Tom Needham
@tomneedham.bsky.social
English Teacher/Secondary School Senior Leader
Author of 'Explicit English Teaching'
CPD for schools and MATS
Blogs at https://tomneedhamteach.wordpress.com/
Music; Music; Music! Everything from drone to disco to death metal.
Author of 'Explicit English Teaching'
CPD for schools and MATS
Blogs at https://tomneedhamteach.wordpress.com/
Music; Music; Music! Everything from drone to disco to death metal.
Reposted by Tom Needham
Can anyone recommend a handwriting intervention from secondary school?
November 4, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Can anyone recommend a handwriting intervention from secondary school?
Can anyone recommend a handwriting intervention from secondary school?
November 4, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Can anyone recommend a handwriting intervention from secondary school?
Reposted by Tom Needham
Latest on our Substack - I attempt to prove mathematically that education can never be fun, with reference to The Flowerpot Men, Jock Stein & the Galapagos tortoise.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/why-educat...
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/why-educat...
Why education can never be fun
Proven with maths
substack.nomoremarking.com
October 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Latest on our Substack - I attempt to prove mathematically that education can never be fun, with reference to The Flowerpot Men, Jock Stein & the Galapagos tortoise.
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/why-educat...
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/why-educat...
Here are my slides from ResearchEd National Conference 2025
tomneedhamteach.wordpress.com/2025/09/14/m...
tomneedhamteach.wordpress.com/2025/09/14/m...
My Slides from ResearchED National Conference 2025
Here are my slides from the conference. If you would like more information about how to create instructional sequences for teaching writing components, you may be interested in my last book ‘…
tomneedhamteach.wordpress.com
September 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Here are my slides from ResearchEd National Conference 2025
tomneedhamteach.wordpress.com/2025/09/14/m...
tomneedhamteach.wordpress.com/2025/09/14/m...
Bernard's talk was really interesting. I loved it.
Here's my handout from my ResearchEd talk yesterday about the origin of the computational model of knowledge
(and how this view contrasts with the normative view of the Sumerians-Aristotle-Wittgenstein)
I tried to show different strands of thought: technologial, psychological, neuroscientific etc.
(and how this view contrasts with the normative view of the Sumerians-Aristotle-Wittgenstein)
I tried to show different strands of thought: technologial, psychological, neuroscientific etc.
September 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Bernard's talk was really interesting. I loved it.
Reposted by Tom Needham
'The oversimplification trap'
"When it comes to students in the classroom, we can simplify an explanation of a concept into PPT where complex phrases become glossy icons. Books can become short booklets. Subjects become revision guides."
alexquigley.co.uk/the-oversimp...
"When it comes to students in the classroom, we can simplify an explanation of a concept into PPT where complex phrases become glossy icons. Books can become short booklets. Subjects become revision guides."
alexquigley.co.uk/the-oversimp...
The oversimplification trap
Are we in danger of making learning too simple?
When it comes to students in the classroom, we can simplify an explanation of a concept into PPT where complex phrases become glossy icons. Books can b...
alexquigley.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM
'The oversimplification trap'
"When it comes to students in the classroom, we can simplify an explanation of a concept into PPT where complex phrases become glossy icons. Books can become short booklets. Subjects become revision guides."
alexquigley.co.uk/the-oversimp...
"When it comes to students in the classroom, we can simplify an explanation of a concept into PPT where complex phrases become glossy icons. Books can become short booklets. Subjects become revision guides."
alexquigley.co.uk/the-oversimp...
An excellent overview of the thinking needed when leading assessment. Well worth a read!
August 31, 2025 at 12:05 PM
An excellent overview of the thinking needed when leading assessment. Well worth a read!
Reposted by Tom Needham
Fast food tills have pictures not words.
Text messages can be played as audio.
The modern world makes it easier to cope without literacy.
What should schools do in response?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/are-we-liv...
Text messages can be played as audio.
The modern world makes it easier to cope without literacy.
What should schools do in response?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/are-we-liv...
August 28, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Fast food tills have pictures not words.
Text messages can be played as audio.
The modern world makes it easier to cope without literacy.
What should schools do in response?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/are-we-liv...
Text messages can be played as audio.
The modern world makes it easier to cope without literacy.
What should schools do in response?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/are-we-liv...
Reposted by Tom Needham
Right. I've entered a half marathon (for the first time in my life!) on 12th October and am raising money for Cancer UK. If you'd like to donate great, if not, please share the link :)
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/davids-...
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/davids-...
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org
August 4, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Right. I've entered a half marathon (for the first time in my life!) on 12th October and am raising money for Cancer UK. If you'd like to donate great, if not, please share the link :)
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/davids-...
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/davids-...
Reposted by Tom Needham
Reposted by Tom Needham
Engagement isn’t about making lessons fun. It’s about leaders creating the conditions for teachers to teach well. Blame the curriculum all you like, it’s the system that’s failing, not the content.
open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
The real barriers to engagement: why schools must rethink leadership, not curriculum
Why blaming the curriculum misses the point and what leaders can do to make teaching both rigorous *and* engaging
open.substack.com
July 4, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Engagement isn’t about making lessons fun. It’s about leaders creating the conditions for teachers to teach well. Blame the curriculum all you like, it’s the system that’s failing, not the content.
open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
My son (5) just called 'exercise' 'ache-zersize' which is a new eggcorn to me. What's your favourite/most jarring eggcorn or mondegreen?
June 27, 2025 at 7:23 PM
My son (5) just called 'exercise' 'ache-zersize' which is a new eggcorn to me. What's your favourite/most jarring eggcorn or mondegreen?
Reposted by Tom Needham
A brilliant book from @mrarobbins.bsky.social. A hugely useful guide to anyone involved in helping teachers to develop. Love the clear, practical, examples.
June 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
A brilliant book from @mrarobbins.bsky.social. A hugely useful guide to anyone involved in helping teachers to develop. Love the clear, practical, examples.
Reposted by Tom Needham
NEW Inside Project Follow Through: why methods matter, why implementation fails, and why Direct Instruction still divides the profession open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
open.substack.com
June 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
NEW Inside Project Follow Through: why methods matter, why implementation fails, and why Direct Instruction still divides the profession open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
Reposted by Tom Needham
Some big news from us.
We're launching our first ever national history assessment - Year 7, autumn term, Battle of Hastings.
It's AI-assisted so it'll be super quick.
And it's free! (But not for long!)
Read more & sign up here.
www.nomoremarking.com/products/cjh...
We're launching our first ever national history assessment - Year 7, autumn term, Battle of Hastings.
It's AI-assisted so it'll be super quick.
And it's free! (But not for long!)
Read more & sign up here.
www.nomoremarking.com/products/cjh...
June 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Some big news from us.
We're launching our first ever national history assessment - Year 7, autumn term, Battle of Hastings.
It's AI-assisted so it'll be super quick.
And it's free! (But not for long!)
Read more & sign up here.
www.nomoremarking.com/products/cjh...
We're launching our first ever national history assessment - Year 7, autumn term, Battle of Hastings.
It's AI-assisted so it'll be super quick.
And it's free! (But not for long!)
Read more & sign up here.
www.nomoremarking.com/products/cjh...
Reposted by Tom Needham
🚨 Exciting announcement alert!🚨
My new book 'Fail Better: How teachers can help students overcome failure, perfectionism, procrastination, impostor syndrome and test anxiety' is heading off to Routledge soon!
Part of the @innerdrive.bsky.social CPD Academy series, it will...
My new book 'Fail Better: How teachers can help students overcome failure, perfectionism, procrastination, impostor syndrome and test anxiety' is heading off to Routledge soon!
Part of the @innerdrive.bsky.social CPD Academy series, it will...
June 4, 2025 at 6:49 AM
🚨 Exciting announcement alert!🚨
My new book 'Fail Better: How teachers can help students overcome failure, perfectionism, procrastination, impostor syndrome and test anxiety' is heading off to Routledge soon!
Part of the @innerdrive.bsky.social CPD Academy series, it will...
My new book 'Fail Better: How teachers can help students overcome failure, perfectionism, procrastination, impostor syndrome and test anxiety' is heading off to Routledge soon!
Part of the @innerdrive.bsky.social CPD Academy series, it will...
Reposted by Tom Needham
NEW BLOG: Managing attention in classrooms is a social justice issue
hobbolog.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/m...
#UKEd
#Edusky
#EduBlogUK
hobbolog.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/m...
#UKEd
#Edusky
#EduBlogUK
Managing attention in classrooms is a social justice issue
This is a blog about some of my favourite research findings in the field of attention. They are remarkable studies for their simplicity, the scale of the effect that they find, and the deep philoso…
hobbolog.wordpress.com
June 2, 2025 at 3:03 PM
NEW BLOG: Managing attention in classrooms is a social justice issue
hobbolog.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/m...
#UKEd
#Edusky
#EduBlogUK
hobbolog.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/m...
#UKEd
#Edusky
#EduBlogUK
Reposted by Tom Needham
It's release date!🥳🎉🍾
@mikehobbiss.bsky.social and I are incredibly proud to share "How to Teach Psychology - an evidence informed approach".
Of course we think it's great, but here's what fellow psychology teacher, author and podcast host Ben White @benwhitewaldenkent.bsky.social had to say:
@mikehobbiss.bsky.social and I are incredibly proud to share "How to Teach Psychology - an evidence informed approach".
Of course we think it's great, but here's what fellow psychology teacher, author and podcast host Ben White @benwhitewaldenkent.bsky.social had to say:
May 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
It's release date!🥳🎉🍾
@mikehobbiss.bsky.social and I are incredibly proud to share "How to Teach Psychology - an evidence informed approach".
Of course we think it's great, but here's what fellow psychology teacher, author and podcast host Ben White @benwhitewaldenkent.bsky.social had to say:
@mikehobbiss.bsky.social and I are incredibly proud to share "How to Teach Psychology - an evidence informed approach".
Of course we think it's great, but here's what fellow psychology teacher, author and podcast host Ben White @benwhitewaldenkent.bsky.social had to say:
Reposted by Tom Needham
New post⤵️
▸The fad's purpose is what it does◂
...and not what its authors thought it would do
Educational fads seen through systems theory (AKA cybernetics).
Please share (tough for bloggers recently)
#UKEd #EduSky #EruditePedagogy #Cybernetics
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
▸The fad's purpose is what it does◂
...and not what its authors thought it would do
Educational fads seen through systems theory (AKA cybernetics).
Please share (tough for bloggers recently)
#UKEd #EduSky #EruditePedagogy #Cybernetics
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
An (edu) fad's purpose is what it does
Not long ago a drive emerged against "fun" lessons. The push was to rid the focus on fun and return it to subject knowledge itself. Soon followed the argument that students had to accept boring lesson...
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com
April 18, 2025 at 6:35 AM
New post⤵️
▸The fad's purpose is what it does◂
...and not what its authors thought it would do
Educational fads seen through systems theory (AKA cybernetics).
Please share (tough for bloggers recently)
#UKEd #EduSky #EruditePedagogy #Cybernetics
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
▸The fad's purpose is what it does◂
...and not what its authors thought it would do
Educational fads seen through systems theory (AKA cybernetics).
Please share (tough for bloggers recently)
#UKEd #EduSky #EruditePedagogy #Cybernetics
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
Reposted by Tom Needham
*New post*
This time on systems and school leadership.
Beguiling events and how systems can fool school leaders
birminghamteacher.wordpress.com/2025/04/17/b...
This time on systems and school leadership.
Beguiling events and how systems can fool school leaders
birminghamteacher.wordpress.com/2025/04/17/b...
Beguiling events and how systems can fool school leaders
A system is a black box Of which we can’t unlock the locks, And all we can find out about Is what goes in and what comes out. – Extract from the poem ‘Beguiling Events’ by Kenneth Boulding, e…
birminghamteacher.wordpress.com
April 17, 2025 at 5:34 PM
*New post*
This time on systems and school leadership.
Beguiling events and how systems can fool school leaders
birminghamteacher.wordpress.com/2025/04/17/b...
This time on systems and school leadership.
Beguiling events and how systems can fool school leaders
birminghamteacher.wordpress.com/2025/04/17/b...
Reposted by Tom Needham
Are you in (or aspiring to) a position of Teaching and Learning leadership?
Looking to boost your knowledge and skills?
LOOK NO FURTHER - webinar in just one week!!
www.eventbrite.com/e/improving-...
Looking to boost your knowledge and skills?
LOOK NO FURTHER - webinar in just one week!!
www.eventbrite.com/e/improving-...
Improving teaching and learning across a department or school
In this live webinar, Adam will offer a number of routes for improving teaching and learning across a school or department.
www.eventbrite.com
March 4, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Are you in (or aspiring to) a position of Teaching and Learning leadership?
Looking to boost your knowledge and skills?
LOOK NO FURTHER - webinar in just one week!!
www.eventbrite.com/e/improving-...
Looking to boost your knowledge and skills?
LOOK NO FURTHER - webinar in just one week!!
www.eventbrite.com/e/improving-...
Reposted by Tom Needham
February 23, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Reposted by Tom Needham
🚀 Matthew Evans @head-teach.bsky.social and I have launched 100% Assessment, a Substack dedicated to exploring assessment in schools.
We'll be posting weekly insights for everyone, from teachers through to Heads and Assessment Leads.
Find us here - 100assessment.substack.com/about
We'll be posting weekly insights for everyone, from teachers through to Heads and Assessment Leads.
Find us here - 100assessment.substack.com/about
About - 100% Assessment
Assessment insights for schools. Click to read 100% Assessment, a Substack publication. Launched an hour ago.
100assessment.substack.com
February 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
🚀 Matthew Evans @head-teach.bsky.social and I have launched 100% Assessment, a Substack dedicated to exploring assessment in schools.
We'll be posting weekly insights for everyone, from teachers through to Heads and Assessment Leads.
Find us here - 100assessment.substack.com/about
We'll be posting weekly insights for everyone, from teachers through to Heads and Assessment Leads.
Find us here - 100assessment.substack.com/about
Reposted by Tom Needham
How did Shakespeare know so much about the mind? Started 2025 trying to read a sonnet/scene every day and I'm consistently amazed at how he anticipated so many findings from cognitive science on memory, learning and behaviour. Made some notes🧵⬇️
January 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
How did Shakespeare know so much about the mind? Started 2025 trying to read a sonnet/scene every day and I'm consistently amazed at how he anticipated so many findings from cognitive science on memory, learning and behaviour. Made some notes🧵⬇️