@barbaraks.bsky.social
Mother to teens and English teacher. In a different iteration of the algorithm, a hermit in the wild woods. Or a poet. Always reading
Reposted
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
Reposted
This is a lie.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
October 7, 2025 at 8:03 AM
This is a lie.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.
But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
Reposted
Any time I talk about a wealthy person's outfit, someone in the comments is quick to reply: "They're rich, you think they care?" No one has to care about my opinions or clothes, regardless of net worth.
But let's talk about the connection between wealth and aesthetics 🧵
But let's talk about the connection between wealth and aesthetics 🧵
July 1, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Any time I talk about a wealthy person's outfit, someone in the comments is quick to reply: "They're rich, you think they care?" No one has to care about my opinions or clothes, regardless of net worth.
But let's talk about the connection between wealth and aesthetics 🧵
But let's talk about the connection between wealth and aesthetics 🧵
Reposted
‘Today, “fascism” is useful as a political concept only in so far as it enables us to spot its destructive potential before it fully discloses itself. As Primo Levi wrote,“‘it happened, therefore it can happen again.”’
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Daniel Trilling · Is this fascism?
As the historian Ian Kershaw says, trying to define fascism is ‘like trying to nail jelly to a wall’, yet for all...
www.lrb.co.uk
June 2, 2025 at 11:10 AM
‘Today, “fascism” is useful as a political concept only in so far as it enables us to spot its destructive potential before it fully discloses itself. As Primo Levi wrote,“‘it happened, therefore it can happen again.”’
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@trillingual.bsky.social on far-right populism: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
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Race is a social construct. But what does that mean, and why do we say this? An explainer, in the wake of Trump being racist and wrong (pt 675)
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
'Biological reality': What genetics has taught us about race
As US President Donald Trump takes aim at the Smithsonian Institution for "anti-American ideology", Adam Rutherford examines what the science of genetics has taught us about race.
www.bbc.com
April 22, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Race is a social construct. But what does that mean, and why do we say this? An explainer, in the wake of Trump being racist and wrong (pt 675)
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Reposted
How much do you think it costs to make a pair of Nike shoes in Asia?
Before you open this thread, take a guess. Settle on a number and then compare it to what you'll learn in this thread. 🧵
Before you open this thread, take a guess. Settle on a number and then compare it to what you'll learn in this thread. 🧵
April 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM
How much do you think it costs to make a pair of Nike shoes in Asia?
Before you open this thread, take a guess. Settle on a number and then compare it to what you'll learn in this thread. 🧵
Before you open this thread, take a guess. Settle on a number and then compare it to what you'll learn in this thread. 🧵
Reposted
After a tip-off from a wild camper, we went to investigate a recent moorland burning incident on Dartmoor this weekend.
It's in an SSSI & SAC, on peat over 40cm deep, & on land belonging to... Alexander Darwall.
So did @naturalengland.bsky.social, DEFRA and Darwall give permission for this burn?
It's in an SSSI & SAC, on peat over 40cm deep, & on land belonging to... Alexander Darwall.
So did @naturalengland.bsky.social, DEFRA and Darwall give permission for this burn?
March 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
After a tip-off from a wild camper, we went to investigate a recent moorland burning incident on Dartmoor this weekend.
It's in an SSSI & SAC, on peat over 40cm deep, & on land belonging to... Alexander Darwall.
So did @naturalengland.bsky.social, DEFRA and Darwall give permission for this burn?
It's in an SSSI & SAC, on peat over 40cm deep, & on land belonging to... Alexander Darwall.
So did @naturalengland.bsky.social, DEFRA and Darwall give permission for this burn?
Reposted
Today, more than 700 representatives from across the arts & education world signed an open letter in
@thetimes.com, calling for more opportunities for arts education for every child from every background. I was pleased to sign on behalf of the @oracycommission.bsky.social
@thetimes.com, calling for more opportunities for arts education for every child from every background. I was pleased to sign on behalf of the @oracycommission.bsky.social
March 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Today, more than 700 representatives from across the arts & education world signed an open letter in
@thetimes.com, calling for more opportunities for arts education for every child from every background. I was pleased to sign on behalf of the @oracycommission.bsky.social
@thetimes.com, calling for more opportunities for arts education for every child from every background. I was pleased to sign on behalf of the @oracycommission.bsky.social
Reposted
Hey all, I started a substack, as I belive is a legal requirement for middle aged men. Warning: contains science, snark, light swearing. All free, for now. open.substack.com/pub/arutherf...
Punctuated equilibrium
Here we go. I have finally joined Substack. Science, history, politics, and possibly some pop culture.
open.substack.com
March 11, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Hey all, I started a substack, as I belive is a legal requirement for middle aged men. Warning: contains science, snark, light swearing. All free, for now. open.substack.com/pub/arutherf...
Reposted
Morning all. I really liked this by @johnharris1969.bsky.social on ‘Spotifycore’, aka bland filler background music for people half-listening that could easily (will soon) be made by AI; can identify the same tendency I think in Netflix content & publishing www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Spotify’s biggest sin? Its algorithms have pushed artists to make joyless, toothless music | John Harris
Most musicians can only make money on the platform by writing songs inoffensive enough to get on to one of its vapid playlists, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
March 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Morning all. I really liked this by @johnharris1969.bsky.social on ‘Spotifycore’, aka bland filler background music for people half-listening that could easily (will soon) be made by AI; can identify the same tendency I think in Netflix content & publishing www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted
Having had arguments with the DfE where they pitched 30th May as “still spring”, I hope they know the ordinary school understanding of this is “by Easter”.
The curriculum and assessment review will publish its interim report 'in the spring', the schools minister has confirmed, as she ducked calls to rule out cutting core subjects back or scrapping SATs
Here's your rundown of #eduQs
schoolsweek.co.uk/curriculum-s...
Here's your rundown of #eduQs
schoolsweek.co.uk/curriculum-s...
7 things we learned from Labour ministers in Parliament
Schools minister won't rule out cutting core subjects and scrapping SATs as MPs clash
schoolsweek.co.uk
March 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Having had arguments with the DfE where they pitched 30th May as “still spring”, I hope they know the ordinary school understanding of this is “by Easter”.
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I’ve been digging into the quality of EHCPs, plans that parents are dragged through court sometimes to obtain, and that are bankrupting councils
What’s actually in them? Are they good quality? Personalised? Include interventions backed by evidence? Are they fully funded?
The answer often is no
What’s actually in them? Are they good quality? Personalised? Include interventions backed by evidence? Are they fully funded?
The answer often is no
Special investigation: Interventions lacking evidence, copy and paste plans, health and social care missing - Schools Week reveals how EHCPs are failing vulnerable children
Investigation: How EHCPs fail our most vulnerable children
England now spends nearly £11 billion providing education for children with additional needs. But what does the funding in EHCPs actually get spent on?
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 5:54 AM
I’ve been digging into the quality of EHCPs, plans that parents are dragged through court sometimes to obtain, and that are bankrupting councils
What’s actually in them? Are they good quality? Personalised? Include interventions backed by evidence? Are they fully funded?
The answer often is no
What’s actually in them? Are they good quality? Personalised? Include interventions backed by evidence? Are they fully funded?
The answer often is no
Reposted
Special investigation: Interventions lacking evidence, copy and paste plans, health and social care missing - Schools Week reveals how EHCPs are failing vulnerable children
Investigation: How EHCPs fail our most vulnerable children
England now spends nearly £11 billion providing education for children with additional needs. But what does the funding in EHCPs actually get spent on?
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Special investigation: Interventions lacking evidence, copy and paste plans, health and social care missing - Schools Week reveals how EHCPs are failing vulnerable children
Reposted
Apropos of nothing:
THERE WILL NEVER EVER EVER BE A CLONED MAMMOTH.
<Message ends>
THERE WILL NEVER EVER EVER BE A CLONED MAMMOTH.
<Message ends>
March 4, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Apropos of nothing:
THERE WILL NEVER EVER EVER BE A CLONED MAMMOTH.
<Message ends>
THERE WILL NEVER EVER EVER BE A CLONED MAMMOTH.
<Message ends>
Reposted
More of this, please.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The left keeps getting identity politics wrong – and the right is benefiting from that | Ash Sarkar
Instead of liberation, we’ve ended up with competitive grievance, weaponised victimhood, and a focus on ‘I’ not ‘us’, says author and activist Ash Sarkar
www.theguardian.com
March 3, 2025 at 10:21 AM
More of this, please.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted
This is a long but fascinating read: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
The number of people with chronic conditions is soaring. Are we less healthy than we used to be – or overdiagnosing illness?
Are ordinary life experiences, bodily imperfections and normal differences being unnecessarily pathologised? One doctor argues just that
www.theguardian.com
March 2, 2025 at 1:56 PM
This is a long but fascinating read: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted
➡️ How ‘efficiency’ derailed education
The system has become too obsessed with a flawed argument for efficiency and has lost its purpose, argues @bernardandrews.bsky.social
A challenging essay that is well worth your time this morning.
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
The system has become too obsessed with a flawed argument for efficiency and has lost its purpose, argues @bernardandrews.bsky.social
A challenging essay that is well worth your time this morning.
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
How ‘efficiency’ derailed education
The education system has become too obsessed with efficiency and has lost its true purpose, argues Bernard Andrews
www.tes.com
February 26, 2025 at 6:37 AM
➡️ How ‘efficiency’ derailed education
The system has become too obsessed with a flawed argument for efficiency and has lost its purpose, argues @bernardandrews.bsky.social
A challenging essay that is well worth your time this morning.
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
The system has become too obsessed with a flawed argument for efficiency and has lost its purpose, argues @bernardandrews.bsky.social
A challenging essay that is well worth your time this morning.
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Reposted
A stark picture of the nation’s declining PE & sport provision for young people: www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/f...
Britain has 7,000 fewer PE teachers since London 2012 Olympics, MPs told
An inquiry found 30% of children do less than 30 minutes of exercise a day while Olympian said physical literacy should have higher status in schools
www.theguardian.com
February 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
A stark picture of the nation’s declining PE & sport provision for young people: www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/f...
Reposted
Was told today that, since the pay-walling of Cirencester Park ten months ago, there has been a 72% reduction in people visiting.
That's 72% fewer people accessing their green space, getting less fit, getting more stressed, all to financially benefit one of the wealthiest aristocrats in Britain.
That's 72% fewer people accessing their green space, getting less fit, getting more stressed, all to financially benefit one of the wealthiest aristocrats in Britain.
February 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Was told today that, since the pay-walling of Cirencester Park ten months ago, there has been a 72% reduction in people visiting.
That's 72% fewer people accessing their green space, getting less fit, getting more stressed, all to financially benefit one of the wealthiest aristocrats in Britain.
That's 72% fewer people accessing their green space, getting less fit, getting more stressed, all to financially benefit one of the wealthiest aristocrats in Britain.
Reposted
When we are making judgements about whether pupils and students are making progress, there can be a tendency to think that data on a spreadsheet can indicate something absolute about standards.
/1
/1
February 4, 2025 at 8:50 AM
When we are making judgements about whether pupils and students are making progress, there can be a tendency to think that data on a spreadsheet can indicate something absolute about standards.
/1
/1
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We knew pet tick & flea treatments contaminate every river via domestic effluents. Now we see they are poisoning bird nests too. These hideously ecotoxic compounds are already banned in agriculture so why are they still freely available for pets? www.pan-uk.org/garden-birds...
Garden birds are being poisoned by pet flea treatments - Pesticide Action Network UK
Garden birds, such as blue tits and great tits, are being poisoned by pesticides found in pet tick and flea treatments.
www.pan-uk.org
February 4, 2025 at 7:18 AM
We knew pet tick & flea treatments contaminate every river via domestic effluents. Now we see they are poisoning bird nests too. These hideously ecotoxic compounds are already banned in agriculture so why are they still freely available for pets? www.pan-uk.org/garden-birds...
Reposted
My hot take on the Ofsted stuff is that, if you had a well-funded system with lots of extra people, it would help drive school improvement (and *could* reduce stress).
As the system currently stands: I’m concerned it’ll drown people in workload.
As the system currently stands: I’m concerned it’ll drown people in workload.
February 3, 2025 at 10:21 AM
My hot take on the Ofsted stuff is that, if you had a well-funded system with lots of extra people, it would help drive school improvement (and *could* reduce stress).
As the system currently stands: I’m concerned it’ll drown people in workload.
As the system currently stands: I’m concerned it’ll drown people in workload.
Reposted
REVEALED: over 1/4 of England's ancient landmarks have no right of public access.
Analysis from Right to Roam indicates over 5,500 scheduled monuments were off-limits, with trespass the only way to fully experience our heritage.
Read more here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Analysis from Right to Roam indicates over 5,500 scheduled monuments were off-limits, with trespass the only way to fully experience our heritage.
Read more here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ancient landmarks closed off to walkers, campaigners say
They include a neolithic burial mound in Wiltshire and an Iron Age hill fort on the edge of Dartmoor.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 20, 2024 at 9:07 AM
REVEALED: over 1/4 of England's ancient landmarks have no right of public access.
Analysis from Right to Roam indicates over 5,500 scheduled monuments were off-limits, with trespass the only way to fully experience our heritage.
Read more here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Analysis from Right to Roam indicates over 5,500 scheduled monuments were off-limits, with trespass the only way to fully experience our heritage.
Read more here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted
A fascinating overview of the whole WOTY business and why it doesn't quite catch what's really happening, from @tonythorne007.bsky.social
theconversation.com/most-words-o...
theconversation.com/most-words-o...
Most ‘words of the year’ don’t actually tell us about the state of the world – here’s what I’d pick instead
Words of the year do not have to be new coinages, but may be existing words that seem to have become particularly apposite or resonant.
theconversation.com
December 19, 2024 at 8:30 PM
A fascinating overview of the whole WOTY business and why it doesn't quite catch what's really happening, from @tonythorne007.bsky.social
theconversation.com/most-words-o...
theconversation.com/most-words-o...