.social at the @tesmagazine.bsky.social on an Education Scotland Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) Discussion Paper that we released today titled, 'Evolving the Technical Framework' - www.tes.com/magazine/new...
CfE: Education Scotland proposes alternative to 'experiences and outcomes'
The so-called 'Es and Os' used by teachers in Scotland to plan lessons are on their way out amid fears they have contributed to the ‘downgrading of knowledge’. So what will replace them?
www.tes.com
December 19, 2024 at 6:26 PM
This a good and very measured piece from @emmaseith.bsky.social at the @tesmagazine.bsky.social on an Education Scotland Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) Discussion Paper that we released today titled, 'Evolving the Technical Framework' - www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Always interesting to break down the headline figures. £29M for ASN is the equivalent of £112 per pupil with ASN 🏴. Even if that went directly to staffing (which I doubt), it would only fund an extra 0.5 teaching post in my 1200 pupil school. It’s a drop in the ocean of what’s needed.
December 5, 2024 at 6:44 PM
Always interesting to break down the headline figures. £29M for ASN is the equivalent of £112 per pupil with ASN 🏴. Even if that went directly to staffing (which I doubt), it would only fund an extra 0.5 teaching post in my 1200 pupil school. It’s a drop in the ocean of what’s needed.
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
Today Guardian and Observer journalists are on strike over plans to sell the Observer to a loss-making digital start up and put its journalism behind a paywall. 🧵
How can you support us?
SHARE our posts
WRITE to guardian.readers@theguardian.com
JOIN US - there's cake!
How can you support us?
SHARE our posts
WRITE to guardian.readers@theguardian.com
JOIN US - there's cake!
December 4, 2024 at 9:08 AM
Today Guardian and Observer journalists are on strike over plans to sell the Observer to a loss-making digital start up and put its journalism behind a paywall. 🧵
How can you support us?
SHARE our posts
WRITE to guardian.readers@theguardian.com
JOIN US - there's cake!
How can you support us?
SHARE our posts
WRITE to guardian.readers@theguardian.com
JOIN US - there's cake!
Absolutely. Wish we had a bookshop in Shawlands but, in the meantime, Waterstones is my #1 choice for Christmas pressies.
DO NOT give your money to Jeff Bezos. He has plenty. Make a list of the books you want to buy as gifts and buy or order from a local bookstore...if you want those stores to continue to exist.
a man is looking at books in a bookstore with a sign that says " chapter books "
ALT: a man is looking at books in a bookstore with a sign that says " chapter books "
media.tenor.com
December 2, 2024 at 6:46 PM
Absolutely. Wish we had a bookshop in Shawlands but, in the meantime, Waterstones is my #1 choice for Christmas pressies.
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
It’s clear today that lots of people need reminding that historically rent controls marked the beginning of a series of revolutionary changes which massively improved housing for most people in Scotland through state ownership and shrinking private renting into a small marginal sector.
November 28, 2024 at 10:57 PM
It’s clear today that lots of people need reminding that historically rent controls marked the beginning of a series of revolutionary changes which massively improved housing for most people in Scotland through state ownership and shrinking private renting into a small marginal sector.
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
Well done to our S4 Mods pupils @RosshallAcademy for confidently discussing their thoughts on social media controls for teens with the BBC! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Do 'much, much more' on age verification, social media apps told - BBC News
The regulator finds a fifth of children are pretending to be adults, potentially exposing them to harm.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2024 at 6:51 PM
Well done to our S4 Mods pupils @RosshallAcademy for confidently discussing their thoughts on social media controls for teens with the BBC! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
Good conversation with #GTCS around “Political Insight” for Middle Leaders. Check out our Enhanced Political Awareness offer at @uofgheadship.bsky.social @uofgsocsci.bsky.social
@mthomaseddev.bsky.social
readymag.website/gtcscotland/...
@mthomaseddev.bsky.social
readymag.website/gtcscotland/...
‘Growing – Middle leadership’ from ‘Teaching Scotland Issue 101’ by GTC Scotland
Meeting the needs of every learner
readymag.website
November 26, 2024 at 9:29 PM
Good conversation with #GTCS around “Political Insight” for Middle Leaders. Check out our Enhanced Political Awareness offer at @uofgheadship.bsky.social @uofgsocsci.bsky.social
@mthomaseddev.bsky.social
readymag.website/gtcscotland/...
@mthomaseddev.bsky.social
readymag.website/gtcscotland/...
Stunning sunrise over Rosshall Park this morning. Makes a good start to the work day!
November 21, 2024 at 8:08 AM
Stunning sunrise over Rosshall Park this morning. Makes a good start to the work day!
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
Great piece from @nuthmani.bsky.social on schools’ use of social media and migration to @bsky.app
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Social media in schools: the pros and cons in a changing landscape
With many schools reassessing their use of social media platforms, Nuzhat Uthmani weighs up the benefits and the potential challenges of having an online presence
www.tes.com
November 20, 2024 at 1:47 PM
Great piece from @nuthmani.bsky.social on schools’ use of social media and migration to @bsky.app
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Everything that is coming out of EdScot just now on curriculum gives me real hope for the development of CfE. Highly recommend signing up so you see all the updates.
Last week we launched the new Education Scotland Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) News Bulletin.
We'll issue this every term to let you know what's new and to share the latest on what to read, what to listen to, what to watch and how you can get involved.
Sign up 👉 ow.ly/zuyh50U9Ot6
We'll issue this every term to let you know what's new and to share the latest on what to read, what to listen to, what to watch and how you can get involved.
Sign up 👉 ow.ly/zuyh50U9Ot6
November 20, 2024 at 6:17 PM
Everything that is coming out of EdScot just now on curriculum gives me real hope for the development of CfE. Highly recommend signing up so you see all the updates.
First time using a game of Pointless today to aid retrieval for S4 Mods. Great fun, and a good way to ensure all learners are included, learning from peers & having errors corrected through low stakes assessment. Highly recommend for revision 👍
a man stands in front of a podium with a sign that says number of major trophies won by palace and millwall
ALT: a man stands in front of a podium with a sign that says number of major trophies won by palace and millwall
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2024 at 4:21 PM
First time using a game of Pointless today to aid retrieval for S4 Mods. Great fun, and a good way to ensure all learners are included, learning from peers & having errors corrected through low stakes assessment. Highly recommend for revision 👍
So far this term, social subjects teachers have asked SQA 1) to investigate & redress the issues with H History 2024 2) to move the date of H Politics so it doesn’t clash with the Business exams and 3) to hold Understanding Standards events for all quals. No satisfactory response to any request..
The priorities for Scotland’s new qualifications body - due to come into being in late 2025 - have been set out in a plan from the SQA that promises to win back trust of teachers and students tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social
SQA maps out priorities for new qualifications body
As SQA prepares to change into Qualifications Scotland in late 2025, it says it wants to 'win back trust' among teachers and students and use technology to 'streamline' services
tes.com
November 19, 2024 at 5:08 PM
So far this term, social subjects teachers have asked SQA 1) to investigate & redress the issues with H History 2024 2) to move the date of H Politics so it doesn’t clash with the Business exams and 3) to hold Understanding Standards events for all quals. No satisfactory response to any request..
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
Work has now begun on the Curriculum Improvement Cycle.
As part of our commitment to keeping you updated on the progress being made last week we published a discussion paper with findings from the pilot curriculum reviews work in 23/24.
👉ow.ly/zAtv50U6QMO
As part of our commitment to keeping you updated on the progress being made last week we published a discussion paper with findings from the pilot curriculum reviews work in 23/24.
👉ow.ly/zAtv50U6QMO
November 19, 2024 at 2:48 PM
Work has now begun on the Curriculum Improvement Cycle.
As part of our commitment to keeping you updated on the progress being made last week we published a discussion paper with findings from the pilot curriculum reviews work in 23/24.
👉ow.ly/zAtv50U6QMO
As part of our commitment to keeping you updated on the progress being made last week we published a discussion paper with findings from the pilot curriculum reviews work in 23/24.
👉ow.ly/zAtv50U6QMO
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
“Anti-racism as a concept needs to be “presented repeatedly with deepening complexity and applications” as pupils progress through school, while any curriculum reform should audit areas of strength and weakness.”
Use CfE review to 'embed anti-racist education into every stage'
Anti-racist education should not be ‘a bolt-on’ – it should be ‘presented repeatedly with deepening complexity’ as pupils progress through school
www.tes.com
November 19, 2024 at 7:02 AM
“Anti-racism as a concept needs to be “presented repeatedly with deepening complexity and applications” as pupils progress through school, while any curriculum reform should audit areas of strength and weakness.”
Reposted by Olivia Drennan
And that’s us finally launched today with us reaching the news on Radio Clyde, Forth, Tay, West and Northsound.
Please share below far and wide!
Please share below far and wide!
AdRESS is a new advice service launched to advocate for parents and carers who have a child that has experienced incidents of racially motivated bullying and attacks at school. launched by @crer-scotland.bsky.social .
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November 18, 2024 at 5:29 PM
And that’s us finally launched today with us reaching the news on Radio Clyde, Forth, Tay, West and Northsound.
Please share below far and wide!
Please share below far and wide!