James Handscombe
@jameshandscombe.bsky.social
Executive Principal, Mathematician, Teacher, Wordsmith not necessarily in that order.
I like the idea of curiosity as self-care: we say that in teaching every day is different and I can see that coming in each day full of curiosity for what might transpire would be healthy.
I also think that curiosity can be developed and, in related news, my book “Cabinet of Curiosity” is out.
I also think that curiosity can be developed and, in related news, my book “Cabinet of Curiosity” is out.
November 11, 2025 at 8:15 AM
I like the idea of curiosity as self-care: we say that in teaching every day is different and I can see that coming in each day full of curiosity for what might transpire would be healthy.
I also think that curiosity can be developed and, in related news, my book “Cabinet of Curiosity” is out.
I also think that curiosity can be developed and, in related news, my book “Cabinet of Curiosity” is out.
Exciting times - I now have a copy of my book!
November 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Exciting times - I now have a copy of my book!
What we have on our hands is a species problem - fascinating story from Arundhati Roy
November 10, 2025 at 8:16 AM
What we have on our hands is a species problem - fascinating story from Arundhati Roy
This game is fun!
catfishing.net/game/today
Guess the Wikipedia article from its categories: particularly enjoyed this one
catfishing.net/game/today
Guess the Wikipedia article from its categories: particularly enjoyed this one
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
This game is fun!
catfishing.net/game/today
Guess the Wikipedia article from its categories: particularly enjoyed this one
catfishing.net/game/today
Guess the Wikipedia article from its categories: particularly enjoyed this one
It’s out!
The Cabinet of Curiosity should be in the hands of readers today.
If you know it all already you can correct my mistakes, if not then there may be a new fascination for you lurking in its pages.
#EdSky
#UkEd
#Curiosity
@hachettelearning.bsky.social
The Cabinet of Curiosity should be in the hands of readers today.
If you know it all already you can correct my mistakes, if not then there may be a new fascination for you lurking in its pages.
#EdSky
#UkEd
#Curiosity
@hachettelearning.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 7:37 AM
It’s out!
The Cabinet of Curiosity should be in the hands of readers today.
If you know it all already you can correct my mistakes, if not then there may be a new fascination for you lurking in its pages.
#EdSky
#UkEd
#Curiosity
@hachettelearning.bsky.social
The Cabinet of Curiosity should be in the hands of readers today.
If you know it all already you can correct my mistakes, if not then there may be a new fascination for you lurking in its pages.
#EdSky
#UkEd
#Curiosity
@hachettelearning.bsky.social
Chapter Eight is American politics and government and centres on the joys of being able to react to world events. The great thing about teaching curiosity is that there are so many reasons to be curious - and significant American elections come up every two years (plus yesterday!).
November 5, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Chapter Eight is American politics and government and centres on the joys of being able to react to world events. The great thing about teaching curiosity is that there are so many reasons to be curious - and significant American elections come up every two years (plus yesterday!).
Chapter Six is turning and turning in a widening gyre and introduces a tough beast slouching towards Bethlehem to be born. Poetry is not my natural home but curiosity means the numbers guy has to put some brain into finding out what beautiful words are all about.
The Second Coming by WB Yeats.
The Second Coming by WB Yeats.
November 3, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Chapter Six is turning and turning in a widening gyre and introduces a tough beast slouching towards Bethlehem to be born. Poetry is not my natural home but curiosity means the numbers guy has to put some brain into finding out what beautiful words are all about.
The Second Coming by WB Yeats.
The Second Coming by WB Yeats.
Chapter Five: Art Appreciation through the lens of British landscape painters of the early 19th Century (or Turner and Constable: same guy or different guys).
Culminating in this amazing abstraction:
Culminating in this amazing abstraction:
November 2, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Chapter Five: Art Appreciation through the lens of British landscape painters of the early 19th Century (or Turner and Constable: same guy or different guys).
Culminating in this amazing abstraction:
Culminating in this amazing abstraction:
Amazing little church in a speck of a village
November 1, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Amazing little church in a speck of a village
Mostly meningitis, it seems.
November 1, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Mostly meningitis, it seems.
So many war graves in the Wiltshire countryside. Not repatriated (only three bodies from WW1 were brought home) - so I think it must be killed on exercise on Salisbury plain?
Does anyone know?
Does anyone know?
November 1, 2025 at 10:41 AM
So many war graves in the Wiltshire countryside. Not repatriated (only three bodies from WW1 were brought home) - so I think it must be killed on exercise on Salisbury plain?
Does anyone know?
Does anyone know?
Atmospherically lit for Hallowe’en
October 31, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Atmospherically lit for Hallowe’en
Just over a week until publication of my new book on the joys and power of curiosity - the perfect gift for someone interested in maths or politics or archaeology or physics or art or poetry - also ideal for anyone not yet interested in those things who should be.
October 28, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Just over a week until publication of my new book on the joys and power of curiosity - the perfect gift for someone interested in maths or politics or archaeology or physics or art or poetry - also ideal for anyone not yet interested in those things who should be.
When I am old enough to wear purple and learn how to spit I shall go into this place every morning and ask “how many piano tuners are there in Greater Chicago?” “What does the Elizabeth Tower weigh?” “How much quicker is a car journey to Wembley due to the traffic lost to the Elizabeth line?”
October 18, 2025 at 9:18 AM
When I am old enough to wear purple and learn how to spit I shall go into this place every morning and ask “how many piano tuners are there in Greater Chicago?” “What does the Elizabeth Tower weigh?” “How much quicker is a car journey to Wembley due to the traffic lost to the Elizabeth line?”
This article seems to be a straw man - “the left” refuse to acknowledge the importance of fathers. Who are the shadowy left? Because it’s not specified, a host of beliefs and assertions can be credited to them whilst portraying them as an organized group working against right-thinking people.
October 4, 2025 at 9:03 AM
This article seems to be a straw man - “the left” refuse to acknowledge the importance of fathers. Who are the shadowy left? Because it’s not specified, a host of beliefs and assertions can be credited to them whilst portraying them as an organized group working against right-thinking people.
Which of these parties are to the left of Labour in your estimation?
cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_ful...
cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_ful...
September 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Which of these parties are to the left of Labour in your estimation?
cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_ful...
cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_ful...
Autumn barbecues and you deserve a little beer and a little fire whilst you wait for them to be ready.
September 21, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Autumn barbecues and you deserve a little beer and a little fire whilst you wait for them to be ready.
Harris Westminster open evening tonight - I love this report card on French A-level.
More people should study languages in sixth form.
More people should love languages at GCSE and yet I see a succession of young people with good grades elsewhere and a 2 in Spanish.
What is happening?
More people should study languages in sixth form.
More people should love languages at GCSE and yet I see a succession of young people with good grades elsewhere and a 2 in Spanish.
What is happening?
September 17, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Harris Westminster open evening tonight - I love this report card on French A-level.
More people should study languages in sixth form.
More people should love languages at GCSE and yet I see a succession of young people with good grades elsewhere and a 2 in Spanish.
What is happening?
More people should study languages in sixth form.
More people should love languages at GCSE and yet I see a succession of young people with good grades elsewhere and a 2 in Spanish.
What is happening?
Sunday morning bells - reward for an early start:
September 14, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Sunday morning bells - reward for an early start:
A wall in Harris Westminster.
Just six of the three dozen student societies that take place across the school at lunch and in the evenings.
It’s one of the things that makes the place so amazing, and such a good invitation to the post-18 world of opportunity and leadership.
How? A thread 🧵
Just six of the three dozen student societies that take place across the school at lunch and in the evenings.
It’s one of the things that makes the place so amazing, and such a good invitation to the post-18 world of opportunity and leadership.
How? A thread 🧵
September 12, 2025 at 7:18 AM
A wall in Harris Westminster.
Just six of the three dozen student societies that take place across the school at lunch and in the evenings.
It’s one of the things that makes the place so amazing, and such a good invitation to the post-18 world of opportunity and leadership.
How? A thread 🧵
Just six of the three dozen student societies that take place across the school at lunch and in the evenings.
It’s one of the things that makes the place so amazing, and such a good invitation to the post-18 world of opportunity and leadership.
How? A thread 🧵
Today I have learned of the existence of Moldauhafen - Czechia’s 99 year lease on the sea. Established by the treaty of Versailles and expiring in 2028 it is now a private arrangement between the republic and the city of Hamburg (Versailles lapsed due to some disagreement over terms in the 30s)
September 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Today I have learned of the existence of Moldauhafen - Czechia’s 99 year lease on the sea. Established by the treaty of Versailles and expiring in 2028 it is now a private arrangement between the republic and the city of Hamburg (Versailles lapsed due to some disagreement over terms in the 30s)
My phone thinks I’m walking the Appalachian train and has an app to check my progress.
Lads, I’m here to tell you that Maine is huuuge. Don’t try to cross it before lunch.
Lads, I’m here to tell you that Maine is huuuge. Don’t try to cross it before lunch.
September 2, 2025 at 6:51 PM
My phone thinks I’m walking the Appalachian train and has an app to check my progress.
Lads, I’m here to tell you that Maine is huuuge. Don’t try to cross it before lunch.
Lads, I’m here to tell you that Maine is huuuge. Don’t try to cross it before lunch.
Family gathering (3 generations) and we’re taking turns to perform. We’ve had Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, Joan Baez and Tom Petty on keyboard, trumpet, harmonica and guitar. The kids are alright, you know.
August 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Family gathering (3 generations) and we’re taking turns to perform. We’ve had Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, Joan Baez and Tom Petty on keyboard, trumpet, harmonica and guitar. The kids are alright, you know.
If it’s a King speaking to a room full of armed knights then I think we can talk about incitement to murder.
August 22, 2025 at 7:32 AM
If it’s a King speaking to a room full of armed knights then I think we can talk about incitement to murder.