iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

When your Vice Principal is the Allotment Queen of Yorkshire! Helping me kick the Haribo habit!

James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

This parrot is a dead parrot. Sadly true. Caused much sadness with Y7 on yard. Another new school leadership experience!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Yesterday Lynda, one of the great legends of Manchester Academy died. Lynda retired last summer & her leaving speech had the whole staff laughing like it was a stand up special. Lynda was hugely loved as our cover manager - a tough balance. She looked after us all, a wonderful lady. Heartbreaking.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Tonight was our first ever Staff Book Club and it was a wonderful discussion. We read ‘Kala’ by Colin Walsh and it inspired great debate and reflection. Special mention to Mr Axenderrie who arrived later after a meeting and then threw in a theory which made us all rethink! Magic!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

In a glorious antidote to any doom, the famous MA Culture Day where we celebrate our global community. Wonderful energy and vibrant outfits everywhere. Fantastic send off to the Easter term. Thanks to everyone for making such a special day.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

So proud that Manchester Academy came third in the national Debatemate Urban school competition. Really sharp team - wouldn’t want to debate them! Thanks to English team for coaching this success. Now to London for the final!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

If you’re looking for optimism and joy, go work in a school. You will find laughter, determined ambition, mix with cultures you were previously ignorant about and scaffold the dreams of generations of children. Quit doom scrolling and reach forward to a brighter future. Teach.

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Reposted by James Eldon

Yassamin @yassamin.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

What I love about this video is that it is full of our graduates, people I was lucky enough to work with at the very start of their careers. Seeing them thrive as teachers is a great reminder of why I love this job, especially after a half-term that was short but felt LONG! HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Wind chill during lunch duty, minus 3. Y11 football game shirts vs blazers, not a moan or question of the dress code. Me: Suit Fleece High-vis jacket Ski gloves Scarf Barely able to feel my face!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

The Mums who attend the English Language lessons we run for families have cooked a Somali and Libyan feast for our Parents’ Social Association and it smells incredible! Such an amazing reciprocal experience. Proper Manchester Magic @manchesteracademy.bsky.social

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Really proud to share @manchesteracademy.bsky.social story at the Department for Education Senior Civil Servants Conference in Manchester. Was liberating to talk about complexity so openly, clearly a lot of energy in the room to keep improving education. Sorry if the seagull story scarred you!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Restock for the thriving Uno community in the school!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Was speaking to a community elder this morning and she was telling me about the ancient days before January.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Brilliant United Learning Middle Leadership conference at Manchester Academy today. Absolute joy working with the lead team and the participants underline that our profession is in ver good hands. Hope everyone navigated UK travel casino and got home ok.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Excited to host the first ever in-person conference as part of the United Learning Middle Leadership Programme. Colleagues arriving from across the country - hope the transport network holds up!!See you soon.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Huge thanks to our staff heroes and heroines in hi-vis for braving the ice blast & keeping students safe. Highlights: - subartic outdoors Uno - chaos of Y11 ‘Slapball’ like a Nintendo volleyball - 40 a-side KS3 football match on yard - a Y9 asking to sign an accident indemnity to go onto ice!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

It’s minus 3 outside and a lovely group of Y11 girls are playing Uno. Please note an abundance of warm spaces are available indoors. Love this job!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Sir, can we go outside? No, it’s not safe. Sir, the ice is fun, can we go skid on it? No, it’s not safe. Sir, is that snow? Not anymore, it’s ice and it’s not safe. Sir, if it gets to minus 6, will you close the school? No, we’ll be open to keep you warm and learning. Cold Snap Leadership!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Big whoop and cheer to school site staff teams dealing with the tundra of 2025. Grit, shovels, heavy boots and warm gloves much in use. Keeping schools warm and learning!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Fantastic return to the Academy today - great to see everyone and the students made a strong start. Received this letter to say thank you to our Community Hub team for our Senior Citizens Christmas party and it wasn’t the wind chill which brought a tear to my eye! Magic.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Happy New Year to all @manchesteracademy.bsky.social students, past and present who have achieved incredible things, 2025 has so many more possibilities for you! To our amazing staff, happiness, health and success to you and your families. I am very blessed to be part of such a team and community.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Pitch for reality tv show: ‘Rambling Incoherence’, a fly on the wall documentary about school staff in the final week of term. Incomplete sentences, mumbling instructions, irrational rage, sentimental blubbering at lovely moments. A triumph of endurance. Nearly there everyone! Happy Holidays..

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

A key part of our mission is being an @unitedlearning.bsky.social Community Hub at @manchesteracademy.bsky.social Today our exceptional Community Team hosted a Christmas party for local senior citizens and it’s truly wonderful. Song, food, bingo and gifts. Am tired but this has made me emotional.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Year 7 girl, prior to our Senior Citizens’ Christmas party. ‘Sir, I am good with old people, my nana’s nearly 50’. 😱

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Proud to represent Manchester schools and @manchesteracademy.bsky.social in discussions between GMCA and the DFE, where it’s clear our region is leading the way on so many issues. @andyburnham.bsky.social MBACC initiative now being recognised as the direction of travel for many of our young people.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

I am wagering that we are the only school in the country whose Staff Christmas Quiz featured a kazoo round. Lord Hurst and Viscount Axenderrie, quiz masters extraordinary. YMCA on a kazoo, with all the staff singing along. Manchester Magic!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Today is our ‘Powerless Point’ day where colleagues are teaching with minimal slides in lessons. And it’s joyous and liberating!! We have medals: Gold 3 slides or less Silver 4-5 slides Bronze no more than 6 slides. Y11 PPE results day too - very positive! Bah Humbug to Fri 13th - treats ahoy!!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

We had a Trust visit today, reviewing and supporting our offer. I am always fiercely protective of my school, perhaps in an over-feisty fashion - as the HMI inspector told me off for in our last inspection! I am then so proud of our school and our students’ loyalty that I beam! Our staff are superb.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Y11 lunch time football match. Shirts Vs Blazers. The wind chill was perishing! No one complained and the game was around 20 a side. I was stomping around trying to keep warm. Teenage temperature tolerance is immense!!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

So proud of @manchesteracademy.bsky.social performance in the school league tables. Our community, students and school were dismissed and patronised for a long time, now we’re one of the most improved schools in the city. To our staff - huge thank you from me and everyone locally. True Manc Magic!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

To everyone in schools who knows what an 8 week half-term up to Christmas does to the brain, a leadership tip… ‘Maybe we’re tired’. Write this phrase down at the start of every discussion/meeting from now to the end of term so when you’re hitting rant mode or gloom you stop!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Two very different schools, coming together to broaden horizons and prove that much of what’s banded around on socials is undermined by the uplifting energy of our students. Middlewich High in Cheshire coming to see us in Moss Side was one of the most powerful meetings I have seen for ages. Unity!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Inspiring to meet ambitious leaders today hoping to secure Headship in a brilliant @unitedlearning.bsky.social Academy in the north. Being a Head remains the best job and talking to these thoughtful leaders reaffirms there’s still a pipeline of talent. Our trust is great place to learn too. Apply!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Me: ‘I am sorry we will have to close all the outdoor spaces due to ice and health and safety concerns.’ If you work in a school you know what the rest of the day was like. Huge thanks to the staff team who made the day run so smoothly. Tried to be mindful in a sports hall with 120 basketballers!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Great to catch up with @unitedlearning.bsky.social northern Heads the brilliant Sheffield Springs Academy for our Group Forum today. So proud of the impact our trust is having across so many areas of the North. Was well worth a nerve jangling trip across Woodhead pass!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Excited to host the first Manchester Careers COP this morning. Looking to build on careers success across the city but also face up to the challenges we face to provide great opportunities for our young people.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Doing a lot of work around how we support under-resourced families and students and the cost of this provision, not for cuts but to be able to articulate the additional expenditure needed to provide an effective school experience. Reminder that the income threshold for free school meals is £7400.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Collective energy needed to tackle the big challenge. No snow day tomorrow. Cannot happen.

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Reposted by James Eldon

Daisy Christodoulou @daisychristo.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

A lot of discussion lately about the reasons for the decline of Eng Lit A-level. Are the Gove curriculum & exam reforms to blame? I don't think so, because the decline of Eng Lit / the humanities more broadly is a global trend. More here.

buff.ly

The fall of Eng Lit

What is the cause, is it a problem - and if so, what can we do about it?

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Genuine question- why does the Ofsted Inspection Framework have to change? The practice of inspections and high stakes accountability- huge questions to be asked. But the latest framework seemed to be reasonable for secondary schools. Now another radical overhaul. And months of trying to work it out

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Yassamin @yassamin.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

This was a highlight of the day, along with the golden ticket prize draw! What a genius idea—the buzz in the school when you made the announcements was unreal.

media.tenor.com

a man and a boy are standing next to each other and the boy is looking at a book .

ALT: a man and a boy are standing next to each other and the boy is looking at a book .

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

We achieved @unicefmedia.bsky.social Silver Rights Respecting School award today. And I am thrilled as the huge diversity of our global community is celebrated so brilliantly. The best moments in this process have been hearing our pupils proclaim their pride in our school. Making Manchester Magic.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Mid November- the part of the Autumn Term where Han, Leia and Luke turn up to see Lando, needing a break, weary. But Vader, Boba Fett and carbon freezing are all still to come - hopefully not limb removal! At least the switch on of our new heat pump boilers worked today, quelling the dank mist!!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 09/11/2024

Autumn chilly afternoon so watching my favourite film ‘When Harry Met Sally’ for the 1000th time. Suddenly notice my name in the movie. Slightly freaked out by the change in the space time continuum!

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 08/11/2024

Year 11 student. ‘Sir, why doesn’t Manchester have a sky?’ Day 43 of the grey blanket!

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 01/11/2024

anyway you should read me on the stakes of this election for our constitutional order (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2024/11/01/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | Donald Trump Is Done With Checks and Balances

You aren’t just choosing a candidate. You’re choosing a theory of power.

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 31/10/2024

In my Y11 assembly this morning I covered: - Courage - Halloween - Bonfire Night - Diwali As well as forthcoming PPE exams and several pieces of school business (and MJ’s Thriller!). A Latino student ‘Sir you didn’t mention the Day of the Dead’ which we’re celebrating. Our community is brilliant!

celebrating.global

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James Eldon @jameseldon.bsky.social · 28/10/2024

Welcome back to Manchester Academy on a very autumnal day. I am slightly in love with our new wall displays - surrounded by gorgeous greenery, encouraging us to save our planet. Uplifting start to the half-term. Green Magic!!

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