Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Scottish Labour has won its third vote in Parliament in a week. First on recommitting to child poverty targets. The second on recognising the vital role of oil and gas in Scotland’s energy and economic security and calling for wider reindustrialisation in a just transition. (1) 111
Reposted by Dr Barry BlackDr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 21/09/2026A new plan for measuring the performance of Scottish education proposed by Michael Marra and Scottish Labour today www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic... 001
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 21/09/2026A new plan for measuring the performance of Scottish education proposed by Michael Marra and Scottish Labour today www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic... 001
Reposted by Dr Barry BlackDr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 08/09/2026One issue that must be considered in amongst Scotland’s PISA results today is that it is one of very few objective measures of our system. Objective measures have been systematically dismantled over the years, leaving us reliant on these studies that come every few years 163
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 08/09/2026One issue that must be considered in amongst Scotland’s PISA results today is that it is one of very few objective measures of our system. Objective measures have been systematically dismantled over the years, leaving us reliant on these studies that come every few years 163
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 23/08/2026A wonderful afternoon at @edbookfest hearing from Jaqueline Wilson, whose writing continues to connect and inspire 📖 010
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 23/08/2026A wonderful afternoon at @edbookfest hearing from Jaqueline Wilson, whose writing continues to connect and inspire 📖 000
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 23/06/2026My incredibly talented friend Gemma is presenting interesting findings from her dissertation tomorrow at 2.30 and 6.30. Please drop in! DM for the link. To Need ‘care,’ To Want Care. An Analysis of ‘Need’ and ‘Want’ between the Care Sector and the Care Community’ 111
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 30/05/2026An excellent afternoon at Glasgow Science Centre 🔭 010
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 27/05/2026Tremendous to speak with the National Leadership Network at today’s Children in Scotland conference today about participation, centring lived experience, and moving from ‘co-production’ to production. Standing room only! 000
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 02/05/2026A wonderful afternoon in and around the Botanic Gardens book fair 📚 020
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 25/04/2026A tremendous afternoon at Paisley Food and Drink Festival ☀️ 020
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 06/04/2026One of the most significant changes to child poverty imaginable comes into force today, with over 450k children lifted out of poverty, in a move that will be welcomed across society and all sectors. www.itv.com/news/2026-04...itv.com 042
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 04/04/2026The most tremendous lunch. The Sherlock Holmes menu at Six by Nico 🕵️♂️ 010
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 21/03/2026I guess you’re old enough to know… certain songs get so scratched into our souls Some Saturday evening listening 😎 youtu.be/Ko3axaI__0M?...youtu.beCertain SongsYouTube video by The Hold Steady - Topic 000
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 05/02/2026Incredibly strong and evidenced article from MCR Pathways on delivery of the Promise here. Including this from board member Susanne Richards: “We are halfway through The Promise, but nowhere near halfway through its delivery.” mcrpathways.org/news/the-pro...mcrpathways.orgThe Promise: Six Years On, Four Years to Deliver - MCR PathwaysScotland is six years into The Promise, but there is still some distance to cover. Discover how MCR Pathways is using mentoring to deliver real change by 2030. 000
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 24/01/2026Put a tenner on 0-0 at Pittodrie today. My thought was the storm like weather and two struggling teams would produce a borefest. Eight goals and two red cards later shows how much I know about football… 010
Reposted by Dr Barry BlackPrivate Education Policy Forum @pepforum.bsky.social · 21/01/2026"If the state is to invest in the education of all children, then asking the families who purchase a premium tier of schooling to contribute a little more is not radical. It is common sense." Will this be the defining legacy of the VAT policy? 111
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 22/01/2026Heartbreakingly sad findings ‘Nearly a third of kids can't use books when starting school - and try to swipe them like phones’ news.sky.com/story/nearly...news.sky.comNearly a third of kids can't use books when starting school - and try to swipe them like phonesStaff also report around 28% of children started school unable to eat and drink independently, and 25% had difficulty with basic life skills. 020
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 13/12/2025Early Christmas celebration in our wee house today, and an excellent Christmas dinner if I say so myself 🎄 050
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 10/12/2025A fantastically fun evening at Parkhill Secondary’s Christmas show: Toy Story the musical 🎄 020
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 07/12/2025Policy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it matters barryblack.substack.com/p/policy-ana...barryblack.substack.comPolicy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it mattersPolicy analysis of a debate I was privileged enough to be involved in last year 011
Reposted by Dr Barry BlackDr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 02/12/2025Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters. Please read, share, and subscribe for more! open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...open.substack.comPolicy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it mattersPolicy analysis of a debate I was privileged enough to be involved in last year 052
Reposted by Dr Barry BlackKate Blake @kateblake.bsky.social · 02/12/2025Thought this was a very interesting piece from Barry. I wasn't aware that the OBR had revised the revenue from VAT on private school fees up. I have had people tell me "this is the politics of envy" and that I was wrong to think private schools are businesses, so good to see this policy analysis. 144
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 02/12/2025Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters. Please read, share, and subscribe for more! open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...open.substack.comPolicy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it mattersPolicy analysis of a debate I was privileged enough to be involved in last year 052
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 02/12/2025I was among the first to call for this. January 4th 2021. My call was rubbished and told there were no plans. A few months later it was Government policy. The reform hasn’t taken the shape I or many others wanted, but hopefully a page has been turned www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukWhy Scotland's exam body - the SQA - has been scrappedQualifications Scotland comes into being on Tuesday but is it any more than a rebranding of the existing exams agency? 200
Reposted by Dr Barry BlackDr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 27/11/2025As I, and others, predicted there has not been an exodus of pupils from private schools due to VAT on fees, partly because the price point is not a factor in accessing private education. The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast. www.scotsman.com/news/opinion... 031
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 27/11/2025Very much looking forward to the Kilbrandon Lecture by @carlenefirmin.bsky.social in the resplendent Barony Hall this evening 040
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 27/11/2025As I, and others, predicted there has not been an exodus of pupils from private schools due to VAT on fees, partly because the price point is not a factor in accessing private education. The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast. www.scotsman.com/news/opinion... 031
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 20/11/2025I have always thought that the value of a Covid inquiry would have been setting out a future framework for how the prioritisation of rights work in an emergency. So many rights violated (many of that necessary which is my point) with so little reflection or those decisions. 010
Reposted by Dr Barry BlackDr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 17/11/2025Two years ago (time flies!) I wrote about why Labour need to scrap the two child benefit cap - for many reasons - including if we as a society want to meaningfully reduce education inequalities. www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...scotsman.comSNP blew £1 billion failing to close the educational attainment gap. Labour must learn from its mistakes – Barry BlackThe SNP’s failure to improve the exam results of the poorest children shows the need to focus on tackling child poverty. Labour should rethink its approach 001
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 17/11/2025Two years ago (time flies!) I wrote about why Labour need to scrap the two child benefit cap - for many reasons - including if we as a society want to meaningfully reduce education inequalities. www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...scotsman.comSNP blew £1 billion failing to close the educational attainment gap. Labour must learn from its mistakes – Barry BlackThe SNP’s failure to improve the exam results of the poorest children shows the need to focus on tackling child poverty. Labour should rethink its approach 001
Reposted by Dr Barry BlackDr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 17/10/2025‘I had never supported Universal Free School Meals. Then I looked at the evidence.’ barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...barryblack.substack.comI had never supported Universal Free School Meals. Then I looked at the evidence.A (brief) look at the research which changed my mind. From July 2023. 232
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 17/10/2025‘I had never supported Universal Free School Meals. Then I looked at the evidence.’ barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...barryblack.substack.comI had never supported Universal Free School Meals. Then I looked at the evidence.A (brief) look at the research which changed my mind. From July 2023. 232
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 06/08/2025A really engaging day in Edinburgh for my first meeting as a member of the Promise Oversight Board, reflecting on previous reports, looking ahead to measuring progress in the next year, and hearing from the Chief Social Work Adviser. oversightboard.scotoversightboard.scotThe Oversight Board | Monitoring Scotland's promiseThe Oversight Board monitors whether Scotland is keeping its promise to children, young people, and families. 020
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 16/07/2025La Mesa in Paisley tonight with the tremendous @mrdissent.bsky.social 🍀 270
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 11/07/2025It was a privilege to be able to review this book, and even though I am not a teacher, I learned so much from it. Kirsten is a phenomenal writer. Absolutely get involved with the competition to get a freebie, but buy a copy for yourself, friends, and your department as well! 020
Reposted by Dr Barry BlackDr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 22/06/2025About to watch my niece, with @SkeneSquare, perform at the National Finals of the Glee Challenge at the marvellous Usher Hall. Couldn’t be more proud. 🎉 071
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 22/06/2025About to watch my niece, with @SkeneSquare, perform at the National Finals of the Glee Challenge at the marvellous Usher Hall. Couldn’t be more proud. 🎉 071
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 21/06/2025A real honour to join the Promise Scotland Oversight Board. I am excited to get started alongside so many esteemed colleagues. An incredible pace of change is needed if we are to improve outcomes for those in care. oversightboard.scotoversightboard.scotThe Oversight Board | Monitoring Scotland's promiseThe Oversight Board monitors whether Scotland is keeping its promise to children, young people, and families. 030
Reposted by Dr Barry BlackDr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 17/06/2025Delighted that my PhD thesis ‘Chances or Choices: the influences on subject choices under the curriculum for excellence’ has been granted final approval, and I have a nice new title! 🎉 None of it possible without the unwavering support of Profs Keith Kintrea and Catherine Lido 461
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 17/06/2025Delighted that my PhD thesis ‘Chances or Choices: the influences on subject choices under the curriculum for excellence’ has been granted final approval, and I have a nice new title! 🎉 None of it possible without the unwavering support of Profs Keith Kintrea and Catherine Lido 461
Dr Barry Black @barryblackne.bsky.social · 16/06/2025A perverse unintended, yet all too predictable, consequence of an obsession with improving the data while at school without a laser focus on improving outcomes which remain a national shame. www.tes.com/magazine/new...tes.comLooked-after children put on ‘drastic part-time timetables’There has been a big rise in informal exclusions as schools try to ‘circumvent’ policies that make it harder to formally exclude care-experienced pupils, warns report 000