Michael Tidd
@michaelt1979.bsky.social
Junior school headteacher in Sussex
I reckon easily half of difficult conversations with families about attendance include a parent saying "you only care about your figures".
I'm sure this'll help no end 🙄
Such a massive misunderstanding of the issue.
I'm sure this'll help no end 🙄
Such a massive misunderstanding of the issue.
Every school will get an individual target to improve attendance – and this will be powered by AI, the government has announced
DfE sets AI-powered attendance targets for schools
Headteachers’ leaders dismiss new individual attendance targets for every school as a ‘Whitehall diktat’ that will be an extra burden on staff
www.tes.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:48 AM
I reckon easily half of difficult conversations with families about attendance include a parent saying "you only care about your figures".
I'm sure this'll help no end 🙄
Such a massive misunderstanding of the issue.
I'm sure this'll help no end 🙄
Such a massive misunderstanding of the issue.
Reposted by Michael Tidd
Trump wants to destroy the BBC and take our money. And Nigel Farage is egging him on.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Trump wants to destroy the BBC and take our money. And Nigel Farage is egging him on.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
All true patriots should tell them both: hands off our BBC.
Reposted by Michael Tidd
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Michael Tidd
‘Where’s your fucking poppy?’
November 8, 2025 at 12:05 PM
‘Where’s your fucking poppy?’
So, first skim reading of the curriculum and assessment review and despite several mentions of the need not to increase volume... There are plenty of examples of adding new content and I can only find one of removing anything - and that's GPS where the caveat is increasing the stakes of the test
November 5, 2025 at 7:41 AM
So, first skim reading of the curriculum and assessment review and despite several mentions of the need not to increase volume... There are plenty of examples of adding new content and I can only find one of removing anything - and that's GPS where the caveat is increasing the stakes of the test
Hugely disappointing that we seem to be stuck with the dreadful principle of the teacher assessment frameworks and moderation farce.
November 4, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Hugely disappointing that we seem to be stuck with the dreadful principle of the teacher assessment frameworks and moderation farce.
No sign of any acknowledgement of a crowded primary curriculum - and it seems, just new things to add.
Sigh.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Sigh.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Curriculum and assessment review: 14 key points
The Francis review’s final recommendations include scrapping the EBacc, reducing exam time and making triple science available to all at GCSE
www.tes.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:49 PM
No sign of any acknowledgement of a crowded primary curriculum - and it seems, just new things to add.
Sigh.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Sigh.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
What a depressing opening paragraph to the government's announcement of planned curriculum changes.
November 4, 2025 at 10:35 PM
What a depressing opening paragraph to the government's announcement of planned curriculum changes.
Reposted by Michael Tidd
One more time, if you are still on X you are funding this man. This man who wants to sow unrest in a country he doesn’t live in. If you’re still on X, you are part of the problem, don’t kid yourself that you’re not.
Elon Musk, "These lovely small towns in England, Scotland and Ireland, they've been living their lives quietly. They're like hobbits"
"And so one day, 1,000 people show up in your village of 500 and start raping the kids"
"This has now happened, God knows how many times in Britain"
"And so one day, 1,000 people show up in your village of 500 and start raping the kids"
"This has now happened, God knows how many times in Britain"
November 2, 2025 at 10:14 PM
One more time, if you are still on X you are funding this man. This man who wants to sow unrest in a country he doesn’t live in. If you’re still on X, you are part of the problem, don’t kid yourself that you’re not.
Sometimes I like to dream about being from a nation where you always know where you'll find your country name in an alphabetical list.
November 1, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Sometimes I like to dream about being from a nation where you always know where you'll find your country name in an alphabetical list.
Reposted by Michael Tidd
X is a cesspit led by an unhinged billionaire who is desperately trying to stir up civil war in Britain.
Nobody with any sense or decency should be there.
No organisations, government departments, or politicians should be there.
Everyone who is, is enabling this monster.
Nobody with any sense or decency should be there.
No organisations, government departments, or politicians should be there.
Everyone who is, is enabling this monster.
October 29, 2025 at 8:22 AM
X is a cesspit led by an unhinged billionaire who is desperately trying to stir up civil war in Britain.
Nobody with any sense or decency should be there.
No organisations, government departments, or politicians should be there.
Everyone who is, is enabling this monster.
Nobody with any sense or decency should be there.
No organisations, government departments, or politicians should be there.
Everyone who is, is enabling this monster.
Article aside... How old must the kids in this stock picture be now? It's been around for years!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Unclear when special schools in Gamlingay and March will be built
Council officials say costs are going up as children are being put in specialist independent schools.
www.bbc.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Article aside... How old must the kids in this stock picture be now? It's been around for years!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Michael Tidd
An elected MP, Reform’s Sarah Pochin says there are too many Black and Asian people on TV - so plain racism - and the coverage of it is buried. Silence and ignorance is complicity, causing lasting damage. When we see racism it’s what we do next, individually and collectively, that matters.
October 26, 2025 at 8:38 AM
An elected MP, Reform’s Sarah Pochin says there are too many Black and Asian people on TV - so plain racism - and the coverage of it is buried. Silence and ignorance is complicity, causing lasting damage. When we see racism it’s what we do next, individually and collectively, that matters.
Reposted by Michael Tidd
As November approaches, never forget that the BBC pinned a poppy on Cookie Monster.
"YPRES MAKE COOKIE MONSTER SAD. NO COOKIES AT SOMME."
"YPRES MAKE COOKIE MONSTER SAD. NO COOKIES AT SOMME."
October 27, 2024 at 4:55 PM
As November approaches, never forget that the BBC pinned a poppy on Cookie Monster.
"YPRES MAKE COOKIE MONSTER SAD. NO COOKIES AT SOMME."
"YPRES MAKE COOKIE MONSTER SAD. NO COOKIES AT SOMME."
I thought the article @oldandrewuk.bsky.social is talking about here was bizarre - but I hadn't clocked just how off-the-scale bad the original research was
New blog post.
Education researchers publish obviously false claims about internal exclusion. Part 1 andrewold.substack.com/p/education-...
Education researchers publish obviously false claims about internal exclusion. Part 1 andrewold.substack.com/p/education-...
Education researchers publish obviously false claims about internal exclusion. Part 1
How does anyone believe this nonsense?
andrewold.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I thought the article @oldandrewuk.bsky.social is talking about here was bizarre - but I hadn't clocked just how off-the-scale bad the original research was
They've also studied the impact of keeping disruptive and violent pupils in classrooms on the rest of the class, right?
I mean, surely they wouldn't just decide to base recommendations for the whole system only on the benefits for the few who cause disruption to others? Surely?!
I mean, surely they wouldn't just decide to base recommendations for the whole system only on the benefits for the few who cause disruption to others? Surely?!
❌ Time in controversial isolation rooms negatively impacts some pupils wellbeing, the first major study into internal exclusions has suggested
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 11:11 PM
They've also studied the impact of keeping disruptive and violent pupils in classrooms on the rest of the class, right?
I mean, surely they wouldn't just decide to base recommendations for the whole system only on the benefits for the few who cause disruption to others? Surely?!
I mean, surely they wouldn't just decide to base recommendations for the whole system only on the benefits for the few who cause disruption to others? Surely?!
This, from @jonnelledge.bsky.social is exactly right.
It's shameful.
jonn.substack.com/p/its-racist...
It's shameful.
jonn.substack.com/p/its-racist...
October 22, 2025 at 11:07 PM
This, from @jonnelledge.bsky.social is exactly right.
It's shameful.
jonn.substack.com/p/its-racist...
It's shameful.
jonn.substack.com/p/its-racist...
Reposted by Michael Tidd
You may have missed this small (but significant) line in Ofsted's inspector training..
Headteachers now have to say where their school “currently sits” on Ofsted’s 5-point grading scale - despite the fact report cards were only released last month.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Headteachers now have to say where their school “currently sits” on Ofsted’s 5-point grading scale - despite the fact report cards were only released last month.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Schools grading themselves is ‘almost impossible’, heads warn Ofsted
Ofsted’s expectation that schools provide a graded self-evaluation using its new five-point scale has sparked warnings from heads’ leaders
www.tes.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:21 PM
You may have missed this small (but significant) line in Ofsted's inspector training..
Headteachers now have to say where their school “currently sits” on Ofsted’s 5-point grading scale - despite the fact report cards were only released last month.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Headteachers now have to say where their school “currently sits” on Ofsted’s 5-point grading scale - despite the fact report cards were only released last month.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by Michael Tidd
If Labour cannot denounce mass deportation of permanent residents, Idi Amin style, what is the point of them?
October 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
If Labour cannot denounce mass deportation of permanent residents, Idi Amin style, what is the point of them?
Almost half of primary teachers feeling stressed or unhappy over the past fortnight because of relationships with parents.
(Significantly higher than secondary colleagues it seems)
(Significantly higher than secondary colleagues it seems)
October 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Almost half of primary teachers feeling stressed or unhappy over the past fortnight because of relationships with parents.
(Significantly higher than secondary colleagues it seems)
(Significantly higher than secondary colleagues it seems)
HMCI says it's not true that they're ignoring headteacher wellbeing, going on to say... ... absolutely nothing about how they're addressing it.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Oliver: Heads don’t automatically lose job after poor Ofsted grades
The chief inspector, speaking at the Confederation of School Trusts conference, rejects the idea that Ofsted has not considered headteachers’ wellbeing in developing its new inspections
www.tes.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:31 PM
HMCI says it's not true that they're ignoring headteacher wellbeing, going on to say... ... absolutely nothing about how they're addressing it.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
It's fascinating how this has shifted over time.
Will we reach a point where more parents are fighting for an EHCP for their child than are doing things like listening to them read?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Will we reach a point where more parents are fighting for an EHCP for their child than are doing things like listening to them read?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Some parents of special school pupils in England spending £5,000 on EHCPs
Sutton Trust’s research reveals huge inequalities in how parents navigate Send system, as ministers plan overhaul
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
It's fascinating how this has shifted over time.
Will we reach a point where more parents are fighting for an EHCP for their child than are doing things like listening to them read?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Will we reach a point where more parents are fighting for an EHCP for their child than are doing things like listening to them read?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Michael Tidd
I've earnt enough money from my side hustle to quit teaching.
I sell 'My School Doesn't Use Twinkl' badges outside headteacher conferences.
I sell 'My School Doesn't Use Twinkl' badges outside headteacher conferences.
October 16, 2025 at 4:51 AM
I've earnt enough money from my side hustle to quit teaching.
I sell 'My School Doesn't Use Twinkl' badges outside headteacher conferences.
I sell 'My School Doesn't Use Twinkl' badges outside headteacher conferences.
Reposted by Michael Tidd
In an exclusive interview, Searching for Normal author Sami Timimi tells @helen-amass.bsky.social why he believes labels for autism, ADHD and other mental health conditions have become commercialised and offer no benefit
Sami Timimi: Why ‘invented’ SEND labels are disabling pupils
Diagnostic labels are medicalising young people for behaviours once considered ordinary and are contributing to unsustainable workload in schools, argues psychiatrist Sami Timimi
www.tes.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:35 AM
In an exclusive interview, Searching for Normal author Sami Timimi tells @helen-amass.bsky.social why he believes labels for autism, ADHD and other mental health conditions have become commercialised and offer no benefit