I agree with everything she said but encourage her to reflect on the reality of where we are. Having read the CSPR into MVPA, and seen what can happen when a minority of children within a high-performing school feel isolated, I think it is important that we all reflect. The DfE was rightly concerned by the outcome. Yet, in virtually the same breath, it wrote to the school describing it as an exemplar from an academic perspective. That tension deserves serious consideration. I was also told that the Department could do nothing about the public comments and blog published by Tom Bennett, one of its behaviour advisers, in response to Sir Alan Wood’s thoughtful, child-centred review, because he was a consultant. That troubles me. If the DfE appoints people to advise on behaviour and conduct, but believes it has no responsibility for the way those advisers conduct themselves publicly, it becomes much harder to take the Department’s wider messages about behaviour, culture and leadership seriously. Leadership by example matters, particularly when discussing something as serious as the experiences and welfare of children. I hope the change in leadership at the DfE now heralds a change in direction: one that is prepared not only to champion academic excellence, but also to reflect honestly on culture, inclusion, conduct and accountability.

Why are we “defensively bombing” other countries in wars not of our making, when we can’t provide the basic infrastructure for our own society and population?

Please, let’s stop talking as if school was designed for ‘neurotypical children’. School was not designed with child development in mind. There are no children who learn best by sitting quietly at desks at age five. It doesn’t help anyone to pretend otherwise. (image from A Kids Book About Neurodiversity by Laura Pettix, published by DK)

*BRILLIANT* The French made a short film about what could happen after all immigrants would follow the ‘_white, angry old man’s_’ advice to go back where they came from.*

“Internal exclusions are, of course, a form of inclusion.” Tom Bennett dixit. Orwell would be taking notes. #Exclusions #NEETs #SEND #Education As per quoted here: theguardian.com/education/20… ‘Internal exclusion’ of England secondary school students almost triples in three years

For those who think I’m exaggerating, the percentages speak for themselves. Southampton riots, 2 June 2026: 59.5% of those arrested had previously been reported for domestic abuse or had convictions connected with intimate-partner violence. 2024 anti-immigration riots: 949 people were arrested. 21% were subsequently reported to police for intimate-partner violence. James English: Right-wing influencer, convicted on 26 August 2026 of a sustained course of domestic abuse against his former partner. Joey Barton: Former footballer and right-wing influencer, convicted of assaulting his wife, including kicking her in the head. Andrew Tate: Influencer who has repeatedly promoted misogynistic and violent rhetoric about women. He now faces numerous criminal charges in the UK, including allegations of rape, assault and human trafficking. He denies the charges. Tristan Tate: Faces multiple UK charges including rape, sexual assault, assault and human trafficking. He denies the charges. Conor McGregor: Increasingly associated with right-wing and anti-immigration figures. A civil jury found that he raped Nikita Hand. His appeal against that finding was subsequently rejected. Tommy Robinson: One of Britain’s most prominent far-right activists. Subject to a five-year stalking protection order after harassing a female journalist and going to her home. This is not just a handful of unfortunate coincidences. There is an extraordinary concentration of men with histories of, findings concerning, or serious allegations of violence and abuse against women within this ecosystem. And yet many of the same people and movements continually tell us that their anti-immigration politics, and their support for parties such as Reform and Restore, are motivated by a desire to “protect women and girls”, whilst the same people support and harbour men who abuse women, or abuse women themselves.

The problem is, all of this assumes that the existing pathways for English & Maths are valid & reliable measures of competence. I can't speak for Maths, but I can say that English GCSE is definitely not. It may be 'harder' post-Gove in some ways (a frequent claim) but...1

Important to play ball not man. On day that England’s maths success is recognised worth considering the Progress 8 score at @vicgoddard’s flagship school Passmores Academy - students there are not being given the opportunities they deserve