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John Cosgrove

@johncosgrove.bsky.social
1.3K followers 1.2K following 678 posts

Husband, father, grandfather, writer and retired teacher. I blog at johncosgrove55.wordpress.com Visit my Amazon Author page here: www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001…

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Reposted by John Cosgrove
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 09/10/2026
I am angry tonight. Because tonight ICE shot a New Yorker. They shot a New Yorker while his five year old child was in the car. ICE makes this city less safe. We want them out. Now.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The Times has published another article dishonouring Ruth Perry's memory. Let's not forget that before Ruth the deaths of 10 other heads were linked to Ofsted, and only Julia Waters' courage allows us to hope positive change may come from awful tragedy. johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2023/06/02/c...
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com
Courage Deserves a Hearing
Warning: this article discusses suicide Carol Woodward was a headteacher for 19 years and a good one: she had been named regional “Headteacher of the Year.” Then, in 2015, inspectors decided that h…
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Latest blog: "So, taking stock... where do we go from here? First, Ofsted needs proper reform... Second, we need to dismantle the ruinous MAT system... when a MAT fails, for any reason at all, its schools should revert to LA control." johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/09/20/t...
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com
Time To Take Stock
1 million young people not in Education, employment or training (NEET); unprecedented numbers of pupils excluded from school, educated at home and in alternative provision (AP); a Special Needs sys…
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Reposted by John Cosgrove
Fabian Education Policy Group @edufabians.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Really looking forward to hearing from Ian Widdows on the problems with High-Stakes Accountability at our next FEPG meeting on Monday 28th September 7.00pm-8.30pm. More details below @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social @brianhudson.bsky.social
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
So very true. And the quiet word from a head to a parent enquiring about a place for Reception: "She might be happier at... They can meet her needs better."
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Absolutely dreadful that this should happen - but it does, again and again.
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Reposted by John Cosgrove
HGJohn @hgjohn.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Spot on! My wife’s school got oranges for curriculum and leadership despite every single category of SEN outperforming their peers nationally. Trouble is there are so many with SEN that overall results are low. The system doesn’t recognise their success.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
NEW BLOG The Confederation of School Trusts recently published a report claiming schools in MATs are (on average) better than others. It says it's "time to take stock" and decide where we're going with our school system. I agree - with that bit anyway... johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2026/09/20/t...
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com
Time To Take Stock
1 million young people not in Education, employment or training (NEET); numbers of young people excluded from school, educated at home and in alternative provision (AP) reaching levels not seen sin…
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Reposted by John Cosgrove
Sarah Johnson (was Dove) @phoenixedsarah.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
A great evening launching Questions on behaviour, an amazing panel and discussion! Nab the book here www.routledge.com/Questions-on...
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
It's almost as if Ms Braverman hasn't actually thought it through...
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Definitely.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
I honestly don't know the answer to either of those questions.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
And there are different traditions, of course. I would be fastounded if any C of E or community school ever sang "Faith of Our Fathers" which was written by a Catholic priest to celebrate Catholic martyrs. "O Jesus I have promised," meanwhile, is not generally part of the Catholic repertoire.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
🙏
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
"The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate ..." I bet All Things Bright and Beautiful is on the list.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Is this really who they think we are? Is it really what they think schools are for? I particularly like the bit where schools will be required to "recite" hymns daily. Later in the article it says there will be "no exceptions." (From Schools Week)
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
For many English schools we are at the brink of a new term, a new school year, so it's time to repost this, in the sincere hope that this year can be different. Please, schools, don't send children home (or to isolation) for wearing "wrong" clothes. johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2023/09/02/a...
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com
A Uniform Approach
Like cakes on birthdays, fairy lights at Christmas and Halloween’s Trick or Treat, traditions have attached themselves to back to school week in the UK. First is the “uniform photo” with children i…
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Not a great look when the local newspaper misspells the local MP's name 9 times in a single article and spells it correctly once. She's called Kirkham, not Kirkman. @jaynekirkhammp.bsky.social www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/2648635...
falmouthpacket.co.uk
Falmouth MP calls for 'environmentally safe' dredging despite concerns over modelling
Jayne Kirkman MP has revealed that she has concerns about the environmental modelling behind the proposed dredging as part of the Falmouth Docks…
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Below, from The Guardian, a graphic shows the 12 most popular A level subjects, 2026. There's no modern foreign language in this top 12. 34,128 students took Geography, 12th on the list; 6,888 took French; no other MFL had more than 2,000 entries. Shouldn't we be a tad concerned?
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I agree. It is very sad.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Sadly, no typos. The exclusions are Fixed Term Exclusions, so for every hundred pupils, 91.5 were sent home for anything from half a day to a week or more. It was that rate of exclusion which first alerted me to issues with the Trust 18 months ago. johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2025/02/23/t...
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com
THE ROGUE MAT
Three schools were responsible for almost half the exclusions of secondary aged pupils across Cornwall according to the most recent Government figures. In the Autumn term of 2023-24, Camborne Scien…
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
7 continued. Ms Trott says we have a school inspection service in this country and should leave judgements to them. She also, I repeat, says Athena provides "high quality education"; Ofsted says behaviour, as well as leadership and management at Pool have all deteriorated under Athena. ends
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
7. Anyone who follows me, or reads my blog, knows how little I think of Ofsted and its judgements. However, many, including Laura Trott MP, who have criticised Panorama do have high regard for Ofsted. Ms Trott claims Athena delivers "high quality education" and has been "hounded"... continues...
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
6. Pool's latest Ofsted report, published this May, finds Behaviour "needs attention." In the Autumn term of 2022, its last before joining Athena, Pool's exclusion rate was 2.15 per 100 pupils; in 2023, its first Autumn term as part of Athena the exclusion rate was 91.5 per 100 pupils. continues...
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
5. Pool's last full Ofsted report before joining Athena was "Good" across the board, except for leadership and management which the inspectors found "outstanding." The first Ofsted report as part of Athena found the school to Require Improvement, including for behaviour and attitudes. ...continues
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
4. There are six secondary schools in the Athena Trust. Pool Academy, Athena's most recent acquisition, was not mentioned by Panorama (though the beautiful Portreath beach in Pool's catchment area was shown several times). It joined the MAT in 2023. ...continues
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
3. This means the main Camborne School site, shown in the Panorama programme, is effectively a secondary modern school. It would be good to see a breakdown of exclusions, detentions etc for the two parts of the school. I suspect we know what it would tell us. ...continues
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
2. Camborne School, which featured in the programme (and in my blog post from February last year) has set up what is effectively a separate grammar school on a different site (Nexus). Admission to Nexus is by academic selection. ...continues
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Some further thoughts on the Athena Multi Academy Trust and the recent Panorama programme which nobody seems to have mentioned yet... A short 🧵 1. The improved exam results noted by Panorama were linked specifically to Launceston, not to the secondaries in the MAT as a whole. ...continues
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
It was that rare phenomenon: a film chosen by Mrs C in which I could not nod off. 😁
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
c 1965, Junior 3, Miss Swan's class, a dramatised Odyssey on BBC schools' radio. I have not read the story since but last night saw the new film and was delighted by how closely it matched my memory. Beowulf, Achilles, Horatius on the bridge, Leif Ericsson, Troy.. The BBC gave us cultural history.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
The sad loss of Kevin Keegan reminds me of what I consider one of the great education quotes of all time. The head of his primary school (Sister Mary Oliver, a nun) noted too much football was harming Kevin's academic work. Nevertheless, she insisted, "the football is to be encouraged."
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Apologies, I have deleted and re-written that post because I incorrectly referred to a pledge to end "homelessness" when in fact the pledge is to end rough sleeping.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
From today's edition of PM came words I never imagined I would ever hear on Radio 4. Asked about Andy Burnham's pledge to end rough sleeping, the correspondent referred to the role played in our new Prime Minister's thinking by "Catholic Social Teaching."
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
There's an article in the Express about funding for PE. In it, a Tory Shadow Minister laments cuts to the Sports Premium and claims these will cost us future soccer stars. He clearly has no idea how our elite footballers are nurtured and developed. johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2024/07/14/w...
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com
Can The “System” Bring Football Home…?
…and what are the lessons for education if it does? Or if it doesn’t? To coincide with this summer’s World Cup, the BBC broadcast a new adaptation of ‘Dear England,’ J…
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
She has been great on inclusion and SEND but she has: allowed Ofsted's cosmetic reform, committed to all schools joining MATs, tinkered with secondary curriculum without broadening and enriching it properly, reappointed Tom Bennett... Incredibly disappointing continuity with failed Tory policies.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I think you're right - the title for my post was misleading and there are lots of questions remaining.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
6) I hope a way can be found for schools from this Trust to return to Local Authority control; I hope other MATs are now being scrutinised by the DfE; most of all I am delighted the Government has shown a willingness to act to protect children and families. The tide may be turning.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
5) It’s no surprise this has all taken so long. As mentioned, the concerns didn’t start with me or my blog post but while the present Government seemed more sympathetic than the last one, resolving the issue meant a significant shift in policy.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
4) This year, meetings of concerned parents were held in 2 towns, Cornwall council voted to investigate, a Panorama researcher rang me for information BBC radio’s File on 4 broadcast: Strict Schools, Taking Discipline too far? www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
File on 4 Investigates - Strict schools: Taking discipline too far? - BBC Sounds
Are some schools are taking strict discipline too far?
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
3) I received messages of support from staff, parents, former pupils etc. The CEO of the Trust demanded I remove the blog post and said he had a “solicitor’s letter” for me. Our MP, Perran Moon, raised the issue and shared my blog with Education Ministers and Bridget Philipson.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
2) My article was widely shared locally and was followed up in the local and national press. Parents’ Facebook pages already reflected disquiet about the Trust’s behaviour policies, and local papers had noticed, but my post gave detail: numbers and comparisons with other schools.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Is the Tide Turning? Short 🧵 The Academy Trust I wrote about in February 2025 (below) will be disbanded, it has been announced. To my knowledge, no MAT has previously been wound up over too strict behaviour policies. johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/2025/02/23/t...
johncosgrove55.wordpress.com
THE ROGUE MAT
Three schools were responsible for almost half the exclusions of secondary aged pupils across Cornwall according to the most recent Government figures. In the Autumn term of 2023-24, Camborne Scien…
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
To be honest, the main parties do not stand candidates in Northern Ireland so it tends to be ignored in domestic policy proposals by putative PMs, particularly post Good Friday Agreement. There's not a single vote or seat for Andy, Keir, Kemi or Ed in NI. (Though Theresa needed unionist support.)
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
This is true. Times have changed faster than many would have thought possible even 20 years ago but the Nationalist/Loyalist divide is still very real. Whether you count from Henry II, William III or partition, a lot of history created that divide and it will take more than 2 decades to eradicate.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I agree, Jim. It works the other way too. The loyalists from Northern Ireland who insist they are British not Irish mystify many in the rest of the UK. They were why I (mischievously) asked the question. I think Andy Burnham - given his heritage - probably understands these realities.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Is there a walk anywhere in England with more stunning views than the coast path from Loe Bar to Gunwalloe? We refreshed ourselves in the Halzephron Inn whose name, "Cliffs of Hell" in Cornish, comes from the many wrecks near here, but the cliffs didn't look particularly hellish today.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
So, as we officially enter the silly season, we can all be grateful to Nigel for sacrificing himself as the nation's laughing stock: the perfect foil for the latest tilt at The Establishment by the people's champion, Count Binface.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
He does.
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John Cosgrove @johncosgrove.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
In his resignation video, Nigel Farage says he's done nothing wrong. "Why should I be judged by Sky News and their ilk?" But it's not Sky News, it's the judgement of the Parliamentary Standards Watchdog he's trying to pre-empt. This is all very odd, if he really has done nothing wrong.
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