Alastair Gittner
@agittner.bsky.social
Now retired science teacher and school leader, after 31 years I decided to hang up my chisel point. Grandad, father, husband, cyclist, birdwatcher, foodie and baker. Still interested in all things education especially research informed practice
'thas not wrong!
November 11, 2025 at 3:44 PM
'thas not wrong!
Yes, I didn't get him or Kate Moss nor gave them the time to get to know their music.
November 9, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Yes, I didn't get him or Kate Moss nor gave them the time to get to know their music.
You might be surprised if I said David Bowie and Kate Bush. My musical taste was a bit tribal and I was in the saxon, Deep Purple, Led Zep, Queen "Yooff rock" team. Definitely not cool to be seen liking Bowie or Kate Bush.
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
You might be surprised if I said David Bowie and Kate Bush. My musical taste was a bit tribal and I was in the saxon, Deep Purple, Led Zep, Queen "Yooff rock" team. Definitely not cool to be seen liking Bowie or Kate Bush.
Not knowing what you like I've enjoyed Ben Myers' work. Cuddy and The Offing; both are interesting and perhaps a bit different to many works. I also enjoyed Manhattan by Colm Toibin. Though it is set partly in New York it is much more about Irish immigrants and family.
November 9, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Not knowing what you like I've enjoyed Ben Myers' work. Cuddy and The Offing; both are interesting and perhaps a bit different to many works. I also enjoyed Manhattan by Colm Toibin. Though it is set partly in New York it is much more about Irish immigrants and family.
Forever a teenage rocker
November 8, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Forever a teenage rocker
Thank you for this. A balanced response that I can go along with. Many commentators seem to have had expectations about what was going to be in and then have been disppointed. You also have been realistic about the scope and range of the report, which others have not considered in their criticisms
November 7, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Thank you for this. A balanced response that I can go along with. Many commentators seem to have had expectations about what was going to be in and then have been disppointed. You also have been realistic about the scope and range of the report, which others have not considered in their criticisms
That’s the cover of your final memoir. “A life of reading dangerously”
November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
That’s the cover of your final memoir. “A life of reading dangerously”
I’ve always wanted a series of Goscinny and Underzo inspired expletive emojis
“By Toutatis!”
“By Toutatis!”
November 6, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I’ve always wanted a series of Goscinny and Underzo inspired expletive emojis
“By Toutatis!”
“By Toutatis!”
Even the extended time children are with us is only a fraction of their lives yet we seem to always be the ones expected to do the heavy lifting
November 6, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Even the extended time children are with us is only a fraction of their lives yet we seem to always be the ones expected to do the heavy lifting
Are we in danger of continuing to give too much expectation on education to solve inequalities? Poor health, life expectancy, involvement in crime, are all consequences of economic disadvantage do we place the same expectation on the NHS or communities to reduce socioeconomic gaps?
November 6, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Are we in danger of continuing to give too much expectation on education to solve inequalities? Poor health, life expectancy, involvement in crime, are all consequences of economic disadvantage do we place the same expectation on the NHS or communities to reduce socioeconomic gaps?
interesting, can't comment on some of those, but I have no good memories of modular exams in science nor that they helped student attainment. I still have not seen a good way of measuring practical skills for example at scale, but happy to be persuaded. but thanks for your views
November 5, 2025 at 11:29 PM
interesting, can't comment on some of those, but I have no good memories of modular exams in science nor that they helped student attainment. I still have not seen a good way of measuring practical skills for example at scale, but happy to be persuaded. but thanks for your views
As a matter of interest what were you expecting or perhaps more interestingly what would you have liked to see?
November 5, 2025 at 11:07 PM
As a matter of interest what were you expecting or perhaps more interestingly what would you have liked to see?
Many schools do (or did reading tests until fairly recently) shouldn't be an issue, and as their science teacher I loved to get their reading data.
November 5, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Many schools do (or did reading tests until fairly recently) shouldn't be an issue, and as their science teacher I loved to get their reading data.
..because the Tory party still do politics like the sixth form common room debating society. Hence why the deputy headgirl is their leader. Next week's announcement; more chocolate biscuits for the tuck shop.
November 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
..because the Tory party still do politics like the sixth form common room debating society. Hence why the deputy headgirl is their leader. Next week's announcement; more chocolate biscuits for the tuck shop.
It 's basic good manners, from someone who has both names spelt incorrectly regularly.
November 5, 2025 at 5:30 PM
It 's basic good manners, from someone who has both names spelt incorrectly regularly.
Ain’t that the truth!! Hence why a few days ago I confirmed I am happily retired!😂
November 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Ain’t that the truth!! Hence why a few days ago I confirmed I am happily retired!😂
This looks like it will add another dimension to the debate as well schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-ignores-...
DfE ignores Francis review and proposes progress 8 reform
Government pledges changes to subject make-up of league table measure - despite review calling for no changes
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 10:50 AM
This looks like it will add another dimension to the debate as well schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-ignores-...
It was always a tricky one at parents evening. There is no theoretical reason why combined or triple is better for a level except in many cases doing "more" of a subject give greater practice and so leads to future success.
November 5, 2025 at 10:39 AM
It was always a tricky one at parents evening. There is no theoretical reason why combined or triple is better for a level except in many cases doing "more" of a subject give greater practice and so leads to future success.
And we haven't mentioned the schools that do "routes" with specially crafted curriculum offers around Ebacc subjects, arts subjects, academic/vocational etc
November 5, 2025 at 10:38 AM
And we haven't mentioned the schools that do "routes" with specially crafted curriculum offers around Ebacc subjects, arts subjects, academic/vocational etc
We have a whole cohort of scientists for whom Balanced Science at GCSE was the only option a couple of decades ago.
November 5, 2025 at 10:36 AM
We have a whole cohort of scientists for whom Balanced Science at GCSE was the only option a couple of decades ago.