Mark Shepstone
@mrshepstone.bsky.social
Curriculum AHT/acting DHT in Suffolk. Spaniel handler. ‘the man with orange hair’. Football ref. 🌹. Views mine etc.
#UKTeaching
#UKTeaching
Week 147 of @1001albumsgen.bsky.social was a good mix with one obvious standout 😍
November 13, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Week 147 of @1001albumsgen.bsky.social was a good mix with one obvious standout 😍
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
I find the endless, often pointless drama that has typified UK politics coverage for a decade as draining & unedifying as anyone. But, *as of now* & by every relevant measure, Starmer’s position is perilously close to untenable. Of course people are planning for a future where he’s no longer leader.
November 12, 2025 at 7:58 AM
I find the endless, often pointless drama that has typified UK politics coverage for a decade as draining & unedifying as anyone. But, *as of now* & by every relevant measure, Starmer’s position is perilously close to untenable. Of course people are planning for a future where he’s no longer leader.
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
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 Mark Shepstone
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
November 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
Your cat when you're choking to death in your apartment
November 6, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Your cat when you're choking to death in your apartment
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
Wearing a poppy is meaningful because it is voluntary. There are many different & shifting views in Ireland about whether and how to engage with commemorations of the world wars, which include many Irish servicemen, given our complex history. We should respect people's choices, not try to impose
November 5, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Wearing a poppy is meaningful because it is voluntary. There are many different & shifting views in Ireland about whether and how to engage with commemorations of the world wars, which include many Irish servicemen, given our complex history. We should respect people's choices, not try to impose
Week 146 of @1001albumsgen.bsky.social has one of the greatest live albums ever, some early morning DnB and a band I’ve never heard of
November 5, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Week 146 of @1001albumsgen.bsky.social has one of the greatest live albums ever, some early morning DnB and a band I’ve never heard of
Liverpool fans right now being particularly embarrassing
November 4, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Liverpool fans right now being particularly embarrassing
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
British government and MPs still use this man's social media platform.
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 8:42 PM
British government and MPs still use this man's social media platform.
‘Tommy Robinson’ hearing about the incident, then finding out the facts
November 2, 2025 at 7:35 PM
‘Tommy Robinson’ hearing about the incident, then finding out the facts
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
The fact that one of the two men arrested has now been cleared and released is a pretty huge "STOP" sign to everyone who's spent the last 24 hours rushing to interpret the attack. Facts, like trains, are sometimes slower to arrive than we'd like. But you just have to wait for them.
Extract from more recent Goodwin post. He really should never be allowed on the BBC - or any other reputable broadcaster - again.
November 2, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The fact that one of the two men arrested has now been cleared and released is a pretty huge "STOP" sign to everyone who's spent the last 24 hours rushing to interpret the attack. Facts, like trains, are sometimes slower to arrive than we'd like. But you just have to wait for them.
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
Did he read the bit in Lord of The Rings where a creepy toxic guy filled the local ruler’s head with idiotic poison and wrecked everything in that kingdom until the king came to his senses and chucked the toxic creep out?
October 29, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Did he read the bit in Lord of The Rings where a creepy toxic guy filled the local ruler’s head with idiotic poison and wrecked everything in that kingdom until the king came to his senses and chucked the toxic creep out?
Week 145 of @1001albumsgen.bsky.social caused a scene when I scored Talking Heads lower than Dizzee 💁♂️
October 29, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Week 145 of @1001albumsgen.bsky.social caused a scene when I scored Talking Heads lower than Dizzee 💁♂️
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
This is cringe tankie politics that makes no reference to Russia's repeated invasions of neighbouring countries, but rather echoes Russian propaganda lines. Deeply unserious.
The moderate left needs to challenge this kind of nonsense. NATO is a diminished alliance that is finding its feet at a critical moment – pushing back against an actual imperialist power.
October 28, 2025 at 4:48 PM
This is cringe tankie politics that makes no reference to Russia's repeated invasions of neighbouring countries, but rather echoes Russian propaganda lines. Deeply unserious.
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
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 Mark Shepstone
This is worse than her doing it IMV
Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp repeatedly refusing to say that he thinks Reform MP Sarah Pochin saying she doesn't like seeing black people on TV was racist.
Says he wouldn't use her "language" but it's right for her to express "legitimate concerns" about migration
Says he wouldn't use her "language" but it's right for her to express "legitimate concerns" about migration
October 26, 2025 at 9:46 AM
This is worse than her doing it IMV
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
Reform lost by 11% in Caerphilly - because of a surge in turnout, because Reform looked set to win the seat.
This illustrates Reform's vulnerability *because* they are leading the polls (in a 6 party system) while being an *unpopular* party. A much bigger problem under FPTP 2029 than PR 2026
This illustrates Reform's vulnerability *because* they are leading the polls (in a 6 party system) while being an *unpopular* party. A much bigger problem under FPTP 2029 than PR 2026
October 24, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Reform lost by 11% in Caerphilly - because of a surge in turnout, because Reform looked set to win the seat.
This illustrates Reform's vulnerability *because* they are leading the polls (in a 6 party system) while being an *unpopular* party. A much bigger problem under FPTP 2029 than PR 2026
This illustrates Reform's vulnerability *because* they are leading the polls (in a 6 party system) while being an *unpopular* party. A much bigger problem under FPTP 2029 than PR 2026
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
Good news to start the day ☀️
Plaid Cymru has triumphed over Reform UK in Caerphilly by-election.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/24/caerphilly-byelection-result-live-reform-plaid-cymru-labour-wales-welsh-government-senedd-latest-voting-news
Plaid Cymru has triumphed over Reform UK in Caerphilly by-election.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/24/caerphilly-byelection-result-live-reform-plaid-cymru-labour-wales-welsh-government-senedd-latest-voting-news
Caerphilly byelection result live: Plaid Cymru beats challenge from Reform UK to win pivotal Welsh parliament vote
Lindsay Whittle seized the Senedd constituency from Labour and resisted a fierce challenge from Reform UK
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Good news to start the day ☀️
Plaid Cymru has triumphed over Reform UK in Caerphilly by-election.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/24/caerphilly-byelection-result-live-reform-plaid-cymru-labour-wales-welsh-government-senedd-latest-voting-news
Plaid Cymru has triumphed over Reform UK in Caerphilly by-election.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/24/caerphilly-byelection-result-live-reform-plaid-cymru-labour-wales-welsh-government-senedd-latest-voting-news
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
Such a relief that Russia lost in Caerphilly.
October 24, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Such a relief that Russia lost in Caerphilly.
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
I confidently predict that people who profess to be outraged by, say, the removal or destruction of statues honouring slavers and other racists because "history something tradition something something" will be completely silent about this abomination.
October 22, 2025 at 7:58 AM
I confidently predict that people who profess to be outraged by, say, the removal or destruction of statues honouring slavers and other racists because "history something tradition something something" will be completely silent about this abomination.
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
A policy this expansive would certainly mean mass stripping of permanent residence status from people with ILR (including pensioners and parents of British children) on a scale far beyond anything any democracy has ever done before. There is no public support for such an extreme policy.
Via @sundersays.bsky.social the Conservatives' draft legislation - absolutely clear that it applies to (and is intended to apply to) legal permanent residents claiming state pension (on the basis of their contributions) or child benefit for British kids.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
October 22, 2025 at 7:22 AM
A policy this expansive would certainly mean mass stripping of permanent residence status from people with ILR (including pensioners and parents of British children) on a scale far beyond anything any democracy has ever done before. There is no public support for such an extreme policy.
Reposted by Mark Shepstone
People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to “go home”. This is their home.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
October 22, 2025 at 8:32 AM
People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to “go home”. This is their home.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.