Jim Lauder
@mrjlauder.bsky.social
Dixons Academies. Schools as civic institutions - ensuring our communities have a voice and power. Building place based partnerships. Views my own.
At weekends I post about cooking.
At weekends I post about cooking.
November 23, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Looks like we've lost the battle for rigour in RE. Sigh.
The average member of the public has a pretty ropey understanding of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism at best. That's both intrinsically and societally bad.
But no, let's make it trendy.
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-next-af...
The average member of the public has a pretty ropey understanding of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism at best. That's both intrinsically and societally bad.
But no, let's make it trendy.
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-next-af...
November 23, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Looks like we've lost the battle for rigour in RE. Sigh.
The average member of the public has a pretty ropey understanding of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism at best. That's both intrinsically and societally bad.
But no, let's make it trendy.
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-next-af...
The average member of the public has a pretty ropey understanding of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism at best. That's both intrinsically and societally bad.
But no, let's make it trendy.
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-next-af...
November 21, 2025 at 10:11 PM
This has always been the fear with the oracy agenda - that it will lead to the DfE dictating pedagogy and the return of compulsory group work by the back door.
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
November 9, 2025 at 8:32 AM
This has always been the fear with the oracy agenda - that it will lead to the DfE dictating pedagogy and the return of compulsory group work by the back door.
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging.
www.thetimes.com/article/40e5...
Friday's pumpkin and last night's Greek veg turned into tonight's lasagne.
November 2, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Friday's pumpkin and last night's Greek veg turned into tonight's lasagne.
New vision of hell just dropped
October 27, 2025 at 7:04 AM
New vision of hell just dropped
School closures, and the failure to properly fund Covid catch-up, were disastrous choices, and we are still living with the impacts.
www.thetimes.com/article/3a27...
www.thetimes.com/article/3a27...
October 22, 2025 at 6:03 AM
School closures, and the failure to properly fund Covid catch-up, were disastrous choices, and we are still living with the impacts.
www.thetimes.com/article/3a27...
www.thetimes.com/article/3a27...
Some lovely Yorkshire for the Sunday timeline
October 5, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Some lovely Yorkshire for the Sunday timeline
This is a very important point and needs to be a major direction of travel.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
October 1, 2025 at 6:30 AM
This is a very important point and needs to be a major direction of travel.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Creamy smoky aubergine pasta with garlic tahini sauce.
I chucked some of asda's halal mutton koftas in the air fryer and put them on top. Magic Saturday eve with a glass of garnacha.
Recipe here ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipe...
I chucked some of asda's halal mutton koftas in the air fryer and put them on top. Magic Saturday eve with a glass of garnacha.
Recipe here ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipe...
September 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Creamy smoky aubergine pasta with garlic tahini sauce.
I chucked some of asda's halal mutton koftas in the air fryer and put them on top. Magic Saturday eve with a glass of garnacha.
Recipe here ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipe...
I chucked some of asda's halal mutton koftas in the air fryer and put them on top. Magic Saturday eve with a glass of garnacha.
Recipe here ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipe...
First time doing Glamorgan sausages for years. Could do with more thyme and maybe a hint of chili. But pretty good!
September 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
First time doing Glamorgan sausages for years. Could do with more thyme and maybe a hint of chili. But pretty good!
Lazy Sunday caramelising onions
September 7, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Lazy Sunday caramelising onions
Friday night fakeaway: Birdseye fish fingers fried rice and homemade curry sauce.
One of the best things I've ever made (yes being back at work has been an adjustment).
One of the best things I've ever made (yes being back at work has been an adjustment).
August 29, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Friday night fakeaway: Birdseye fish fingers fried rice and homemade curry sauce.
One of the best things I've ever made (yes being back at work has been an adjustment).
One of the best things I've ever made (yes being back at work has been an adjustment).
I'm also worried kids will get put in these units because they're inconvenient, or because of prejudice.
This bit is concerning - we shouldn't be letting schools off the hook on accountability for SEND students as that creates a clear incentive to shovel kids into the units.
This bit is concerning - we shouldn't be letting schools off the hook on accountability for SEND students as that creates a clear incentive to shovel kids into the units.
August 6, 2025 at 6:29 AM
I'm also worried kids will get put in these units because they're inconvenient, or because of prejudice.
This bit is concerning - we shouldn't be letting schools off the hook on accountability for SEND students as that creates a clear incentive to shovel kids into the units.
This bit is concerning - we shouldn't be letting schools off the hook on accountability for SEND students as that creates a clear incentive to shovel kids into the units.
I missed this article from Monday, which covers the blind alley we've driven up on inspection.
This bit on SEND seemingly confirms a big part of the DfE plan is to put kids in various units in mainstream schools.
To be a broken record - I'm not convinced.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
This bit on SEND seemingly confirms a big part of the DfE plan is to put kids in various units in mainstream schools.
To be a broken record - I'm not convinced.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
August 6, 2025 at 6:24 AM
I missed this article from Monday, which covers the blind alley we've driven up on inspection.
This bit on SEND seemingly confirms a big part of the DfE plan is to put kids in various units in mainstream schools.
To be a broken record - I'm not convinced.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
This bit on SEND seemingly confirms a big part of the DfE plan is to put kids in various units in mainstream schools.
To be a broken record - I'm not convinced.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Once more: exams are the worst form of assessment, except for all the others.
NZ aimed for a personalised, skills based curriculum mainly assessed by teachers. It's been a disaster, like the vast majority of places this is tried.
NZ aimed for a personalised, skills based curriculum mainly assessed by teachers. It's been a disaster, like the vast majority of places this is tried.
July 28, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Once more: exams are the worst form of assessment, except for all the others.
NZ aimed for a personalised, skills based curriculum mainly assessed by teachers. It's been a disaster, like the vast majority of places this is tried.
NZ aimed for a personalised, skills based curriculum mainly assessed by teachers. It's been a disaster, like the vast majority of places this is tried.
Friday night fakeaway: salt and chili chips, salt and chili tofu, prawn fried rice. With onion rings and noodles.
Chips weren't the best but got it all on the table in just over 30 mins with a lot of salt, garlic and beer so who cares.
Chips weren't the best but got it all on the table in just over 30 mins with a lot of salt, garlic and beer so who cares.
July 25, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Friday night fakeaway: salt and chili chips, salt and chili tofu, prawn fried rice. With onion rings and noodles.
Chips weren't the best but got it all on the table in just over 30 mins with a lot of salt, garlic and beer so who cares.
Chips weren't the best but got it all on the table in just over 30 mins with a lot of salt, garlic and beer so who cares.
I finally went to Bradford's new Darley Street Market this week and it's magnificent.
Highlights were the Yorkshire haloumi, the pickles and olives, and Bradford faves Bab Tooma.
Highlights were the Yorkshire haloumi, the pickles and olives, and Bradford faves Bab Tooma.
July 23, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I finally went to Bradford's new Darley Street Market this week and it's magnificent.
Highlights were the Yorkshire haloumi, the pickles and olives, and Bradford faves Bab Tooma.
Highlights were the Yorkshire haloumi, the pickles and olives, and Bradford faves Bab Tooma.
So this turned out really very well
July 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
So this turned out really very well
Imam biyaldi for tomorrow :)
July 19, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Imam biyaldi for tomorrow :)
First attempt at croquettes. Turned out pretty good! If a bit misshapen. Did it in the oven instead of fried for ease.
July 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
First attempt at croquettes. Turned out pretty good! If a bit misshapen. Did it in the oven instead of fried for ease.