Yep. You’ve got to choose from what’s available (on the ballot paper). Not voting / spoiling is also a choice… but one by which your views will not have been heard or measured. All parties are coalitions of views.

… and younger / newer teachers, who might stoke some controversies, aren’t generally on Bluesky or X etc anyway…

I think there might also be something in the demographics on the two sites. I enjoy reading the edu-posts here (when I see them - the idea about getting alerts is a good one), but there seems to be less controversy then on years past. Perhaps some debates have been more-or-less settled?

I’m trying hard to hold on to it, but yes it does seem like centre is no longer holding. Anyone got any books on Liberal Marxism?

Sorry to be a Killjoy, as much I’d like this to be available for schools to do, doing this for /optional/ activities such as many trips isn’t allowed (DfE, May ‘18). Contributions may be voluntary, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a trip can go ahead if not everyone contributes. It is tortuous!

I thought I’d better check the regs, and I slightly overclaimed: for /optional/ activities (ie, not covered by the Nat Curr), “charges must not exceed the cost divided by the number of pupils”, ie cross-subsidy is not-allowed (DfE reg, May 2018). Applies to England, but I think Wales has same.

Other than Pupil Premium and Looked After Children, schools (nowadays) are not allowed to subsidise trips for students or cross-subsidise from other parents’ payments.