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Dr James Mannion

@rethinkingjames.bsky.social
755 followers 554 following 239 posts

Keynote speaker, government advisor and teacher trainer specialising in change management, learner effectiveness, practitioner inquiry and oracy. I spend 80% of my time thinking about education reform, and 20% looking for biscuits.

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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
"@hywelroberts.bsky.social, what's up buddy?" www.makingchangestick.co/implementing...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
"I know what you're thinking" A short film about cognitive truancy Ft. @hywelroberts.bsky.social makingchangestick.co/implementing...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
📢 Registrations for IMPLEMENTING ORACY 2027 are now open! 📢 👀 The early bird deadline is this Friday 10th July 🔗 Link in comments oracycambridge.org/implementing...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Inspired by Andy Burnham’s triple whammy - open up technical / vocational education, devolve power, rewire the country - I published this independent green paper today. The blog contains a summary. I think this would be boss personally. But I’m just like one dude. I’d love to hear your thoughts! 👊
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Autonomy isn't anarchy. But somewhere along the way, schools forgot that. New episode with Sophie Smith-Tong on trust, control, and what it really means to give teachers their professional freedom back. Link below
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Me and this fella @hywelroberts.bsky.social are doing a free webinar this afternoon on Implementing Botheredness - 4.30-5.30pm. If you can't join us live, we'll send you a recording afterwards. We've had 186 signups so far, but there's room for 500. We'll stick the kettle on. Or maybe an urn. Link ↓
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Most behaviour issues aren’t extreme incidents They’re the small things: calling out, side conversations, drifting off task Often the real issue is psychological investment. When students feel they matter, behaviour shifts 👀 Early bird for Rebooting Behaviour 2026 ends Fri 13 March Link below↓
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
IMPLEMENTING BOTHEREDNESS with @hywelroberts.bsky.social FREE webinar this Thu 12 March, 4.30-5.30pm How do we move pupils from ‘can’t be bothered’ to properly stuck in? We’ll explore the pedagogy of botheredness – stories, stance & teaching that cultivates real investment in learning. Sign up ↓
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
7 minutes out of every 30 minutes of classroom time are now estimated to be lost to disruption. Why doesn’t tightening behaviour policies solve it? 🧐
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Vindication!
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
FREE WEBINAR today (24 Feb, 4.30–5.30pm GMT) Rethinking School #Behaviour – The two missing pieces Why is behaviour such a stubborn problem? We’ll explore the psychology of mattering + implementation science – and what it takes to fix issues at the root Join us: www.eventbrite.com/e/free-webin...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
"What's the point of this, Sir?" Hywel Roberts have written a free guide to implementing botheredness. It's about how to get kids really invested in their learning - by design. If you want your students to get properly stuck in, click the link below ↓
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
*NEW POST* How I wish I'd taught science open.substack.com/pub/drjamesm...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
"This had me in tears! What an amazing thing to do." An email I received this morning in response to this guest post by Andrew Speight Link below
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
We spend a lot of time talking about engagement. Much less time talking about investment. This short, free guide explores how schools can move from "what's the point" to kids getting properly stuck in - day in, day out - by design 📘 Implementing botheredness (12-min read) Link in comments below
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
"The deportations started - and that set the alarm bells ringing for my grandmother..." An astonishing, profoundly moving and timely conversation to mark #holocaustmemorialday Full episode: www.rethinking-ed.org/holocaust-ed... @crownhousepub.bsky.social @realdavidc.bsky.social
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
I am *super excited* to be working with @hywelroberts.bsky.social on a new programme for teachers and school leaders. It combines Hywel's pedagogy of botheredness with my implementation know-how to create classrooms where kids get properly stuck in - by design. If you're interested, click below
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Lunch with a legend
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
Coming soon... A *fascinating* conversation with Jon Hutchinson and Lisa O'Loughlin about the CAR - what changed, what didn’t – and why...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
So I'm absolutely delighted to have teamed up with Hywel to create a new professional learning programme called 'Implementing Botheredness'. It combines Hywel’s work around the pedagogy of botheredness with the practical tools of implementation and improvement science.
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
🧵 "What's the one thing you'd change about your learners?" Over the years I've asked this question to 1000's of teachers and school leaders. The answer is *almost always* a variation on a theme: ‘I wish they were more independent’ ‘I wish they were more resilient’
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Three for FREE! Tomorrow 11am-12noon: The last in a series of three webinars on Making Change Stick, hosted by the good people at @hachettelearning.bsky.social If you sign up you'll be sent recordings of all three www.hachettelearning.com/events/profe...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
I just recorded the most wonderful mini-pod (by my standards!) with Rachel Macfarlane about the power of slice team Check out this zinger of a clip, in which Rachel outlines some of the many advantages of collaborative decision-making 👀 @crownhousepub.bsky.social @realdavidc.bsky.social
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
*** New post *** The hardest thing I've ever done Link in comments below
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
After 20+ years of reading, writing, thinking, discussing & *doing* education, I feel like I’ve finally arrived at the point that needs to be made most forcefully @realdavidc.bsky.social and I explore this idea in depth in S6E1(!): www.rethinking-ed.org/human-develo... @crownhousepub.bsky.social
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
One week today: the most exciting education event of the year! At this "unconference" there will be no lengthy presentations, no slides, no being talked at... We will all be together for the whole day, working out how to make things better where we are. Be there or be 🔲 Link below ⬇️
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
I have teamed up with the *wonderful* people at Hachette Learning to create a FREE 3-part taster course on Making Change Stick 😍 There will be 3 webinars on Oct 8, Nov 4, Dec 5, 11am-12noon UK time. You will receive the full recordings if you click the link. Link below - hopefully see you soon!
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
This amazing event is both online and face-to-face, so wherever you are in the world, you will be most welcome! It's an 'unconference' designed to crowd-source ideas for how we might increase wellbeing within the constraints of the current system #wearethesystem Link 👇
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
I'm starting to get some *wonderful* messages about Making Change Stick now that school leaders have had the chance to read it 😍 Check out my pod chat with Ollie Lovell here: open.spotify.com/episode/1gxX... And check out the free taster course here: makingchangestick.co
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Do you believe it’s possible - and necessary - to reconfigure our education system to prioritise human thriving? Join us on Sat 11th October - face to face or online... www.eventbrite.com/e/everybody-...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
And they say you shouldn't meet your heroes... Wonderful afternoon setting the world to rights with @audreyt.org and Gisele Chou, co-authors (among many others) of the uber-fascinating and inspiring Plurality Geeking out at the Ashmolean with @teamsquarepeg.bsky.social & the amazing Finn!
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
*** NEW POST *** There is more to human development than learning about subjects open.substack.com/pub/drjamesm...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
*** NEW TODAY *** open.substack.com/pub/drjamesm...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
*** NEW POST *** 5 low-effort, high-impact strategies for building a more transparent, inclusive approach to change makingchangestick.substack.com/p/build-a-gl...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
*** NEW SUNBED LISTENING MATERIAL! *** What Are We Teaching? – with @richardbustin.bsky.social drjamesmannion.substack.com/p/what-are-w... ✔️ What powerful knowledge is – and isn’t ✔️ How geography “went woke” ✔️ Why teacher autonomy matters @realdavidc.bsky.social @crownhousepub.bsky.social
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 26/07/2025
My son has started a podcast called 'Pondering with Ponch' For Episode 2, he interviewed yours truly. Here’s a short clip in which we ponder the unfathomable mystery of existence… Full audio and video here: open.spotify.com/episode/2M1g...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Entering the mother of all staff rooms to learn about The Open School...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
“One of the greatest barriers to progress is smart people who are nonetheless very conventional; they are excellent at coming up with reasons why things should stay exactly as they are.” I'm only in the preface but already I’m hooked.
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
*** BRAND NEW COMMUTER MATERIAL *** Fixing the SEND crisis with @trythisteaching.bsky.social Full episode, show notes: www.rethinking-ed.org/fixing-the-s... 💚: open.spotify.com/episode/2zBj... 🍏: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f... @crownhousepub.bsky.social @realdavidc.bsky.social
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
*** NEW TODAY ON MAKING CHANGE STICK *** Don’t reinvent the wheel: Write a one-page research summary This 1-hour activity will save you a WORLD of pain makingchangestick.substack.com/p/one-page-r...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Super excited to get my hands on this little beauty. And to be interviewing the mighty @jazampawfarr.bsky.social on the podcast soon! @crownhousepub.bsky.social
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
👋 NEW POST 👋 From critique to action: Seven practical ideas to improve education What would you add to this list? What would you change? drjamesmannion.substack.com/p/from-criti...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
***NEW POD & POST*** Should Year 3 pupils influence school policy? "You can't afford not to!" Headteacher Kulvarn Atwal on the power of slice teams Full post - juicy clips, links to pods: makingchangestick.substack.com/p/you-cant-a...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
*** EXCITING NEWS! *** On Sat 11th October, a unique, low-cost educational gathering will take place in Manchester. Here's a blog explaining a little about the event: drjamesmannion.substack.com/p/we-are-the... And here's where to snaffle an early bird ticket: www.eventbrite.com/e/everybody-...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
STONKING review in We ❤️ Brighton! welovebrighton.com/best-of-brig... Final two shows tomorrow - 3.30 and 7.30! www.brightonfringe.org/events/the-a...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
One for my #Brighton fruits We're doing 241 deal on tonight's show at Ironworks Studios Brighton Promo code 241ANGEL Bring a friend to Death's waiting room for free! Tickets here: www.brightonfringe.org/events/the-a... Amazing review: fringereview.co.uk/review/brigh... #brightonfringe
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
Some lovely comments on today's Making Change Stick substack on the role of values in school improvement. Get involved! open.substack.com/pub/makingch...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
School leaders! I'd *love* to hear your thoughts on my latest post on values mapping: - What are your school’s core values? - How did you arrive at them – and who was involved? makingchangestick.substack.com/p/values-map...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Really enjoyed this conversation with Tim Logan about applying lessons from implementation and improvement science in schools www.goodimpactlabs.com/podcast/dr-j...
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Dr James Mannion @rethinkingjames.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
*** NEW POST *** An easy win that would immediately make school more enjoyable and meaningful drjamesmannion.substack.com/p/an-easy-wi...
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