Simone Beach
@simonebeach.bsky.social
Headteacher of the primary school I went to when I was little. Worked here for over 20 years and still love it. We were evacuated 16/01/23. Can’t wait to be back together as one school. Also love books.
Visitors in sch today. They’ll be in classes, look in books, chat to chdn. I was at sch until nearly 7pm cleaning the glass in the doors, tidying my desk drawers just in case. Then the shop panic buying posh biscuits and sugar cubes.
Btw it’s not ofsted or the king.
Just me or do we all do this?
Btw it’s not ofsted or the king.
Just me or do we all do this?
February 12, 2026 at 6:20 AM
Visitors in sch today. They’ll be in classes, look in books, chat to chdn. I was at sch until nearly 7pm cleaning the glass in the doors, tidying my desk drawers just in case. Then the shop panic buying posh biscuits and sugar cubes.
Btw it’s not ofsted or the king.
Just me or do we all do this?
Btw it’s not ofsted or the king.
Just me or do we all do this?
Reposted by Simone Beach
Does combining attendance and behaviour into a single Ofsted judgement risk ‘punishing’ schools in difficult contexts? @cerysturner.bsky.social investigates the concerns around conflating the two issues ⬇️
Ofsted: Heads question fairness of combining attendance and behaviour
Tes analysis shows most schools graded as ‘needs attention’ were only criticised over attendance and not behaviour
www.tes.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Does combining attendance and behaviour into a single Ofsted judgement risk ‘punishing’ schools in difficult contexts? @cerysturner.bsky.social investigates the concerns around conflating the two issues ⬇️
So many wonderful events this week
February 9, 2026 at 5:52 AM
So many wonderful events this week
I’m trying to make sure I’ve read all the books on our reading spine at school.
I want to be able to chat to the children in the dinner hall or on the playground about what they’re reading.
Today I’m starting Rooftoppers 💗📚
I want to be able to chat to the children in the dinner hall or on the playground about what they’re reading.
Today I’m starting Rooftoppers 💗📚
February 8, 2026 at 3:48 PM
I’m trying to make sure I’ve read all the books on our reading spine at school.
I want to be able to chat to the children in the dinner hall or on the playground about what they’re reading.
Today I’m starting Rooftoppers 💗📚
I want to be able to chat to the children in the dinner hall or on the playground about what they’re reading.
Today I’m starting Rooftoppers 💗📚
Ocean air for my Sunday reset
February 8, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Ocean air for my Sunday reset
Reposted by Simone Beach
New post: Are book looks a waste of time?
For some, they are a meaningless scourge. For others, they are a vital accountability lever that provides insight into the lived curriculum.
Read on for more, and please share if you can!
carouselteachlearnlead.substack.com/p/are-book-l...
For some, they are a meaningless scourge. For others, they are a vital accountability lever that provides insight into the lived curriculum.
Read on for more, and please share if you can!
carouselteachlearnlead.substack.com/p/are-book-l...
Are "book looks" a waste of time?
Book looks and work scrutinies are a staple in many schools. But can they actually tell us anything about teaching or learning?
carouselteachlearnlead.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:41 PM
New post: Are book looks a waste of time?
For some, they are a meaningless scourge. For others, they are a vital accountability lever that provides insight into the lived curriculum.
Read on for more, and please share if you can!
carouselteachlearnlead.substack.com/p/are-book-l...
For some, they are a meaningless scourge. For others, they are a vital accountability lever that provides insight into the lived curriculum.
Read on for more, and please share if you can!
carouselteachlearnlead.substack.com/p/are-book-l...
Reposted by Simone Beach
Looking for something to do this weekend. Great exhibition at The Dock Museum from our friends at Barrow Full - FREE entry.
February 7, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Looking for something to do this weekend. Great exhibition at The Dock Museum from our friends at Barrow Full - FREE entry.
Sacred Heart is feeling very proud of our teachers who have been jointly awarded NEU Northern Regional Reps of the Year 🥳
Very well deserved Nicoll and Ella ⭐️
@ellavarelis.bsky.social
Very well deserved Nicoll and Ella ⭐️
@ellavarelis.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Sacred Heart is feeling very proud of our teachers who have been jointly awarded NEU Northern Regional Reps of the Year 🥳
Very well deserved Nicoll and Ella ⭐️
@ellavarelis.bsky.social
Very well deserved Nicoll and Ella ⭐️
@ellavarelis.bsky.social
“Effort is precisely what strengthens flexibility and durability”
This really made me think about practice across our school.
This really made me think about practice across our school.
Feedback can make lessons look slick or it can make learning more durable. It can’t do both at once.
When feedback is immediate, performance improves but understanding often doesn’t. When we delay, reduce & summarise students are forced to think, judge & remember. open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
When feedback is immediate, performance improves but understanding often doesn’t. When we delay, reduce & summarise students are forced to think, judge & remember. open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
The feedback continuum: why reducing feedback helps students learn
Paul Kirschner recently published this post on reducing feedback.
open.substack.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:24 AM
“Effort is precisely what strengthens flexibility and durability”
This really made me think about practice across our school.
This really made me think about practice across our school.
💗
Protected PPA at home is definitely one of the best things a school can do for teacher wellbeing ❤️
February 4, 2026 at 6:46 PM
💗
Reposted by Simone Beach
We sold out our first edition of A Year in Willerby.
Thank you to everyone who bought a copy.
Sorry if you missed out this time. Will reprint when there's demand.
Waiting list here:
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk/blank
If you bought a copy we'd appreciate reviews - we want to grow and this helps.
Thank you to everyone who bought a copy.
Sorry if you missed out this time. Will reprint when there's demand.
Waiting list here:
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk/blank
If you bought a copy we'd appreciate reviews - we want to grow and this helps.
February 3, 2026 at 5:34 PM
We sold out our first edition of A Year in Willerby.
Thank you to everyone who bought a copy.
Sorry if you missed out this time. Will reprint when there's demand.
Waiting list here:
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk/blank
If you bought a copy we'd appreciate reviews - we want to grow and this helps.
Thank you to everyone who bought a copy.
Sorry if you missed out this time. Will reprint when there's demand.
Waiting list here:
www.welcometowillerby.co.uk/blank
If you bought a copy we'd appreciate reviews - we want to grow and this helps.
“Experts in Transient Living”
A really powerful and moving exhibition.
Runs until the 20th Feb at Art Gene Gallery, Barrow
A really powerful and moving exhibition.
Runs until the 20th Feb at Art Gene Gallery, Barrow
February 3, 2026 at 7:28 PM
“Experts in Transient Living”
A really powerful and moving exhibition.
Runs until the 20th Feb at Art Gene Gallery, Barrow
A really powerful and moving exhibition.
Runs until the 20th Feb at Art Gene Gallery, Barrow
Just finished Key Stage 1 dinner duty.
One of the girls said, “Quite good hairstyle today Mrs Beach.”
Thanks …. I think?
One of the girls said, “Quite good hairstyle today Mrs Beach.”
Thanks …. I think?
February 2, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Just finished Key Stage 1 dinner duty.
One of the girls said, “Quite good hairstyle today Mrs Beach.”
Thanks …. I think?
One of the girls said, “Quite good hairstyle today Mrs Beach.”
Thanks …. I think?
Reposted by Simone Beach
This is it now.
If you want one, order now. Suspect we'll sell out by the end of today.
Last ever chance for the first edition of the first ever Willerby book.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
If you want one, order now. Suspect we'll sell out by the end of today.
Last ever chance for the first edition of the first ever Willerby book.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
February 2, 2026 at 7:28 AM
This is it now.
If you want one, order now. Suspect we'll sell out by the end of today.
Last ever chance for the first edition of the first ever Willerby book.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
If you want one, order now. Suspect we'll sell out by the end of today.
Last ever chance for the first edition of the first ever Willerby book.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
Looking forward to this with the Barrow heads ⬇️
It’ll be our third trip to researchED Birmingham and we always have great time 😊
It’ll be our third trip to researchED Birmingham and we always have great time 😊
February is @researchedbrum.bsky.social month! 🔬
Come and join us on 28th - tickets and speaker list here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/researched... #rEDBrum #EduSky
Come and join us on 28th - tickets and speaker list here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/researched... #rEDBrum #EduSky
researchED Birmingham 2026
The world's greatest education conference returns to Brum!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Looking forward to this with the Barrow heads ⬇️
It’ll be our third trip to researchED Birmingham and we always have great time 😊
It’ll be our third trip to researchED Birmingham and we always have great time 😊
Weather is miserable so I’m just reading books and drinking tea.
Enjoying this one. Makes you think hard about who you really are as a school leader.
Enjoying this one. Makes you think hard about who you really are as a school leader.
January 31, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Weather is miserable so I’m just reading books and drinking tea.
Enjoying this one. Makes you think hard about who you really are as a school leader.
Enjoying this one. Makes you think hard about who you really are as a school leader.
Feeling introspective after reading about a new resident in the village.
Valuing the present and living in the moment ….. even if that is in a village where the supernatural is considered as normal as the weather.
Valuing the present and living in the moment ….. even if that is in a village where the supernatural is considered as normal as the weather.
January 31, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Feeling introspective after reading about a new resident in the village.
Valuing the present and living in the moment ….. even if that is in a village where the supernatural is considered as normal as the weather.
Valuing the present and living in the moment ….. even if that is in a village where the supernatural is considered as normal as the weather.
Reposted by Simone Beach
This whole debate prompted a re-read of @stulock.bsky.social’s superb blog, ‘Kevin’
mrlock.wordpress.com/2018/07/14/k...
There are consequences to reducing consequences. And we do need to recognise them.
mrlock.wordpress.com/2018/07/14/k...
There are consequences to reducing consequences. And we do need to recognise them.
I find it wild that if you’re verbally abusive to a police officer or a nurse you can be prosecuted, but we are saying that when it happens to teachers it’s not even appropriate to send a child home.
January 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM
This whole debate prompted a re-read of @stulock.bsky.social’s superb blog, ‘Kevin’
mrlock.wordpress.com/2018/07/14/k...
There are consequences to reducing consequences. And we do need to recognise them.
mrlock.wordpress.com/2018/07/14/k...
There are consequences to reducing consequences. And we do need to recognise them.
💗📚
January 30, 2026 at 10:02 PM
💗📚
Super excited for this!
Barrow, host to the upcoming Barrow Does Comics event in April, is being stalked by zombies, designed by Charlie Adlard!
https://downthetubes.net/zombies-stalk-barrow-thanks-to-charlie-adlard/
https://downthetubes.net/zombies-stalk-barrow-thanks-to-charlie-adlard/
January 29, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Super excited for this!
Reposted by Simone Beach
Attended the first of three webinars last night on pupil book study.
I’m really excited about this approach to evaluating the effectiveness and impact of our curriculum.
Steering clear of assumptions and tuning into the lived experience of the children in our school 💗
I’m really excited about this approach to evaluating the effectiveness and impact of our curriculum.
Steering clear of assumptions and tuning into the lived experience of the children in our school 💗
January 29, 2026 at 6:48 AM
Attended the first of three webinars last night on pupil book study.
I’m really excited about this approach to evaluating the effectiveness and impact of our curriculum.
Steering clear of assumptions and tuning into the lived experience of the children in our school 💗
I’m really excited about this approach to evaluating the effectiveness and impact of our curriculum.
Steering clear of assumptions and tuning into the lived experience of the children in our school 💗