Joel Kenyon
@joel120193.substack.com
Teacher 👨🏫 | Head of Science 🧑🔬 | Hinterland Lover ⚛️ | Source Provider 📝 | Subscribe on Substack https://joel120193.substack.com/ 🖋️ |
These have a chokehold on male teachers!
February 4, 2026 at 6:42 PM
These have a chokehold on male teachers!
"all behaviour is an unmet need"
January 31, 2026 at 12:50 AM
"all behaviour is an unmet need"
Everyone with a Plan 2 student loan has known it was a poor deal.
For a large portion of the population the marginal tax rate is 9% higher.
They aren't student loan payments if interest makes it so it never stops.
It's a graduate tax. Stop calling it anything else.
For a large portion of the population the marginal tax rate is 9% higher.
They aren't student loan payments if interest makes it so it never stops.
It's a graduate tax. Stop calling it anything else.
January 29, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Everyone with a Plan 2 student loan has known it was a poor deal.
For a large portion of the population the marginal tax rate is 9% higher.
They aren't student loan payments if interest makes it so it never stops.
It's a graduate tax. Stop calling it anything else.
For a large portion of the population the marginal tax rate is 9% higher.
They aren't student loan payments if interest makes it so it never stops.
It's a graduate tax. Stop calling it anything else.
New Post 📝
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
January 18, 2026 at 9:13 PM
New Post 📝
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
Throughout the years, I have seen a smorgasbord of sometimes non-justifiable asks of a teacher in a 60-minute lesson.
Here I show some of what I have been asked in the past alongside a plea to leaders to consider the cognitive load of their teachers.
Link Below
Student loans are an issue and as those with a Plan 2 student become a larger proportion of the population, it is going to be a much larger talking point.
I don't hate what I got for my student loan, but by god I hate the idea of paying it until I'm 52.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
I don't hate what I got for my student loan, but by god I hate the idea of paying it until I'm 52.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
January 13, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Student loans are an issue and as those with a Plan 2 student become a larger proportion of the population, it is going to be a much larger talking point.
I don't hate what I got for my student loan, but by god I hate the idea of paying it until I'm 52.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
I don't hate what I got for my student loan, but by god I hate the idea of paying it until I'm 52.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Student loan interest is back in the news again, and rightly so.
About 18 months ago, I wrote a blog post about the impact student loans have on take home wages and how it's getting worse.
Back then, I said my student loan debt was £70,000.
Today:
About 18 months ago, I wrote a blog post about the impact student loans have on take home wages and how it's getting worse.
Back then, I said my student loan debt was £70,000.
Today:
January 13, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Student loan interest is back in the news again, and rightly so.
About 18 months ago, I wrote a blog post about the impact student loans have on take home wages and how it's getting worse.
Back then, I said my student loan debt was £70,000.
Today:
About 18 months ago, I wrote a blog post about the impact student loans have on take home wages and how it's getting worse.
Back then, I said my student loan debt was £70,000.
Today:
New Science Story Post 📝
Would you swallow a pathogen to prove the medicine wrong?
From smallpox to the "accidental" discovery of the cure for ulcers, this is the story of the scientists who used their own bodies as a lab.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Would you swallow a pathogen to prove the medicine wrong?
From smallpox to the "accidental" discovery of the cure for ulcers, this is the story of the scientists who used their own bodies as a lab.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
January 12, 2026 at 5:30 PM
New Science Story Post 📝
Would you swallow a pathogen to prove the medicine wrong?
From smallpox to the "accidental" discovery of the cure for ulcers, this is the story of the scientists who used their own bodies as a lab.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
Would you swallow a pathogen to prove the medicine wrong?
From smallpox to the "accidental" discovery of the cure for ulcers, this is the story of the scientists who used their own bodies as a lab.
open.substack.com/pub/joel1201...
For those ~25% of teachers, January is usually a good time to have a look at TES.
There are better schools out there. tes.com/jobs
There are better schools out there. tes.com/jobs
January 1, 2026 at 4:23 PM
For those ~25% of teachers, January is usually a good time to have a look at TES.
There are better schools out there. tes.com/jobs
There are better schools out there. tes.com/jobs
First Substack Post📝
In order for me to identify where I could have improved in a lesson, I have created my own vision of my perfect lesson.
Here I narrate through my perfect lesson and why I use it as a measure for all my lessons.
Link below.
In order for me to identify where I could have improved in a lesson, I have created my own vision of my perfect lesson.
Here I narrate through my perfect lesson and why I use it as a measure for all my lessons.
Link below.
December 28, 2025 at 7:40 PM
First Substack Post📝
In order for me to identify where I could have improved in a lesson, I have created my own vision of my perfect lesson.
Here I narrate through my perfect lesson and why I use it as a measure for all my lessons.
Link below.
In order for me to identify where I could have improved in a lesson, I have created my own vision of my perfect lesson.
Here I narrate through my perfect lesson and why I use it as a measure for all my lessons.
Link below.
I absolutely love having a brand new lab!
This is now our third refurbished lab in 2 years and it has been a pleasure to teach and do Practicals with students
This is now our third refurbished lab in 2 years and it has been a pleasure to teach and do Practicals with students
December 1, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I absolutely love having a brand new lab!
This is now our third refurbished lab in 2 years and it has been a pleasure to teach and do Practicals with students
This is now our third refurbished lab in 2 years and it has been a pleasure to teach and do Practicals with students
Does anyone have these AV1 robots in their school?
They essentially are a camera in your lesson where a pupil streams from home.
Personally, I would flat out refuse to have this in my classroom but I'm curious...
They essentially are a camera in your lesson where a pupil streams from home.
Personally, I would flat out refuse to have this in my classroom but I'm curious...
November 30, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Does anyone have these AV1 robots in their school?
They essentially are a camera in your lesson where a pupil streams from home.
Personally, I would flat out refuse to have this in my classroom but I'm curious...
They essentially are a camera in your lesson where a pupil streams from home.
Personally, I would flat out refuse to have this in my classroom but I'm curious...
Are student loan repayments a graduate tax?
In short, by 2030, yes.
Due to the freezing of student loan thresholds until 2030, the national minimum wage will be £400 short of the threshold for repayments.
This means anyone with a student loan in 2030 will be paying back 9% above the threshold.
In short, by 2030, yes.
Due to the freezing of student loan thresholds until 2030, the national minimum wage will be £400 short of the threshold for repayments.
This means anyone with a student loan in 2030 will be paying back 9% above the threshold.
November 27, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Are student loan repayments a graduate tax?
In short, by 2030, yes.
Due to the freezing of student loan thresholds until 2030, the national minimum wage will be £400 short of the threshold for repayments.
This means anyone with a student loan in 2030 will be paying back 9% above the threshold.
In short, by 2030, yes.
Due to the freezing of student loan thresholds until 2030, the national minimum wage will be £400 short of the threshold for repayments.
This means anyone with a student loan in 2030 will be paying back 9% above the threshold.
I fully get that preteaching Tier 3 words before they're used is best for understanding.
However, just looking at AQA B6, it is impossible to preteach all of these words whilst also teaching actual content.
This is one topic out of 24 on combined...
The curriculum is too big!
However, just looking at AQA B6, it is impossible to preteach all of these words whilst also teaching actual content.
This is one topic out of 24 on combined...
The curriculum is too big!
October 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I fully get that preteaching Tier 3 words before they're used is best for understanding.
However, just looking at AQA B6, it is impossible to preteach all of these words whilst also teaching actual content.
This is one topic out of 24 on combined...
The curriculum is too big!
However, just looking at AQA B6, it is impossible to preteach all of these words whilst also teaching actual content.
This is one topic out of 24 on combined...
The curriculum is too big!
Thank you so much to @alexjquigley.bsky.social for coming to visit us for our awards evening.
Your speech to our pupils was sincere, insightful and exactly the message they needed to hear, especially coming from a former pupil.
It was also a pleasure to finally meet you!
Your speech to our pupils was sincere, insightful and exactly the message they needed to hear, especially coming from a former pupil.
It was also a pleasure to finally meet you!
July 16, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Thank you so much to @alexjquigley.bsky.social for coming to visit us for our awards evening.
Your speech to our pupils was sincere, insightful and exactly the message they needed to hear, especially coming from a former pupil.
It was also a pleasure to finally meet you!
Your speech to our pupils was sincere, insightful and exactly the message they needed to hear, especially coming from a former pupil.
It was also a pleasure to finally meet you!
The weirdest one for me has to be this 👇
Why on earth is that on the GCSE?
Why on earth is that on the GCSE?
July 7, 2025 at 10:16 PM
The weirdest one for me has to be this 👇
Why on earth is that on the GCSE?
Why on earth is that on the GCSE?
4/ Unemployment.
Looking at OECD data, unemployment is drastically lower in all countries when education level is higher.
UK gov data again shows this yet again that if you want unemployment to decrease, you increase education levels.
Looking at OECD data, unemployment is drastically lower in all countries when education level is higher.
UK gov data again shows this yet again that if you want unemployment to decrease, you increase education levels.
July 3, 2025 at 6:07 AM
4/ Unemployment.
Looking at OECD data, unemployment is drastically lower in all countries when education level is higher.
UK gov data again shows this yet again that if you want unemployment to decrease, you increase education levels.
Looking at OECD data, unemployment is drastically lower in all countries when education level is higher.
UK gov data again shows this yet again that if you want unemployment to decrease, you increase education levels.
1/ A school is a place of learning. Not a place to fix all societies ills.
The most deprived areas in the country need a route out of their deprivation.
If we look at the social determinants health, many of them are difficult to change for a child.
The most deprived areas in the country need a route out of their deprivation.
If we look at the social determinants health, many of them are difficult to change for a child.
July 3, 2025 at 6:07 AM
1/ A school is a place of learning. Not a place to fix all societies ills.
The most deprived areas in the country need a route out of their deprivation.
If we look at the social determinants health, many of them are difficult to change for a child.
The most deprived areas in the country need a route out of their deprivation.
If we look at the social determinants health, many of them are difficult to change for a child.
If I'm honest, I hate most analogies.
The worst one is the bucket of water for limiting factors. A pupil once asked me why anyone would make a bucket like that and I've been unable to look past it ever since.
The worst one is the bucket of water for limiting factors. A pupil once asked me why anyone would make a bucket like that and I've been unable to look past it ever since.
June 24, 2025 at 9:53 PM
If I'm honest, I hate most analogies.
The worst one is the bucket of water for limiting factors. A pupil once asked me why anyone would make a bucket like that and I've been unable to look past it ever since.
The worst one is the bucket of water for limiting factors. A pupil once asked me why anyone would make a bucket like that and I've been unable to look past it ever since.
An error on my part.
The positive is highlighting (without a highlighter) useful clues or markers towards the answer.
In the don't, I meant highlighting as a method of summarising or picking out key info from a text.
E.g. 👇 😅
The positive is highlighting (without a highlighter) useful clues or markers towards the answer.
In the don't, I meant highlighting as a method of summarising or picking out key info from a text.
E.g. 👇 😅
June 2, 2025 at 8:59 PM
An error on my part.
The positive is highlighting (without a highlighter) useful clues or markers towards the answer.
In the don't, I meant highlighting as a method of summarising or picking out key info from a text.
E.g. 👇 😅
The positive is highlighting (without a highlighter) useful clues or markers towards the answer.
In the don't, I meant highlighting as a method of summarising or picking out key info from a text.
E.g. 👇 😅
7/ In this question, I show my actual thought process. Metal is a good conductor, this means heat transfers well. I also include references back to demos they have seen (Al ice cube demo) to support their recall.
June 2, 2025 at 8:40 PM
7/ In this question, I show my actual thought process. Metal is a good conductor, this means heat transfers well. I also include references back to demos they have seen (Al ice cube demo) to support their recall.
6/ In this 6-mark question from 2024, I am not giving the students the answer, but instead highlighting as much of the information I can get from my own memory to support my answer.
I would usually then show the pupils how I plan the answer before allowing them to complete it
I would usually then show the pupils how I plan the answer before allowing them to complete it
June 2, 2025 at 8:40 PM
6/ In this 6-mark question from 2024, I am not giving the students the answer, but instead highlighting as much of the information I can get from my own memory to support my answer.
I would usually then show the pupils how I plan the answer before allowing them to complete it
I would usually then show the pupils how I plan the answer before allowing them to complete it
5/ This is very similar to what I get students to do during my revision sessions with them whilst attempting to pull out as much as possible from the question.
For example, in the question below, I have not just annotated for the question, but for a lot more than is being asked.
For example, in the question below, I have not just annotated for the question, but for a lot more than is being asked.
June 2, 2025 at 8:40 PM
5/ This is very similar to what I get students to do during my revision sessions with them whilst attempting to pull out as much as possible from the question.
For example, in the question below, I have not just annotated for the question, but for a lot more than is being asked.
For example, in the question below, I have not just annotated for the question, but for a lot more than is being asked.
4/ Another interesting point is how these are used in MCQs. Students are highlighting key terminology, writing down definitions for words in the question and eliminating incorrect answers.
All incredibly useful!
All incredibly useful!
June 2, 2025 at 8:40 PM
4/ Another interesting point is how these are used in MCQs. Students are highlighting key terminology, writing down definitions for words in the question and eliminating incorrect answers.
All incredibly useful!
All incredibly useful!
3/ For questions that appeared on both higher and foundation papers, the higher students were more likely to annotate - sometimes 20% more likely!
But the bit that really sticks it out for me, is the students that annotate the most, get the higher grades.
But the bit that really sticks it out for me, is the students that annotate the most, get the higher grades.
June 2, 2025 at 8:40 PM
3/ For questions that appeared on both higher and foundation papers, the higher students were more likely to annotate - sometimes 20% more likely!
But the bit that really sticks it out for me, is the students that annotate the most, get the higher grades.
But the bit that really sticks it out for me, is the students that annotate the most, get the higher grades.
I've just got access to Google Veo so here is a springer spaniel going skydiving.
May 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I've just got access to Google Veo so here is a springer spaniel going skydiving.