Rob Hardcastle
@robhardcastle.bsky.social
CEO of a great MAT in East Midlands. All views are my own.
Of all of the hulabaloo in the media today about resignations and who said or meant what, this is by far and away the most important story today.
BBC News - US and UK agree zero tariffs deal on pharmaceuticals - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - US and UK agree zero tariffs deal on pharmaceuticals - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
US and UK agree zero tariffs deal on pharmaceuticals
The deal follows threats of tariffs as high as 100% on branded drug imports.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Of all of the hulabaloo in the media today about resignations and who said or meant what, this is by far and away the most important story today.
BBC News - US and UK agree zero tariffs deal on pharmaceuticals - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - US and UK agree zero tariffs deal on pharmaceuticals - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I wonder if the ill fated revised
pension scheme United Learning proposed might be revisited again if this is where we end up?
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
pension scheme United Learning proposed might be revisited again if this is where we end up?
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Farage's 'gold plated' pension reform plan faces firefighters strike threat
Reform set to say it would axe defined benefit schemes used in public sector
inews.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I wonder if the ill fated revised
pension scheme United Learning proposed might be revisited again if this is where we end up?
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
pension scheme United Learning proposed might be revisited again if this is where we end up?
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
This is a worry if the constitution in the US is changed to again allow a person to be more than a two term President. However, if this happens might Obama run against him?
BBC News - Trump does not rule out seeking third term - but says he will not use VP loophole
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Trump does not rule out seeking third term - but says he will not use VP loophole
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump does not rule out seeking third term - but says he will not use VP loophole
Trump rules out running for vice-president, an idea floated by supporters to circumvent the US constitution which bars him from running again.
www.bbc.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:28 AM
This is a worry if the constitution in the US is changed to again allow a person to be more than a two term President. However, if this happens might Obama run against him?
BBC News - Trump does not rule out seeking third term - but says he will not use VP loophole
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Trump does not rule out seeking third term - but says he will not use VP loophole
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Nobody will deny getting pupils to be able to decode, encode and confidently manipulate phonemes is vital to early reading skills and sets them up well for later curriculum success, but please let's not demonise the school who achieves 80% and educates children from overwhelmingly low income area.
October 16, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Nobody will deny getting pupils to be able to decode, encode and confidently manipulate phonemes is vital to early reading skills and sets them up well for later curriculum success, but please let's not demonise the school who achieves 80% and educates children from overwhelmingly low income area.
I agree with most of this, but the role is quite specific and it would be odd if it was given to a DH or AH and IMO it's too much for those in a governance role. So it falls to the HT, which I suspect it will, on most occasions, or someone in a MAT leadership team?
schoolsweek.co.uk/how-to-make-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/how-to-make-...
Don't waste time! Identify your Ofsted nominee now
The role can transform the inspection experience - but only if its holder is equipped for the challenge
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 11, 2025 at 9:41 AM
I agree with most of this, but the role is quite specific and it would be odd if it was given to a DH or AH and IMO it's too much for those in a governance role. So it falls to the HT, which I suspect it will, on most occasions, or someone in a MAT leadership team?
schoolsweek.co.uk/how-to-make-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/how-to-make-...
A challenging read. If we are to fulfil the transition to an AI powerhouse set out this week so clearly by the UK PM and US President then we need to focus on this. Our secondary has some of the best rates of success in maths with its disadvantaged pupils.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/09/why-...
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/09/why-...
Why does England lose so many promising young mathematicians from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds? - FFT Education Datalab
A look at the leaky pipeline for pupils who show potential in maths at age eleven but don't go on to pursue the subject.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
September 19, 2025 at 7:52 AM
A challenging read. If we are to fulfil the transition to an AI powerhouse set out this week so clearly by the UK PM and US President then we need to focus on this. Our secondary has some of the best rates of success in maths with its disadvantaged pupils.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/09/why-...
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/09/why-...
Bit of a visionary this fella!
www.facebook.com/share/v/1ChD...
www.facebook.com/share/v/1ChD...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
September 13, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Bit of a visionary this fella!
www.facebook.com/share/v/1ChD...
www.facebook.com/share/v/1ChD...
One of the more sensible articles I've read about achievable tax reform by Dan Neidle.
www.ft.com/content/59f1...
www.ft.com/content/59f1...
Stop talking about wealth taxes — make these reforms instead
Any sane discussion of changes that both right and left could agree on is being crowded out by tax populism
www.ft.com
September 13, 2025 at 8:09 AM
One of the more sensible articles I've read about achievable tax reform by Dan Neidle.
www.ft.com/content/59f1...
www.ft.com/content/59f1...
WE ALL MUST BE WITH UKRAINE RIGHT NOW. MORE SO THAN EVER BEFORE. LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN AND NEVER FORGET WHAT THOUSANDS, MAYBE MILLIONS, OF THEIR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO ENDURE. THIS IS WAR IN EUROPE AND WE COULD BE NEXT!
BBC News - Russian army inches closer
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Russian army inches closer
www.bbc.com/news/article...
As Russian forces advance, Ukrainians in Donbas must choose to stay or go
In Bilozerske, eastern Ukraine, people must make the agonising decision to flee or risk staying.
www.bbc.com
September 13, 2025 at 6:58 AM
WE ALL MUST BE WITH UKRAINE RIGHT NOW. MORE SO THAN EVER BEFORE. LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN AND NEVER FORGET WHAT THOUSANDS, MAYBE MILLIONS, OF THEIR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO ENDURE. THIS IS WAR IN EUROPE AND WE COULD BE NEXT!
BBC News - Russian army inches closer
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Russian army inches closer
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Let's make no bones about it, living in Russia or China (with its We Chat app) is a surveillance nightmare when it comes to the personal freedoms we enjoy. Let's be open about why autocracy and dictators are such a threat to the way we live.
BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Russia targets WhatsApp and pushes new 'super-app' as internet blackouts grow
Millions of Russians have faced restrictions on popular apps while a new app called Max is aggressively promoted.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 6, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Let's make no bones about it, living in Russia or China (with its We Chat app) is a surveillance nightmare when it comes to the personal freedoms we enjoy. Let's be open about why autocracy and dictators are such a threat to the way we live.
BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
So true. My water billed doubled overnight and most of it was not increased use but hidden and huge additional cost increases. Their representative on the phone didn't want to linger on these when I phoned them asking them to be reasonable.
August 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
So true. My water billed doubled overnight and most of it was not increased use but hidden and huge additional cost increases. Their representative on the phone didn't want to linger on these when I phoned them asking them to be reasonable.
If we are going to make this ONE planet a safer, more collegiate and sustainable place for our grandchildren to live in, then this sort of language in newspapers and the media helps no one.
August 16, 2025 at 11:31 AM
If we are going to make this ONE planet a safer, more collegiate and sustainable place for our grandchildren to live in, then this sort of language in newspapers and the media helps no one.
Good!!
BBC News - Porn site traffic plummets as UK age verification rules enforced - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Porn site traffic plummets as UK age verification rules enforced - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Porn site traffic plummets as UK age verification rules enforced
Data suggests leading adult site Pornhub lost more than one million visitors in two weeks.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 13, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Good!!
BBC News - Porn site traffic plummets as UK age verification rules enforced - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Porn site traffic plummets as UK age verification rules enforced - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Nothing against the MAT leaders in this group. I know some professionally, and they are strong leaders, but I'm afraid the government rarely pulls from leaders of SATs or small MATs for advice. We do the same job with the same knowledge, expertise and experience.
schoolsweek.co.uk/20-academy-c...
schoolsweek.co.uk/20-academy-c...
20 academy CEOs appointed to DfE advisory group
United Learning, Lift Schools, Ark and Star bosses among those appointed to advise government
schoolsweek.co.uk
July 10, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Nothing against the MAT leaders in this group. I know some professionally, and they are strong leaders, but I'm afraid the government rarely pulls from leaders of SATs or small MATs for advice. We do the same job with the same knowledge, expertise and experience.
schoolsweek.co.uk/20-academy-c...
schoolsweek.co.uk/20-academy-c...
Just watched the Scissor Sisters set at Glastonbury on iPlayer. It was just so good and the joy on everyone's faces was so clear. Go watch it.
June 29, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Just watched the Scissor Sisters set at Glastonbury on iPlayer. It was just so good and the joy on everyone's faces was so clear. Go watch it.
schoolimprovementhub.org/case-studies/
It was great being involved in the case study for Hatton Academies Trust. Thanks for the support from CST in putting it together.
It was great being involved in the case study for Hatton Academies Trust. Thanks for the support from CST in putting it together.
Case studies - School Improvement Hub
Case Studies CST and ImpactEd Group are working together to collate examples of school improvement practices from across the system. Here we will publish regular trust spotlights, exploring what is wo...
schoolimprovementhub.org
June 26, 2025 at 8:21 PM
schoolimprovementhub.org/case-studies/
It was great being involved in the case study for Hatton Academies Trust. Thanks for the support from CST in putting it together.
It was great being involved in the case study for Hatton Academies Trust. Thanks for the support from CST in putting it together.
Reposted by Rob Hardcastle
Thanks for the reminder @janemunday.bsky.social. Every summer, I repost this article DROWNING DOES NOT LOOK LIKE DROWNING. To date, I know of FOUR kids who were saved after someone who'd clicked on the link learnt how to spot actual drowning. Take time to read and pass on.
slate.com/technology/2...
slate.com/technology/2...
Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning
Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect.
slate.com
June 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Thanks for the reminder @janemunday.bsky.social. Every summer, I repost this article DROWNING DOES NOT LOOK LIKE DROWNING. To date, I know of FOUR kids who were saved after someone who'd clicked on the link learnt how to spot actual drowning. Take time to read and pass on.
slate.com/technology/2...
slate.com/technology/2...
Where's the social pressure on parents to sort toilet training before a child starts in nursery?A colleague who works in a nursery tells me she still has 12 who aren't toilet trained yet.In 2016 she said they had only 6 not toilet trained at the start of that year let alone the end!What's going on??
June 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Where's the social pressure on parents to sort toilet training before a child starts in nursery?A colleague who works in a nursery tells me she still has 12 who aren't toilet trained yet.In 2016 she said they had only 6 not toilet trained at the start of that year let alone the end!What's going on??
4 key themes from this excellent piece.
Embrace Practice at the Edge of Mastery: the "85% rule"
Build Procedural Fluency
Use AI as Amplifier, Not Replacement
Teach Metacognitive Awareness.
Embrace Practice at the Edge of Mastery: the "85% rule"
Build Procedural Fluency
Use AI as Amplifier, Not Replacement
Teach Metacognitive Awareness.
June 14, 2025 at 8:47 AM
4 key themes from this excellent piece.
Embrace Practice at the Edge of Mastery: the "85% rule"
Build Procedural Fluency
Use AI as Amplifier, Not Replacement
Teach Metacognitive Awareness.
Embrace Practice at the Edge of Mastery: the "85% rule"
Build Procedural Fluency
Use AI as Amplifier, Not Replacement
Teach Metacognitive Awareness.
Really pleased to be attending the third commission meeting today in Leeds. The Research Commission is an opportunity to work with sector colleagues to understand how engagement measures are a lead indicator for attendance, motivation and enjoyment at school.
www.impactedgroup.uk/resources/re...
www.impactedgroup.uk/resources/re...
www.impactedgroup.uk
June 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Really pleased to be attending the third commission meeting today in Leeds. The Research Commission is an opportunity to work with sector colleagues to understand how engagement measures are a lead indicator for attendance, motivation and enjoyment at school.
www.impactedgroup.uk/resources/re...
www.impactedgroup.uk/resources/re...
Reading Die with Zero by Bill Perkins right now. A fascinating take on planning for now and for your future. Mind changing.
May 24, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reading Die with Zero by Bill Perkins right now. A fascinating take on planning for now and for your future. Mind changing.
There needs to be more transparency and clarity on how RISE advisers and RD will identify support to offer stuck schools. What was said today remains opaque.The list of factors considered is so long. A clear transparent framework is required for these key decisions.
schoolsweek.co.uk/stuck-school...
schoolsweek.co.uk/stuck-school...
Stuck schools held accountable if RISE advice falls flat
Stuck schools will be held accountable even if support brokered for them by the government RISE teams fails to turn them around
schoolsweek.co.uk
May 15, 2025 at 8:46 PM
There needs to be more transparency and clarity on how RISE advisers and RD will identify support to offer stuck schools. What was said today remains opaque.The list of factors considered is so long. A clear transparent framework is required for these key decisions.
schoolsweek.co.uk/stuck-school...
schoolsweek.co.uk/stuck-school...
Reposted by Rob Hardcastle
Defrauded to death - thieves steal £260,000 from pensioner and @firstdirect part of @HSBC_UK refused to reimburse him bit.ly/4minE9t allowing thousands of pounds paid daily to them from his account saying “there were things [Colin] should have done to protect [himself]”
Frauds stole £260k from Colin before he died. We called them up
Through an elaborate scam, criminals drove Colin Chudley, a physically fit 68-year-old, to despair and financial ruin. Listen to what they said when confronted
bit.ly
May 11, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Defrauded to death - thieves steal £260,000 from pensioner and @firstdirect part of @HSBC_UK refused to reimburse him bit.ly/4minE9t allowing thousands of pounds paid daily to them from his account saying “there were things [Colin] should have done to protect [himself]”
I don't understand why, 'new massive sanctions' weren't in place from European countries and others from the word go? Surely it was the obvious thing to do from Feb 2022?
I hope now the international community is now leaving nothing else in the tank for this approach.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
I hope now the international community is now leaving nothing else in the tank for this approach.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Putin calls for 'direct talks' with Ukraine as European leaders demand ceasefire
Kyiv is yet to respond to Putin's invitation for talks on 15 May, as the coalition of the willing urge Moscow to comply with a ceasefire from Monday.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 11, 2025 at 7:43 AM
I don't understand why, 'new massive sanctions' weren't in place from European countries and others from the word go? Surely it was the obvious thing to do from Feb 2022?
I hope now the international community is now leaving nothing else in the tank for this approach.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
I hope now the international community is now leaving nothing else in the tank for this approach.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...