Adam Steedman Thake
@thakeman.bsky.social
Policy and Evidence Manager at AQA, former Civil Servant, and former-former primary teacher.
Professionally focusing on SEND and Digital Literacy. Personally focusing on renovating my house and cricket.
All views own etc.
Professionally focusing on SEND and Digital Literacy. Personally focusing on renovating my house and cricket.
All views own etc.
Whether 'focusing better' is the desired outcome is a conversation to be had.
November 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Whether 'focusing better' is the desired outcome is a conversation to be had.
Take your point on that to an extent. but amphetamines do help people with ADHD 'focus better'. Although they help EVERYONE focus better, because that's what amphetamines do (speaking of tautologies!) They were handed out to soldiers in WW2 for exactly this purpose...
November 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Take your point on that to an extent. but amphetamines do help people with ADHD 'focus better'. Although they help EVERYONE focus better, because that's what amphetamines do (speaking of tautologies!) They were handed out to soldiers in WW2 for exactly this purpose...
A wild Laura McInerney appeared!
Amazing, thank you so much! Will have a proper listen.
Amazing, thank you so much! Will have a proper listen.
November 19, 2025 at 10:38 AM
A wild Laura McInerney appeared!
Amazing, thank you so much! Will have a proper listen.
Amazing, thank you so much! Will have a proper listen.
Again, don't mean to come across as facetious. I often find it tricky to navigate sensitive discussion through BlueSky and text in general!
Thanks again for your considered responses!
Thanks again for your considered responses!
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Again, don't mean to come across as facetious. I often find it tricky to navigate sensitive discussion through BlueSky and text in general!
Thanks again for your considered responses!
Thanks again for your considered responses!
Equally, broken bones aren't treated at root cause (dodgy carpet at top of stairs, meaning I fell down the stairs and broke my leg), they treat the symptom (leg bone is broken, can't walk as leg is broken).
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Equally, broken bones aren't treated at root cause (dodgy carpet at top of stairs, meaning I fell down the stairs and broke my leg), they treat the symptom (leg bone is broken, can't walk as leg is broken).
But you go to the doctor with a swollen, painful knee, and go for an X-ray or MRI scan, which rules out a break/ligament. And get diagnosed with 'arthritis', which is Medical Latin for 'swollen painful joint' - which is descriptive and tautological.
Is it the testing that removes the tautology?...
Is it the testing that removes the tautology?...
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
But you go to the doctor with a swollen, painful knee, and go for an X-ray or MRI scan, which rules out a break/ligament. And get diagnosed with 'arthritis', which is Medical Latin for 'swollen painful joint' - which is descriptive and tautological.
Is it the testing that removes the tautology?...
Is it the testing that removes the tautology?...
Could one not argue that many medical conditions are tautological? A broken leg is a "tibia that has been broken".
Appreciate that they need X-rays and tests, so different perhaps?...
Appreciate that they need X-rays and tests, so different perhaps?...
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Could one not argue that many medical conditions are tautological? A broken leg is a "tibia that has been broken".
Appreciate that they need X-rays and tests, so different perhaps?...
Appreciate that they need X-rays and tests, so different perhaps?...
On the dopamine receptors point, I can't say I'm an expert so a lot is taken on faith. Completely take your point
A clarificatory question on 'tautological diagnosis'...
A clarificatory question on 'tautological diagnosis'...
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
On the dopamine receptors point, I can't say I'm an expert so a lot is taken on faith. Completely take your point
A clarificatory question on 'tautological diagnosis'...
A clarificatory question on 'tautological diagnosis'...
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide such a deep, detailed answer. A lot to unpack! It is hugely appreciated.
I hadn't seen Prof BC (who I think is excellent) saying that - have you got a link?...
I hadn't seen Prof BC (who I think is excellent) saying that - have you got a link?...
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide such a deep, detailed answer. A lot to unpack! It is hugely appreciated.
I hadn't seen Prof BC (who I think is excellent) saying that - have you got a link?...
I hadn't seen Prof BC (who I think is excellent) saying that - have you got a link?...
Not trying to be a dick! Just trying to get a better understanding of a complicated area.
November 19, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Not trying to be a dick! Just trying to get a better understanding of a complicated area.
And you think this isn't the case? I understand some of the scepticism re diagnostic criteria, it is not as precise as some may like.
But prior to 2013, you could not be diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD which to me indicates better understanding of condition. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
But prior to 2013, you could not be diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD which to me indicates better understanding of condition. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
The Co-Occurrence of Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children – What Do We Know?
Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) often co-occur. The DSM-IV had specified that an ASD diagnosis is an exclusion criterion for ADHD, thereby limiting research of this common clinical ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 19, 2025 at 9:27 AM
And you think this isn't the case? I understand some of the scepticism re diagnostic criteria, it is not as precise as some may like.
But prior to 2013, you could not be diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD which to me indicates better understanding of condition. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
But prior to 2013, you could not be diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD which to me indicates better understanding of condition. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Interesting point, Ben. As someone exploring supporting students with SEND would love to know more. What do you think people think 'the number of children with SEND is increasing' means? And what do you think it actually means?
Could grab a coffee to chat? drop me a DM ☕
Could grab a coffee to chat? drop me a DM ☕
November 19, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Interesting point, Ben. As someone exploring supporting students with SEND would love to know more. What do you think people think 'the number of children with SEND is increasing' means? And what do you think it actually means?
Could grab a coffee to chat? drop me a DM ☕
Could grab a coffee to chat? drop me a DM ☕
Super interesting findings - particularly like the symmetry of the 41% for/against religious observance. And the difference Mat/Pat leave.
Can I clarify: How was the list of activities created? Was it based on reasons MPs have given for missing votes?
Can I clarify: How was the list of activities created? Was it based on reasons MPs have given for missing votes?
June 30, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Super interesting findings - particularly like the symmetry of the 41% for/against religious observance. And the difference Mat/Pat leave.
Can I clarify: How was the list of activities created? Was it based on reasons MPs have given for missing votes?
Can I clarify: How was the list of activities created? Was it based on reasons MPs have given for missing votes?
Super insightful piece, Ben. I'm involved in a project exploring just these sorts of issues, so would be good to connect and discuss further.
Feel free to drop me a message - could meet for a coffee.
Feel free to drop me a message - could meet for a coffee.
June 27, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Super insightful piece, Ben. I'm involved in a project exploring just these sorts of issues, so would be good to connect and discuss further.
Feel free to drop me a message - could meet for a coffee.
Feel free to drop me a message - could meet for a coffee.
Surely GCSEs moving to numbered grades could provide a good case study for them. In GCSEs, Grades 1 to 3 are a pass at Level 1, Grades 4+ are pass at Level 2. It's how they are then used for accountability and further study/employment that have a huge impact.
February 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Surely GCSEs moving to numbered grades could provide a good case study for them. In GCSEs, Grades 1 to 3 are a pass at Level 1, Grades 4+ are pass at Level 2. It's how they are then used for accountability and further study/employment that have a huge impact.
Look forward to seeing it! Will keep an eye out.
(Always find this a super interesting way of exploring issues. Really novel way of grouping people!)
(Always find this a super interesting way of exploring issues. Really novel way of grouping people!)
February 19, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Look forward to seeing it! Will keep an eye out.
(Always find this a super interesting way of exploring issues. Really novel way of grouping people!)
(Always find this a super interesting way of exploring issues. Really novel way of grouping people!)
From the report, I gather that categories aren't linked to demographics, which allows for innovative grouping. But I also see the average age of ProgActs is 41. Are younger more likely to be the Vocal Activists?
Would be interesting to know if there are any demographic links.
Would be interesting to know if there are any demographic links.
February 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
From the report, I gather that categories aren't linked to demographics, which allows for innovative grouping. But I also see the average age of ProgActs is 41. Are younger more likely to be the Vocal Activists?
Would be interesting to know if there are any demographic links.
Would be interesting to know if there are any demographic links.
Really interesting! Is there more on what the characteristics of each subcategory are?
Are those who are more senior in organisations more likely to be Undogmatic or Quiet? Tricky to know if their attitudes towards organisational hierarchy is linked to their relative position IN the org hierarchy.
Are those who are more senior in organisations more likely to be Undogmatic or Quiet? Tricky to know if their attitudes towards organisational hierarchy is linked to their relative position IN the org hierarchy.
February 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Really interesting! Is there more on what the characteristics of each subcategory are?
Are those who are more senior in organisations more likely to be Undogmatic or Quiet? Tricky to know if their attitudes towards organisational hierarchy is linked to their relative position IN the org hierarchy.
Are those who are more senior in organisations more likely to be Undogmatic or Quiet? Tricky to know if their attitudes towards organisational hierarchy is linked to their relative position IN the org hierarchy.
Hi Luke, Super interesting analysis. Is there more info available on the respective groups anywhere? I understood from this analysis that each of the groups were 12-18% of the population, with Prog Acts being 13% of pop: www.britainschoice.uk/segments/
Has anything changed?
Has anything changed?
Britain’s Choice, More in Common’s new report on the UK
The result of an 18-months examination of the hopes and fears, values and core beliefs in which we’ve engaged with almost 11,000 people across Britain through surveys, conversations and interviews.
www.britainschoice.uk
February 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Hi Luke, Super interesting analysis. Is there more info available on the respective groups anywhere? I understood from this analysis that each of the groups were 12-18% of the population, with Prog Acts being 13% of pop: www.britainschoice.uk/segments/
Has anything changed?
Has anything changed?
An aside, but terrible use of the word "exclude" from the Telegraph here. School 'exclusion' is a specific thing. And what are they going to do? Tackle the parent to the ground and rip the admissions form out of their hand? You can't stop someone applying to a school.
January 22, 2025 at 11:56 AM
An aside, but terrible use of the word "exclude" from the Telegraph here. School 'exclusion' is a specific thing. And what are they going to do? Tackle the parent to the ground and rip the admissions form out of their hand? You can't stop someone applying to a school.