DDunc
@ddunc.bsky.social
Scottish English teacher in Gloucestershire. Hard-working procrastinator. Can't live without cats or coffee.
Reposted by DDunc
*** NEW POST ***
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Too many lessons are filled with checking what pupils know rather than helping them learn something new.
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Too many lessons are filled with checking what pupils know rather than helping them learn something new.
Make Time for Learning
When Checking Becomes the Lesson
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:18 AM
*** NEW POST ***
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Too many lessons are filled with checking what pupils know rather than helping them learn something new.
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Too many lessons are filled with checking what pupils know rather than helping them learn something new.
Reposted by DDunc
A reminder that the original Hallowe'en jack o' lanterns date back to 18th century Ireland if not earlier, were based on a shady boozy blacksmith called Stingy Jack who cheated the devil & was trapped between 2 worlds, were carved from turnips and looked like this:
October 31, 2025 at 7:59 AM
A reminder that the original Hallowe'en jack o' lanterns date back to 18th century Ireland if not earlier, were based on a shady boozy blacksmith called Stingy Jack who cheated the devil & was trapped between 2 worlds, were carved from turnips and looked like this:
Stunning scenery. Makes me so incredibly happy to be out in the hills. Need to do some proper hiking but not quite fit enough yet.
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Stunning scenery. Makes me so incredibly happy to be out in the hills. Need to do some proper hiking but not quite fit enough yet.
Need to move to Wales or back to Scotland. I miss proper trees and hills so much. 2 day nature fix in Eryri.
October 29, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Need to move to Wales or back to Scotland. I miss proper trees and hills so much. 2 day nature fix in Eryri.
Reposted by DDunc
“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.”
Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943
Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943
October 4, 2025 at 8:17 PM
“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.”
Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943
Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943
Reposted by DDunc
Reposted by DDunc
German media seems to be taking more seriously than ours the fact a leading light in the party UK press keeps saying will be next government took bribes from Russia to spout their lies. Maybe it’s because they put NEWS ahead of propaganda
September 28, 2025 at 2:29 PM
German media seems to be taking more seriously than ours the fact a leading light in the party UK press keeps saying will be next government took bribes from Russia to spout their lies. Maybe it’s because they put NEWS ahead of propaganda
Reposted by DDunc
Could we please stop pretending that the flags being hung from streetlamps or painted on roundabouts are innocent expressions of patriotic pride? This is the far right marking out its territory. It uses these flags to intimidate its traditional victims and opponents. 🧵1/3
September 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Could we please stop pretending that the flags being hung from streetlamps or painted on roundabouts are innocent expressions of patriotic pride? This is the far right marking out its territory. It uses these flags to intimidate its traditional victims and opponents. 🧵1/3
Reposted by DDunc
This feels like the biggest story from the Guardian's Boris leaks... he took £240k from a Venezuelan hedge fund after meeting Maduro. And having denied he was paid.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Boris Johnson was paid £240,000 after Maduro meeting, invoice shows
Johnson’s office sent invoice to hedge fund manager, which was paid, weeks after meeting Venezuelan leader last year
www.theguardian.com
September 8, 2025 at 6:32 PM
This feels like the biggest story from the Guardian's Boris leaks... he took £240k from a Venezuelan hedge fund after meeting Maduro. And having denied he was paid.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Everybody in education needs to read this. Fascinating insight and data exploring reported reasons for home-schooling in the UK by @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social
September 8, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Everybody in education needs to read this. Fascinating insight and data exploring reported reasons for home-schooling in the UK by @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social
Reposted by DDunc
What utter dickheads we are…
Rayner fought for workers: sick pay, maternity rights, protection from unfair dismissal
Farage and his MPs voted it down
Rayner gets binned over £40k in stamp duty
Farage dodges £44k, shrugs & strolls on
The mega wealthy win again.
Rayner fought for workers: sick pay, maternity rights, protection from unfair dismissal
Farage and his MPs voted it down
Rayner gets binned over £40k in stamp duty
Farage dodges £44k, shrugs & strolls on
The mega wealthy win again.
September 6, 2025 at 10:07 AM
What utter dickheads we are…
Rayner fought for workers: sick pay, maternity rights, protection from unfair dismissal
Farage and his MPs voted it down
Rayner gets binned over £40k in stamp duty
Farage dodges £44k, shrugs & strolls on
The mega wealthy win again.
Rayner fought for workers: sick pay, maternity rights, protection from unfair dismissal
Farage and his MPs voted it down
Rayner gets binned over £40k in stamp duty
Farage dodges £44k, shrugs & strolls on
The mega wealthy win again.
Reposted by DDunc
Angela Rayner accidentally pays less tax than she should have, resigns, and the media gives her hell.
Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.
That, right there, is the problem.
Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.
That, right there, is the problem.
September 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Angela Rayner accidentally pays less tax than she should have, resigns, and the media gives her hell.
Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.
That, right there, is the problem.
Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.
That, right there, is the problem.
Reposted by DDunc
On the same day in the Telegraph:
![The Telegraph
Rayner tax scandal - £40k tax dodge - Statement
Angela Rayner dodges £40,000 stamp duty
Deputy Prime Minister reduces tax bill for Hove flat by declaring it as her main residence
[Photo: Angela Rayner pictured at the weekend in Hove, where she has just bought a flat Credit: Dan Charity/The Sun on Sunday]
Robert Mendick Chief Reporter. Amy Gibbons Political Correspondent
29 August 2025 8:57am BST](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreihe5mm7nwmwvzhtgadmsafyvsaxhrufuai2d2j2rju5zt6g2lytea@jpeg)
![The Telegraph
Money > Property > Second homes
How to avoid tax on your second home
From stamp duty to council tax, shield your wealth from Labour's tightening net
[Photo of houses around a bay - Areas such as Cornwall have added a premium to council tax bills for second homes Credit: iStockphoto]
Fran Ivens Senior Money Writer
29 August 2025 1:21pm BST](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreieuwgc2vsmyfcctmf4cnpcqckij2pqdk2gmzajpnihrsqyqmzyr5e@jpeg)
September 5, 2025 at 7:55 AM
On the same day in the Telegraph:
Reposted by DDunc
Right wing media has had it in for Angela Rayner from the start - they couldn’t bear a working class woman being so powerful & dynamic. She made a mistake and has paid heavily for it. Very much hope she’ll return at some point in the future - our politics desperately needs more voices like hers
September 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Right wing media has had it in for Angela Rayner from the start - they couldn’t bear a working class woman being so powerful & dynamic. She made a mistake and has paid heavily for it. Very much hope she’ll return at some point in the future - our politics desperately needs more voices like hers
Reposted by DDunc
'Hamnet' film trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2xt...
HAMNET - Official Teaser Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters Thanksgiving
YouTube video by Focus Features
www.youtube.com
August 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
'Hamnet' film trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2xt...
Reposted by DDunc
Debra Myhill as always is superb here on writing and the teaching of writing! Her critique of the DfE Writing Framework is absolutely spot on, including its very poor use of research on writing. @beckyfrancis.bsky.social
"There is a sense of cherry picking - of choosing research that already supports the way they want to present the framework"
Primary writing expert prof Debra Myhill tells @tesmagazine.bsky.social why the DfE primary writing framework is 'problematic'
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Primary writing expert prof Debra Myhill tells @tesmagazine.bsky.social why the DfE primary writing framework is 'problematic'
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
What the writing framework gets wrong about writing
Following the release of the DfE’s primary writing framework, writing researcher Debra Myhill shares her thoughts on its use of evidence and how it positions the skills involved in learning to write
www.tes.com
August 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Debra Myhill as always is superb here on writing and the teaching of writing! Her critique of the DfE Writing Framework is absolutely spot on, including its very poor use of research on writing. @beckyfrancis.bsky.social
Reposted by DDunc
Not sure what's going to give up first: knees, lungs or heart. Hiking after long Covid is a little humbling. But survived another hill walk and now doing a slow wander around Raglan Castle
August 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Not sure what's going to give up first: knees, lungs or heart. Hiking after long Covid is a little humbling. But survived another hill walk and now doing a slow wander around Raglan Castle
Reposted by DDunc
NEW* for June 2026 onwards: AQA Lang P1 specimen papers and accompanying PPT slide decks. I’ll add to this folder as I update them. Includes:
✅ Enduring Love
✅ Hound of the Baskervilles
✅ Whole Town’s Sleeping
✅To Kill a Mockingbird
Help yourself 😊
www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bd6qg...
✅ Enduring Love
✅ Hound of the Baskervilles
✅ Whole Town’s Sleeping
✅To Kill a Mockingbird
Help yourself 😊
www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bd6qg...
August 25, 2025 at 7:43 AM
NEW* for June 2026 onwards: AQA Lang P1 specimen papers and accompanying PPT slide decks. I’ll add to this folder as I update them. Includes:
✅ Enduring Love
✅ Hound of the Baskervilles
✅ Whole Town’s Sleeping
✅To Kill a Mockingbird
Help yourself 😊
www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bd6qg...
✅ Enduring Love
✅ Hound of the Baskervilles
✅ Whole Town’s Sleeping
✅To Kill a Mockingbird
Help yourself 😊
www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bd6qg...
Mini hike up the Skirrid in Monmouthshire. Need to do this more often.
August 24, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Mini hike up the Skirrid in Monmouthshire. Need to do this more often.
Reposted by DDunc
Nice piece by George Orwell’s son about the history of Animal Farm www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
‘Animal Farm was my parents’ teamwork’: Orwell’s son on 80 years of the satirical classic
Richard Blair on the role his mother played in developing the 1945 political fable – and how it nearly didn’t get published
www.theguardian.com
August 17, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Nice piece by George Orwell’s son about the history of Animal Farm www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
Reposted by DDunc
I’ve nothing against the subjects doing well and I understand the power of earnings prospects in A Level choices, but this graph saddens me and it feels like we have a job to do as schools to communicate the value of the subjects in blue and as a society to learn it. www.bbc.com/news/article...
August 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I’ve nothing against the subjects doing well and I understand the power of earnings prospects in A Level choices, but this graph saddens me and it feels like we have a job to do as schools to communicate the value of the subjects in blue and as a society to learn it. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Beautiful, relaxing morning at Tintern Abbey after the stress of A-Level results yesterday. Proud of what my lovely Y13 Lit students achieved despite huge setbacks. Proud of myself for achieving so much in a year. Tintern Abbey reminds me of my first ever A-Level class of 2002.
August 15, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Beautiful, relaxing morning at Tintern Abbey after the stress of A-Level results yesterday. Proud of what my lovely Y13 Lit students achieved despite huge setbacks. Proud of myself for achieving so much in a year. Tintern Abbey reminds me of my first ever A-Level class of 2002.
How is Paris 34 degrees? 🔥 It's hotter than Nice. So weirdly inverted to be travelling home and it's hotter.
August 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM
How is Paris 34 degrees? 🔥 It's hotter than Nice. So weirdly inverted to be travelling home and it's hotter.
Finally read Kafka on the Shore. Not sure exactly how to feel about it. Astonishing. Moving. Problematic. Possibly one of the most thoughtful-provoking books I've ever read.
August 13, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Finally read Kafka on the Shore. Not sure exactly how to feel about it. Astonishing. Moving. Problematic. Possibly one of the most thoughtful-provoking books I've ever read.