Pinned
Director for Fair Access and Participation steps down from regulator - Office for Students
John Blake's four-year term as the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) ends this year. The Secretary of State will be appointing an interim Director for Fair Ac...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk
It has been an enormous honour to serve as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Now that all-new access and participation plans are in place across the sector, I have decided not to seek a second term.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
People who have been incredibly academically successful often do not consider that the education system is not designed around them (tho, as their success illustrates, it is good for them).
Britain’s top scientists have written to the PM warning that the education system is holding back children and the country and expressing concern about the timidity of the government’s curriculum and assessment review @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Broken education system is holding back the young, top scientists warn PM | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 8:35 PM
People who have been incredibly academically successful often do not consider that the education system is not designed around them (tho, as their success illustrates, it is good for them).
Reposted by John Blake
It has been an enormous honour to serve as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Now that all-new access and participation plans are in place across the sector, I have decided not to seek a second term.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
Director for Fair Access and Participation steps down from regulator - Office for Students
John Blake's four-year term as the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) ends this year. The Secretary of State will be appointing an interim Director for Fair Ac...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk
November 8, 2025 at 12:05 PM
It has been an enormous honour to serve as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Now that all-new access and participation plans are in place across the sector, I have decided not to seek a second term.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
It has been an enormous honour to serve as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Now that all-new access and participation plans are in place across the sector, I have decided not to seek a second term.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
Director for Fair Access and Participation steps down from regulator - Office for Students
John Blake's four-year term as the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) ends this year. The Secretary of State will be appointing an interim Director for Fair Ac...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk
November 8, 2025 at 12:05 PM
It has been an enormous honour to serve as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Now that all-new access and participation plans are in place across the sector, I have decided not to seek a second term.
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
Reposted by John Blake
John Blake, the OfS’ director of fair access and participation, has announced he will leave the English regulator this year after deciding against staying for another four-year stint
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
John Blake to leave OfS as Labour signals new approach to access
Former teacher steps down after one term, having overseen revamp in widening participation efforts
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:22 PM
John Blake, the OfS’ director of fair access and participation, has announced he will leave the English regulator this year after deciding against staying for another four-year stint
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
Never really certain if anyone sees these things on here, but for those who do and are interested, I am shortly stepping down from my role at the Office for Students -- full statement here:
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
Director for Fair Access and Participation steps down from regulator - Office for Students
John Blake's four-year term as the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) ends this year. The Secretary of State will be appointing an interim Director for Fair Ac...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk
November 7, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Never really certain if anyone sees these things on here, but for those who do and are interested, I am shortly stepping down from my role at the Office for Students -- full statement here:
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
November 6, 2025 at 10:32 PM
#celebritytraitors is the greatest television since the Wire.
November 6, 2025 at 10:29 PM
#celebritytraitors is the greatest television since the Wire.
Reposted by John Blake
FWIW, I think Klein's piece is unnecessarily complimentary about Kirk's achievements. Just as it undesirable to speak ill of of the recently dead, it is not obligatory to be nice about them. But the fundamental truth in that final line is what matters.
September 11, 2025 at 11:53 AM
FWIW, I think Klein's piece is unnecessarily complimentary about Kirk's achievements. Just as it undesirable to speak ill of of the recently dead, it is not obligatory to be nice about them. But the fundamental truth in that final line is what matters.
Reposted by John Blake
"We are all safe, or none of us are."
And that goes for Washington DC as much as it does for Washington, Tyne and Wear.
And that goes for Washington DC as much as it does for Washington, Tyne and Wear.
Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/o...
Opinion | Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way
www.nytimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:50 AM
"We are all safe, or none of us are."
And that goes for Washington DC as much as it does for Washington, Tyne and Wear.
And that goes for Washington DC as much as it does for Washington, Tyne and Wear.
Reposted by John Blake
Let’s go with the idea that these drones over Poland mistakenly ended up there. All the more reason for NATO to announce a no-fly-zone over Western Ukraine in order to prevent such unfortunate mistakes in the future. Simple. Close the skies.
September 10, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Let’s go with the idea that these drones over Poland mistakenly ended up there. All the more reason for NATO to announce a no-fly-zone over Western Ukraine in order to prevent such unfortunate mistakes in the future. Simple. Close the skies.
Reposted by John Blake
Reposted by John Blake
Reposted by John Blake
HOW STEPHEN. HOW HAVE YOU MADE THIS ABOUT HARRY POTTER
August 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM
HOW STEPHEN. HOW HAVE YOU MADE THIS ABOUT HARRY POTTER
Reposted by John Blake
My video about how LLMs are not search engines has led to many, MANY comments telling me that I should be using Perplexity. Some insisting that Perplexity does not hallucinate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
August 23, 2025 at 5:54 PM
My video about how LLMs are not search engines has led to many, MANY comments telling me that I should be using Perplexity. Some insisting that Perplexity does not hallucinate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Out of a list of 26 papers it just provided me (in "Research" mode) 4 were real. FOUR. 85% hallucination rate.
Reposted by John Blake
This They Might Be Giants TONIGHT SHOW performance of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" from 1990 remains firmly lodged in my noggin thanks to the Tonight Show Band's full commitment and Doc Severinsen's incredible trumpeting... It took an already great song and made it transcendent.
August 23, 2025 at 8:44 AM
This They Might Be Giants TONIGHT SHOW performance of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" from 1990 remains firmly lodged in my noggin thanks to the Tonight Show Band's full commitment and Doc Severinsen's incredible trumpeting... It took an already great song and made it transcendent.
Possibly the best reason to tune into Bluesky is Stephen Bush’s insatiable (and obviously entirely correct) demand for someone at HBO to talk us all through their thinking here.
Look, sorry, just explain, as a business proposition, who the imagined audience for “the same look, style and design as the Harry Potter films, which are good, but with an extra six hours per film and a longer wait between installments” IS.
August 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Possibly the best reason to tune into Bluesky is Stephen Bush’s insatiable (and obviously entirely correct) demand for someone at HBO to talk us all through their thinking here.
Reposted by John Blake
In the latest post on our Substack I try to make sense of the mutual incomprehension between teachers & students about the role of AI.
Is it OK for students to use AI to write their assignments if that's the most efficient thing to do?
If not, why not?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-is-th...
Is it OK for students to use AI to write their assignments if that's the most efficient thing to do?
If not, why not?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-is-th...
July 19, 2025 at 7:34 AM
In the latest post on our Substack I try to make sense of the mutual incomprehension between teachers & students about the role of AI.
Is it OK for students to use AI to write their assignments if that's the most efficient thing to do?
If not, why not?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-is-th...
Is it OK for students to use AI to write their assignments if that's the most efficient thing to do?
If not, why not?
substack.nomoremarking.com/p/what-is-th...
Reposted by John Blake
I was explaining to my Ukrainian colleague the phrase ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’. She told me the equivalent in Ukrainian is ‘The only free cheese is in the mousetrap’ - which is so much better
July 16, 2025 at 6:39 AM
I was explaining to my Ukrainian colleague the phrase ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’. She told me the equivalent in Ukrainian is ‘The only free cheese is in the mousetrap’ - which is so much better
Reposted by John Blake
Re: stripping citizenship, look. There is no legal mechanism for him to do it. The very fact that he is talking about it tells you, yet again, what he is. He’s an aspiring totalitarian who wants absolute power over people’s lives and to use it to reward friends and punish enemies. That’s really it.
July 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Re: stripping citizenship, look. There is no legal mechanism for him to do it. The very fact that he is talking about it tells you, yet again, what he is. He’s an aspiring totalitarian who wants absolute power over people’s lives and to use it to reward friends and punish enemies. That’s really it.
Reposted by John Blake
New York Times editors as they're handcuffed and sent to a concentration camp: "Experts say this is a bad thing to happen."
President Trump said on Saturday he was considering revoking Rosie O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship. Trump has feuded with the comedian and actress since before he became president. Experts said the president does not have the power to take away the citizenship of a U.S.-born citizen.
Trump Threatens to Strip Rosie O’Donnell of U.S. Citizenship
President Trump called Ms. O’Donnell, who has feuded with him since before he became president, a “threat to humanity.”
trib.al
July 12, 2025 at 9:25 PM
New York Times editors as they're handcuffed and sent to a concentration camp: "Experts say this is a bad thing to happen."
Reposted by John Blake
This kind of smart, walkable, mixed-use development is illegal to build these days.
July 12, 2025 at 9:03 AM
This kind of smart, walkable, mixed-use development is illegal to build these days.
Reposted by John Blake
Hugh Muir recalls the response of London Mayor Ken Livingstone to 7/7 from Singapore. I agree that, despite his flaws & failings at other times, that this was an important message
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
July 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Hugh Muir recalls the response of London Mayor Ken Livingstone to 7/7 from Singapore. I agree that, despite his flaws & failings at other times, that this was an important message
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by John Blake
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Wars, Star Trek, LotR, Marvel.
July 1, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Wars, Star Trek, LotR, Marvel.
Reposted by John Blake
This is very funny and exactly how I’d expect AI agents to work right now (rather erratically) but also how I’d expect humans to behave (trolling the AI to buy tungsten cubes)
What happens if you let AI run a vending machine? Actually autonomously managing a money-making process is a very good test for AI.
Anthropic did exactly that, and it lost money. But the flaws (& strengths) provide a great lens on what AI is good and bad at, and how those gaps might be closed.
Anthropic did exactly that, and it lost money. But the flaws (& strengths) provide a great lens on what AI is good and bad at, and how those gaps might be closed.
June 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
This is very funny and exactly how I’d expect AI agents to work right now (rather erratically) but also how I’d expect humans to behave (trolling the AI to buy tungsten cubes)