Tom Parkinson
@tomjparkinson.bsky.social
🧐 Researching how tech can assist Primary school teachers when assessing Writing. https://air-ed.com
🎸 Love playing and listening to music.
🌇 I live in York, UK. Favourite city in the World is NYC.
⚽ @evertonfc.com & @prescotcables.bsky.social
🎸 Love playing and listening to music.
🌇 I live in York, UK. Favourite city in the World is NYC.
⚽ @evertonfc.com & @prescotcables.bsky.social
Pinned
Tom Parkinson
@tomjparkinson.bsky.social
· Jan 15
I've created a #Bluesky feed for people in the UK in #Education. It will collate any posts that use these hashtags: #EduSkyUK and #EduUK
I'm hoping it will help people create the education community we used to have on Twitter.
You can pin it here: bsky.app/profile/did:...
I'm hoping it will help people create the education community we used to have on Twitter.
You can pin it here: bsky.app/profile/did:...
It’s been a busy few months at AIR HQ, but Primary Literacy Spotlight #newsletter is back. This month’s edition shares new writing research, free resources from BookTrust and the NLT, and stories of schools making real progress with literacy. 🩵
#EduSky #EduSkyUK
air-ed.com/primary-lite...
#EduSky #EduSkyUK
air-ed.com/primary-lite...
Primary Literacy Newsletter → November 2025
This month’s Primary Literacy Spotlight looks at what’s new and useful in the world of primary writing and reading. There’s new research into how children feel about writing, free literacy resources f...
air-ed.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
It’s been a busy few months at AIR HQ, but Primary Literacy Spotlight #newsletter is back. This month’s edition shares new writing research, free resources from BookTrust and the NLT, and stories of schools making real progress with literacy. 🩵
#EduSky #EduSkyUK
air-ed.com/primary-lite...
#EduSky #EduSkyUK
air-ed.com/primary-lite...
Meet AIR, your personal Writing Assessment assistant. It takes the hassle out of writing assessments so you can focus on teaching, not ticking boxes.
#EduSky #EduSkyUK #PrimarySchools
#EduSky #EduSkyUK #PrimarySchools
August 13, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Meet AIR, your personal Writing Assessment assistant. It takes the hassle out of writing assessments so you can focus on teaching, not ticking boxes.
#EduSky #EduSkyUK #PrimarySchools
#EduSky #EduSkyUK #PrimarySchools
I’ve become a bit frustrated with the price teachers/schools pay for lesson resources. So I’ve started working on putting a load of FREE #Writing resource packs together. Here’s one of them. I’ll post more over the coming weeks. 🩵
air-ed.com/project/read...
#eduskyprimary #eduskyuk #primaryenglish
air-ed.com/project/read...
#eduskyprimary #eduskyuk #primaryenglish
Narrative Boost → Free writing resource for primary school teachers
Narrative Boost is a free Ready to Write! resource from AIR Education. It helps KS2 pupils improve their narrative writing skills by developing setting, character, plot and atmosphere. Pupils read sho...
air-ed.com
August 13, 2025 at 6:19 AM
I’ve become a bit frustrated with the price teachers/schools pay for lesson resources. So I’ve started working on putting a load of FREE #Writing resource packs together. Here’s one of them. I’ll post more over the coming weeks. 🩵
air-ed.com/project/read...
#eduskyprimary #eduskyuk #primaryenglish
air-ed.com/project/read...
#eduskyprimary #eduskyuk #primaryenglish
What a lovely story to read first thing in the morning. ❤️
#edusky #eduskyuk
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#edusky #eduskyuk
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Guard of honour for long-standing Harrogate teacher
Gillian Furniss is honoured on her final day at the school she has spent 43 years working in
www.bbc.co.uk
July 10, 2025 at 3:37 AM
What a lovely story to read first thing in the morning. ❤️
#edusky #eduskyuk
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#edusky #eduskyuk
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Teachers don’t need replacing. They need backing up.
Let’s stop talking about AI as a threat and start talking about it as a second pair of eyes.
#EduSky #EduSkyUK #EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish #EduSkyAI #AIinSchools
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
Let’s stop talking about AI as a threat and start talking about it as a second pair of eyes.
#EduSky #EduSkyUK #EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish #EduSkyAI #AIinSchools
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
What One Teacher Taught Me About How AI Should Work in Schools
Discover how one Year 6 teacher used AIR to feel more confident and prepared for writing moderation. This post explores how AI can support rather than replace teacher judgement and why that matters fo...
air-ed.com
July 7, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Teachers don’t need replacing. They need backing up.
Let’s stop talking about AI as a threat and start talking about it as a second pair of eyes.
#EduSky #EduSkyUK #EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish #EduSkyAI #AIinSchools
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
Let’s stop talking about AI as a threat and start talking about it as a second pair of eyes.
#EduSky #EduSkyUK #EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish #EduSkyAI #AIinSchools
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
A Year 6 teacher told me that an #AI tool helped him feel more prepared for moderation.
Not because it did the work for him, but because it supported his judgement.
That’s exactly how AI should work in schools.
#primaryeducation #aiineducation
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
Not because it did the work for him, but because it supported his judgement.
That’s exactly how AI should work in schools.
#primaryeducation #aiineducation
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
What One Teacher Taught Me About How AI Should Work in Schools
Discover how one Year 6 teacher used AIR to feel more confident and prepared for writing moderation. This post explores how AI can support rather than replace teacher judgement and why that matters fo...
air-ed.com
June 30, 2025 at 6:48 AM
A Year 6 teacher told me that an #AI tool helped him feel more prepared for moderation.
Not because it did the work for him, but because it supported his judgement.
That’s exactly how AI should work in schools.
#primaryeducation #aiineducation
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
Not because it did the work for him, but because it supported his judgement.
That’s exactly how AI should work in schools.
#primaryeducation #aiineducation
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
This week I’m sharing thoughts on how to make assessment feel manageable again, without cutting corners.
Writing moderation doesn’t have to mean long nights and last-minute panic.
#eduskyprimary #teacherworkload #writingmoderation
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
Writing moderation doesn’t have to mean long nights and last-minute panic.
#eduskyprimary #teacherworkload #writingmoderation
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
What One Teacher Taught Me About How AI Should Work in Schools
Discover how one Year 6 teacher used AIR to feel more confident and prepared for writing moderation. This post explores how AI can support rather than replace teacher judgement and why that matters fo...
air-ed.com
June 26, 2025 at 7:39 PM
This week I’m sharing thoughts on how to make assessment feel manageable again, without cutting corners.
Writing moderation doesn’t have to mean long nights and last-minute panic.
#eduskyprimary #teacherworkload #writingmoderation
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
Writing moderation doesn’t have to mean long nights and last-minute panic.
#eduskyprimary #teacherworkload #writingmoderation
air-ed.com/blogs/what-o...
📚 The June edition of Primary Literacy Spotlight is now live.
This edition includes: AI in KS2 moderation, new research, free tools, and the latest from the DfE.
Worth a look if you’re leading literacy in school.
#EduSkyPrimary #EduSkyUK #EduSky
air-ed.com/blogs/june-2...
This edition includes: AI in KS2 moderation, new research, free tools, and the latest from the DfE.
Worth a look if you’re leading literacy in school.
#EduSkyPrimary #EduSkyUK #EduSky
air-ed.com/blogs/june-2...
AIR → Newsletter, Primary Literacy Spotlight, The AIR Blog → June 2025
This month’s Primary Literacy Spotlight covers new research on reading enjoyment, free resources for National Writing Day and Refugee Week, and a selection of updates and case studies to support your ...
air-ed.com
June 14, 2025 at 6:59 AM
📚 The June edition of Primary Literacy Spotlight is now live.
This edition includes: AI in KS2 moderation, new research, free tools, and the latest from the DfE.
Worth a look if you’re leading literacy in school.
#EduSkyPrimary #EduSkyUK #EduSky
air-ed.com/blogs/june-2...
This edition includes: AI in KS2 moderation, new research, free tools, and the latest from the DfE.
Worth a look if you’re leading literacy in school.
#EduSkyPrimary #EduSkyUK #EduSky
air-ed.com/blogs/june-2...
This week’s focus: writing assessment.
The kind that eats your weekend, drains your energy and leaves you wondering how long you can keep going.
air-ed.com/blogs/why-wr...
The kind that eats your weekend, drains your energy and leaves you wondering how long you can keep going.
air-ed.com/blogs/why-wr...
Why Writing Assessment Is Burning Teachers Out
Marking 30+ books at the weekend isn’t sustainable. Writing assessment is burning teachers out - and it’s time we talked seriously about changing that.
air-ed.com
May 24, 2025 at 12:38 PM
This week’s focus: writing assessment.
The kind that eats your weekend, drains your energy and leaves you wondering how long you can keep going.
air-ed.com/blogs/why-wr...
The kind that eats your weekend, drains your energy and leaves you wondering how long you can keep going.
air-ed.com/blogs/why-wr...
These days (especially with today’s worrying Trump-Gaza video), it feels like the world is spiralling into chaos.
But then, you see this: a 105-year-old woman having a rave at her care home. Absolutely brilliant.
Life’s short; you might as well dance - even when the world’s going crazy. ❤️
But then, you see this: a 105-year-old woman having a rave at her care home. Absolutely brilliant.
Life’s short; you might as well dance - even when the world’s going crazy. ❤️
‘I’m still dancing’: Derbyshire woman has 105th birthday rave at care home
Hilda Jackson and fellow residents partied with strobe lights, glowsticks and drum’n’bass from festival-headliner
www.theguardian.com
February 27, 2025 at 7:26 AM
These days (especially with today’s worrying Trump-Gaza video), it feels like the world is spiralling into chaos.
But then, you see this: a 105-year-old woman having a rave at her care home. Absolutely brilliant.
Life’s short; you might as well dance - even when the world’s going crazy. ❤️
But then, you see this: a 105-year-old woman having a rave at her care home. Absolutely brilliant.
Life’s short; you might as well dance - even when the world’s going crazy. ❤️
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄?
Accessibility, Oracy, AI, Sustainability, DEI: big themes that are shaping how learning materials are created & used. But are these the right priorities? What’s missing?
Here's a visual summary of a great article (link below).
#EduSky #EduSkyUK
Accessibility, Oracy, AI, Sustainability, DEI: big themes that are shaping how learning materials are created & used. But are these the right priorities? What’s missing?
Here's a visual summary of a great article (link below).
#EduSky #EduSkyUK
February 26, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Deadline: Annual Literacy Survey (28th Feb).
This is just a quick share to encourage #teachers to take part in the annual #NLT survey. It helps shape literacy strategies by gathering insights into children’s attitudes towards reading and writing.
#EduSkyUK
literacytrust.org.uk/events/annua...
This is just a quick share to encourage #teachers to take part in the annual #NLT survey. It helps shape literacy strategies by gathering insights into children’s attitudes towards reading and writing.
#EduSkyUK
literacytrust.org.uk/events/annua...
Annual Literacy Survey 2025 | National Literacy Trust
Registration for the 2025 Annual Literacy Survey is now open.
literacytrust.org.uk
February 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Deadline: Annual Literacy Survey (28th Feb).
This is just a quick share to encourage #teachers to take part in the annual #NLT survey. It helps shape literacy strategies by gathering insights into children’s attitudes towards reading and writing.
#EduSkyUK
literacytrust.org.uk/events/annua...
This is just a quick share to encourage #teachers to take part in the annual #NLT survey. It helps shape literacy strategies by gathering insights into children’s attitudes towards reading and writing.
#EduSkyUK
literacytrust.org.uk/events/annua...
Great resource here from Danny.
🐵 ➡️🧑
🐵 ➡️🧑
Happy Darwin Day! Here's some practical ideas for teaching about Evolution in primary schools.
https://buff.ly/3QhSSOV
#eduskyprimary
https://buff.ly/3QhSSOV
#eduskyprimary
February 12, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Great resource here from Danny.
🐵 ➡️🧑
🐵 ➡️🧑
📌 The National Literacy Trust’s Annual Literacy Survey 2025.
It’s a chance to share what’s really happening with kids' literacy in school. More responses mean a clearer picture - and better decisions that actually help pupils.
Please fill it in and pass it on.
#EduSkyUK #EduSky #Literacy
It’s a chance to share what’s really happening with kids' literacy in school. More responses mean a clearer picture - and better decisions that actually help pupils.
Please fill it in and pass it on.
#EduSkyUK #EduSky #Literacy
Annual Literacy Survey 2025 | National Literacy Trust
Registration for the 2025 Annual Literacy Survey is now open.
literacytrust.org.uk
February 11, 2025 at 7:22 AM
📢 The new Primary Literacy Spotlight is out!
🗣️ The power of spoken language in literacy
📖 Does the Phonics Screening Check actually help?
🤖 AI in literacy—game-changer or just hype?
Plus, free resources + a gov update for schools.
#EduSkyUK #EduSkyPrimary #PrimaryEnglish #Headteachers
🗣️ The power of spoken language in literacy
📖 Does the Phonics Screening Check actually help?
🤖 AI in literacy—game-changer or just hype?
Plus, free resources + a gov update for schools.
#EduSkyUK #EduSkyPrimary #PrimaryEnglish #Headteachers
Edition #3: February 2024
Welcome to this month’s edition of Primary Literacy Spotlight! Each issue, I pull together the latest research, trends, and resources to help you navigate the ever-changing world of literacy education...
www.linkedin.com
February 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
📢 The new Primary Literacy Spotlight is out!
🗣️ The power of spoken language in literacy
📖 Does the Phonics Screening Check actually help?
🤖 AI in literacy—game-changer or just hype?
Plus, free resources + a gov update for schools.
#EduSkyUK #EduSkyPrimary #PrimaryEnglish #Headteachers
🗣️ The power of spoken language in literacy
📖 Does the Phonics Screening Check actually help?
🤖 AI in literacy—game-changer or just hype?
Plus, free resources + a gov update for schools.
#EduSkyUK #EduSkyPrimary #PrimaryEnglish #Headteachers
Been thinking a lot about the Overton window over the last 24 hrs. How extreme ideas get floated, then suddenly, less extreme versions start to feel “reasonable.” It’s an old tactic, but when it involves removing an entire population from their homeland, it’s more than just political posturing 🧵👇
February 6, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Been thinking a lot about the Overton window over the last 24 hrs. How extreme ideas get floated, then suddenly, less extreme versions start to feel “reasonable.” It’s an old tactic, but when it involves removing an entire population from their homeland, it’s more than just political posturing 🧵👇
Hemingway’s short, simple sentences made him a literary icon. But under the KS2 framework?
❌ Needs complex sentences
❌ Use a range of conjunctions
❌ Consider ambitious vocabulary
Would The Old Man and the Sea be better with relative clauses? Nope.
#EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish #Headteachers #EduSky
❌ Needs complex sentences
❌ Use a range of conjunctions
❌ Consider ambitious vocabulary
Would The Old Man and the Sea be better with relative clauses? Nope.
#EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish #Headteachers #EduSky
February 5, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Hemingway’s short, simple sentences made him a literary icon. But under the KS2 framework?
❌ Needs complex sentences
❌ Use a range of conjunctions
❌ Consider ambitious vocabulary
Would The Old Man and the Sea be better with relative clauses? Nope.
#EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish #Headteachers #EduSky
❌ Needs complex sentences
❌ Use a range of conjunctions
❌ Consider ambitious vocabulary
Would The Old Man and the Sea be better with relative clauses? Nope.
#EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish #Headteachers #EduSky
Austen? WTS. Dickens? Too many commas. Shakespeare? Not enough ambitious vocab.
If the greatest writers in history wouldn’t get EXS or GDS in KS2, are we assessing the right things? Or just making better box-tickers?
#EduSkyPrimary #EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish
If the greatest writers in history wouldn’t get EXS or GDS in KS2, are we assessing the right things? Or just making better box-tickers?
#EduSkyPrimary #EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish
February 4, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Austen? WTS. Dickens? Too many commas. Shakespeare? Not enough ambitious vocab.
If the greatest writers in history wouldn’t get EXS or GDS in KS2, are we assessing the right things? Or just making better box-tickers?
#EduSkyPrimary #EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish
If the greatest writers in history wouldn’t get EXS or GDS in KS2, are we assessing the right things? Or just making better box-tickers?
#EduSkyPrimary #EduSkyUK #PrimaryEnglish
I’ve not written a blog in a while. I love doing this stuff, but I’ve been busy! Anyway… here’s my latest effort: My #KS2 assessment of Pride and Prejudice. Not bad, Jane, but you’ve got some work to do.
#PrimaryEnglish #EduSkyUK #TongueInCheek
air-ed.com/blogs/jane-a...
#PrimaryEnglish #EduSkyUK #TongueInCheek
air-ed.com/blogs/jane-a...
Jane Austen: Working Towards (Must Try Harder) - Air
Jane Austen might be a literary icon, but would her writing meet the KS2 framework? Missing bullet points and fronted adverbials? That’s WTS, Jane.
air-ed.com
February 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I’ve not written a blog in a while. I love doing this stuff, but I’ve been busy! Anyway… here’s my latest effort: My #KS2 assessment of Pride and Prejudice. Not bad, Jane, but you’ve got some work to do.
#PrimaryEnglish #EduSkyUK #TongueInCheek
air-ed.com/blogs/jane-a...
#PrimaryEnglish #EduSkyUK #TongueInCheek
air-ed.com/blogs/jane-a...
Imposter here. 😀 I'm not a teacher or in the 5 o'clock club. But I have a couple of friends who are, and they asked me to create a feed that pulls all the #teacher5ooclockclub posts into one place. Here it is. 👇 You can go to that and pin it to your saved feeds.
bsky.app/profile/tomj...
bsky.app/profile/tomj...
January 22, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Imposter here. 😀 I'm not a teacher or in the 5 o'clock club. But I have a couple of friends who are, and they asked me to create a feed that pulls all the #teacher5ooclockclub posts into one place. Here it is. 👇 You can go to that and pin it to your saved feeds.
bsky.app/profile/tomj...
bsky.app/profile/tomj...
On my way to #Bett2025.
Excited = 👍
Meetings booked = ✅
Bag packed for hotel = ✅
On-time for train = ✅
Printed tickets = ❌🤦♂️
Have an amazing time all!
Excited = 👍
Meetings booked = ✅
Bag packed for hotel = ✅
On-time for train = ✅
Printed tickets = ❌🤦♂️
Have an amazing time all!
January 22, 2025 at 7:53 AM
On my way to #Bett2025.
Excited = 👍
Meetings booked = ✅
Bag packed for hotel = ✅
On-time for train = ✅
Printed tickets = ❌🤦♂️
Have an amazing time all!
Excited = 👍
Meetings booked = ✅
Bag packed for hotel = ✅
On-time for train = ✅
Printed tickets = ❌🤦♂️
Have an amazing time all!