Polly Mackenzie
@pollymackenzie.bsky.social
Co-founder and CEO, Zinc Innovation Partners - helping turn science into real-world change. Fomerly Demos, UAL, MMHPI, No10. Adviser at Future Governance Forum, Family Business UK, Door10 Recruitment. Writes at https://howtorunacountry.substack.com/
Pinned
Schools cannot solve all our problems
The limits of ‘put it in the curriculum’ politics
howtorunacountry.substack.com
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...
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
This is excellent,worth a read. As an educator, it is one of the most frustrating things to hear ‘why don’t you teach X’. Half the time, we do, you just didn’t listen. And the other issue is capacity. I’m desperately trying to organise more trips and clubs. But I’m already overextended, by choice.
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 8, 2025 at 9:39 AM
This is excellent,worth a read. As an educator, it is one of the most frustrating things to hear ‘why don’t you teach X’. Half the time, we do, you just didn’t listen. And the other issue is capacity. I’m desperately trying to organise more trips and clubs. But I’m already overextended, by choice.
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
This is really worth reading.
"Put it in the curriculum" assumes that adults have learned everything they will ever need to know and that the state can play no role in informing them. When you put it like that, it becomes clear what abject bullshit the assumption is.
"Put it in the curriculum" assumes that adults have learned everything they will ever need to know and that the state can play no role in informing them. When you put it like that, it becomes clear what abject bullshit the assumption is.
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 8, 2025 at 9:59 AM
This is really worth reading.
"Put it in the curriculum" assumes that adults have learned everything they will ever need to know and that the state can play no role in informing them. When you put it like that, it becomes clear what abject bullshit the assumption is.
"Put it in the curriculum" assumes that adults have learned everything they will ever need to know and that the state can play no role in informing them. When you put it like that, it becomes clear what abject bullshit the assumption is.
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
The 600-lb gorilla in the room: an enormous amount of what you teach kids in school does not stick around in their heads for long.
The fantasy that anything taught is heard, understood, remembered, and applied or supported for life is literally that, a teacher's wet dream.
The reality is, "Huh?"
The fantasy that anything taught is heard, understood, remembered, and applied or supported for life is literally that, a teacher's wet dream.
The reality is, "Huh?"
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 10:56 PM
The 600-lb gorilla in the room: an enormous amount of what you teach kids in school does not stick around in their heads for long.
The fantasy that anything taught is heard, understood, remembered, and applied or supported for life is literally that, a teacher's wet dream.
The reality is, "Huh?"
The fantasy that anything taught is heard, understood, remembered, and applied or supported for life is literally that, a teacher's wet dream.
The reality is, "Huh?"
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
The GR team is not lazy, so we have never campaigned for renting to be put on the national curriculum.
However, now mortgages (mortgages!) have been recommended to go in it, it feels like we'll have to try and get space for the more immediate tenure today's schoolkids will need to get to know
However, now mortgages (mortgages!) have been recommended to go in it, it feels like we'll have to try and get space for the more immediate tenure today's schoolkids will need to get to know
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 7:46 PM
The GR team is not lazy, so we have never campaigned for renting to be put on the national curriculum.
However, now mortgages (mortgages!) have been recommended to go in it, it feels like we'll have to try and get space for the more immediate tenure today's schoolkids will need to get to know
However, now mortgages (mortgages!) have been recommended to go in it, it feels like we'll have to try and get space for the more immediate tenure today's schoolkids will need to get to know
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
This is so right, and why everyone wanting to cram "AI" into the school curriculum - as if we even knew *what* we'd teach about it to children in 2028 - is so wrong.
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 7:29 PM
This is so right, and why everyone wanting to cram "AI" into the school curriculum - as if we even knew *what* we'd teach about it to children in 2028 - is so wrong.
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
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 Polly Mackenzie
"If we want a society that is literate in money, media, and citizenship, we need an infrastructure for lifelong learning that reflects how adults actually live. Schools are only one node in a much bigger information system, and we’ve been neglecting the rest." <-- This.
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 6:10 PM
"If we want a society that is literate in money, media, and citizenship, we need an infrastructure for lifelong learning that reflects how adults actually live. Schools are only one node in a much bigger information system, and we’ve been neglecting the rest." <-- This.
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
It's up there with "change the culture"
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 6:17 PM
It's up there with "change the culture"
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
Good blog this. I think another reason why this comes up so often (“put it on the curriculum” was far and away the most repeated ask when I chaired the BoD’s commission on racial inclusivity) is that the kind of person who submits to inquiries liked school, likes learning, had an inspiring teacher.
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 6:16 PM
Good blog this. I think another reason why this comes up so often (“put it on the curriculum” was far and away the most repeated ask when I chaired the BoD’s commission on racial inclusivity) is that the kind of person who submits to inquiries liked school, likes learning, had an inspiring teacher.
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”
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 9:28 AM
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...
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
OUT NOW – In Power 01: Transforming Downing Street
New FGF report urges the Prime Minister to create a dedicated ‘Downing Street’ department equipped to drive his agenda.
Full report ⬇️
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/in-...
New FGF report urges the Prime Minister to create a dedicated ‘Downing Street’ department equipped to drive his agenda.
Full report ⬇️
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/in-...
In Power 01: Transforming Downing Street
In Power 01: Transforming Downing Street is the culmination of an in-depth investigation by FGF into the centre of government.
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 8:32 AM
OUT NOW – In Power 01: Transforming Downing Street
New FGF report urges the Prime Minister to create a dedicated ‘Downing Street’ department equipped to drive his agenda.
Full report ⬇️
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/in-...
New FGF report urges the Prime Minister to create a dedicated ‘Downing Street’ department equipped to drive his agenda.
Full report ⬇️
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/in-...
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
This is a great read. Polly's point that support for political leaders needs to come from their parties is spot on - with the best will in the world, when it comes to personal skills and behaviours, politicians don't always want to listen to civil servants (or even independent orgs like the IfG)...
What if we treated political careers like other high-pressure professions, and actually invested in our leaders to help them thrive?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
Political Derangement Syndrome: our leaders need therapy
What if we redesigned political careers to get the best of people?
howtorunacountry.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:33 AM
This is a great read. Polly's point that support for political leaders needs to come from their parties is spot on - with the best will in the world, when it comes to personal skills and behaviours, politicians don't always want to listen to civil servants (or even independent orgs like the IfG)...
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
"You are King Baby: high status and powerless all at the same time."
Great observations on political life and how we can do better from @pollymackenzie.bsky.social
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
Great observations on political life and how we can do better from @pollymackenzie.bsky.social
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
Political Derangement Syndrome: our leaders need therapy
What if we redesigned political careers to get the best of people?
howtorunacountry.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:08 PM
"You are King Baby: high status and powerless all at the same time."
Great observations on political life and how we can do better from @pollymackenzie.bsky.social
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
Great observations on political life and how we can do better from @pollymackenzie.bsky.social
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
What if we treated political careers like other high-pressure professions, and actually invested in our leaders to help them thrive?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
Political Derangement Syndrome: our leaders need therapy
What if we redesigned political careers to get the best of people?
howtorunacountry.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:11 AM
What if we treated political careers like other high-pressure professions, and actually invested in our leaders to help them thrive?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
Some v good points in here, which my experience with ministers supports
What if we treated political careers like other high-pressure professions, and actually invested in our leaders to help them thrive?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
Political Derangement Syndrome: our leaders need therapy
What if we redesigned political careers to get the best of people?
howtorunacountry.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Some v good points in here, which my experience with ministers supports
“We want to be the grammar school of the world, attracting only the very best”
“Let’s do that by charging really high entry fees and making migrants feel unwelcome at every turn”
“Let’s do that by charging really high entry fees and making migrants feel unwelcome at every turn”
NEW from me:
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.
That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀
November 1, 2025 at 12:44 PM
“We want to be the grammar school of the world, attracting only the very best”
“Let’s do that by charging really high entry fees and making migrants feel unwelcome at every turn”
“Let’s do that by charging really high entry fees and making migrants feel unwelcome at every turn”
Most MPs are King Baby: high status and powerless all at the same time. No wonder so many end up a bit… odd.
What if we treated political careers like other high-pressure professions, and actually invested in our leaders to help them thrive?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
Political Derangement Syndrome: our leaders need therapy
What if we redesigned political careers to get the best of people?
howtorunacountry.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Most MPs are King Baby: high status and powerless all at the same time. No wonder so many end up a bit… odd.
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
A French cyclist survived for three days after a horrendous 130-foot fall into a ravine, kept alive by the bottles of red wine he had in his shopping bag, police said.
Cyclist falls down 130-foot ravine in France, survives 3 days by drinking wine he had in shopping bag
A helicopter airlifted him to hospital, with a rescue doctor calling his survival "a miracle."
cbsn.ws
October 31, 2025 at 12:40 PM
A French cyclist survived for three days after a horrendous 130-foot fall into a ravine, kept alive by the bottles of red wine he had in his shopping bag, police said.
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
This is good on how fundamental research can lead to unanticipated applications. I especially like the study of root vegetables leading to flat screen TVs (through the discovery of liquid crystals)
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
7 basic science discoveries that changed the world
Ozempic, MRI machines and flat screen televisions all emerged out of fundamental research decades earlier — the very types of study being slashed by the US government.
www.nature.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:23 PM
This is good on how fundamental research can lead to unanticipated applications. I especially like the study of root vegetables leading to flat screen TVs (through the discovery of liquid crystals)
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Had an email from Southwark Council about how they enforce renters rights.
October 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Had an email from Southwark Council about how they enforce renters rights.
I got the last pumpkin in the shop. It is very small and the candle keeps blowing out so no-one is coming to the door.
In other words I am sat at home with only a very large bowl of sweets for company.
In other words I am sat at home with only a very large bowl of sweets for company.
October 31, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I got the last pumpkin in the shop. It is very small and the candle keeps blowing out so no-one is coming to the door.
In other words I am sat at home with only a very large bowl of sweets for company.
In other words I am sat at home with only a very large bowl of sweets for company.
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
If you've been tempted by a London Centric subscription... you've only got a few hours to sign up and be entered in the draw to win the most excruciatingly laboured physical metaphor of the year! www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
Also I'm delighted to announce the launch of the LONDON CENTRIC TROWEL OF TRUTH. Some outlets talk the talk about digging for news. Only we give you the literal and metaphorical tools. Become a paying subscriber by clicking the link above for the chance to have one in yours hands by next week!
October 31, 2025 at 11:56 AM
If you've been tempted by a London Centric subscription... you've only got a few hours to sign up and be entered in the draw to win the most excruciatingly laboured physical metaphor of the year! www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
We’d love people’s input to this! 👇 Where are the UK public sector reformers?
Help map the movement so that we can work out together how best to support it.
Grateful for RTs
Help map the movement so that we can work out together how best to support it.
Grateful for RTs
Where are the public sector reformers? Can you help us find them?
At @kinship.works, we thought we'd try to map the different public sector reform 'tribes' & where to find them (orgs, events, networks/communities, online spaces, newsletters/publications/podcasts etc) - but we need your help!
At @kinship.works, we thought we'd try to map the different public sector reform 'tribes' & where to find them (orgs, events, networks/communities, online spaces, newsletters/publications/podcasts etc) - but we need your help!
October 31, 2025 at 12:56 PM
We’d love people’s input to this! 👇 Where are the UK public sector reformers?
Help map the movement so that we can work out together how best to support it.
Grateful for RTs
Help map the movement so that we can work out together how best to support it.
Grateful for RTs
Reposted by Polly Mackenzie
'Normal management and leadership tools are almost non-existent in politics, with "democracy" used as an excuse to run Westminster like a venn diagram of feudal courts'
What if we treated political careers like other high-pressure professions, and actually invested in our leaders to help them thrive?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/political-...
Political Derangement Syndrome: our leaders need therapy
What if we redesigned political careers to get the best of people?
howtorunacountry.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:01 AM
'Normal management and leadership tools are almost non-existent in politics, with "democracy" used as an excuse to run Westminster like a venn diagram of feudal courts'