iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Jasmine Lane 🦡 @msjasminemn.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

My core job is teaching English but my TLR impacts every area of our school. I'm proud of the work in those areas and been lucky to lead a fabulous team. EAL improvement: Sept: 8% of school as Band A, new to English May: (inc 3 pupils that arrived in MARCH): 0.66% Band À And literacy! See image.

053

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Jasmine Lane 🦡 @msjasminemn.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Fabulous day of A level results for Trinity's English department. 100% A*-C 60% A*-A Coursework: accepted by the exam board and 80% achieved A*-A. Now on to the next lot of year 12s to shape them from the beginning 😎

4301

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

As a Labour voter working in education, I’ve wanted to write about the Schools Bill for a while. I’m worried about what it includes. But I’m even more worried about where it’s come from, and what it says about those making decisions in education. mrvallanceteach.wordpress.com/2025/05/17/w...

mrvallanceteach.wordpress.com

Where have Labour gone wrong with the Schools Bill?

The Government’s Schools Bill is about the enter its committee stage in the Lords. According to the Education Secretary Bridgette Phillipson, the Bill will be a “seminal moment for child protection…

021

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

mrvallanceteach.wordpress.com

Where have Labour gone wrong with the Schools Bill?

021

Reposted by Josh Vallance

ArthurJChapman @arthurjchapman.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Often it feels as if being knolwedge-rich means focusing on the memory parts of Chapter 5 and not the rest - open access here. 2/2 nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2478...

nap.nationalacademies.org

How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures

Read online, download a free PDF, or order a copy in print or as an eBook.

121

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

& ultimately the answer to that question comes from English teachers/the English community, and not those outside. I suppose the challenge is, have these types of conversation around knowledge in eg English, become more commonplace/dynamic as talk around KR entered the mainstream (I have no idea…)

000

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

…to this thread has come from history teachers. Did, for instance, the ‘turn to knowledge’ (for want of a better phrase) from both g’ment & Ofsted change other subjects/the thinking in these subjects more than in history? @mrmountstevens.bsky.social would be keen for your thoughts, too!

210

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

How far do you think history is different to other subjects in the sense that a vibrant educational community have been having these conversations for some time (well beyond Gove/Gibb)? I don’t know enough about other subjects to really comment, but ultimately lots of the debate/response…

200

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

History feels streets ahead on this. Strong subject community with rich tradition of debate and discussion. Not sure how far these questions are asked in other subject areas. Possibly inflames some of the issues we’ve discussed already.

200

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Poorly managed centralised implementation strategies seem to sit at the heart of the issues we currently see. I’ve got some horror stories from my old trust that speak to serious issues with ill-thought, top-down approaches. As you’ve said, I imagine you have to spend a lot of time unpicking these!

110

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

But I’m also conscious that this type of argument can feel a lot like pontificating, which might also be part of the problem some haven’t been convinced/brought on side.

120

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Ultimately I think the type of curriculum work required to enact, for instance, a Future 3 type curriculum is really complicated and difficult. Often schools don’t have the expertise/time (more the latter!).

120

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Which creates a bit of a viscous circle of pointing to this and saying, ‘look, this approach is flawed,’ and then more resistance/push back

110

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

My sense is that via either a poor articulation of what is actually meant by KR or PK (in a v complicated space!), or poor implementation from school leaders/trusts who just wanted knowledge ‘done’ to please Ofsted, the output in lots of schools has actually become pretty weak

110

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

I think there’s something here about a poor implementation of knowledge rich curricula (often heavily mandated from trusts without much input from HoDs/teachers in schools) causing many to grow frustrated

120

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Is, then, the criticism often a criticism of a caricature/misrepresentation of knowledge rich curricula? In which case has the concept just been poorly explained?

210

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Posed this question on X but didn’t get much response. Am keen to hear why some might not yet be convinced by KR curricula. Please comment/share!

824

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Yeah I think I broadly agree. Too much feels ideological but it would be good to hear coherent arguments against it from those that clearly adopt this position (some of whom now influencing policy!).

200

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Posed this question on X but didn’t get much response. Am keen to hear why some might not yet be convinced by KR curricula. Please comment/share!

824

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

If you’re an ambitious Science, History, or Languages teacher and want to take the next step in your career by becoming a ML in one of the most exciting school improvement journeys around, then get in touch.

014

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

014

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Science - futureacademies.face-ed.co.uk/Vacancies/De... History - futureacademies.face-ed.co.uk/Vacancies/De... Languages - futureacademies.face-ed.co.uk/Vacancies/De...

futureacademies.face-ed.co.uk

Vacancy Detail -SCH-FuA-0088 - SAMpeople Recruit

FaceEd

022

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

We genuinely believe this is one of the most exciting school turnarounds in the country. And in some ways it no longer is a turnaround. This is now a great school with ambitious to become one of the best in the country.

121

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

🚨 Exciting Opportunities 🚨 We're recruiting to our ML team at Trinity Brixton. If you're an aspiring/current HoD in History, Languages, or Science then get in touch. Last year Trinity was the 5th most improved school in London. Come and be part of something special.

136

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Alexis Conran @alexisconran.com · 10/03/2025

Shocked I tell you ... Shocked! No exodus to state sector after VAT added to private school fees, say English councils.... www.theguardian.com/education/20...

theguardian.com

No exodus to state sector after VAT added to private school fees, say English councils

Most say they have seen no impact on applications for year 7 places, despite warnings from those against policy

23712

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Amazing opportunity to come and work at Trinity. We're looking for a Head of MFL to join our cohort of middle leaders. Last year we were the 18th most improved school in the country. Come and be part of something genuinely exciting and transformative - futureacademies.face-ed.co.uk/Vacancies/De....

futureacademies.face-ed.co.uk

Vacancy Detail -SCH-FuA-0073 - SAMpeople Recruit

FaceEd

002

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

The work Jasmine is doing around EAL is already proving to be transformative. Come and be part of something exciting at Trinity.

054

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

The work Jasmine is doing around EAL is already proving to be transformative. Come and be part of something exciting at Trinity.

054

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Jasmine Lane 🦡 @msjasminemn.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

What an opportunity. Our school has 55% of children who have EAL, majority Spanish and Portuguese. An amazing opportunity to supercharge a culture which already has so many strengths.

001

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Hannah Pinkham @hannahpinkham.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Give this a look #mflbluesky 👇🏻

014

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

futureacademies.face-ed.co.uk

Vacancy Detail -SCH-FuA-0073 - SAMpeople Recruit

FaceEd

002

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Mike Hill @michaeldoron.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

If you have a ticket for our #Soane25 History teacher conference, then you'll very soon get the full programme and workshop options – exciting!! Meanwhile, here is a sneak peak (with more to be revealed). 👇👁️ There are just a handful of tickets left. Link below!

12416

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Jasmine Lane 🦡 @msjasminemn.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

-0.82 to -0.17 Trinity Brixton was the 18th most improved school in the country in terms of P8 last year. So excited to be a part of this team. Special things happening. 🙏🏽

5313

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Claire Holliss @claireholliss.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

This was absolutely great last year, and the line-up for 2025 looks amazing!

283

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Christine Counsell @counsellc.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Hoorah! Can't wait for #Soane25! 'Building worlds' is a terrific theme for the second year of this beautiful conference and the history geeks of Ark Soane are perfect hosts. History teachers everywhere, come for a day of total sanity and joy. Not one spot of dodgy 'sourcework' in sight.

0157

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Hugh Richards @hughrichards.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

This is going to be so exciting. If you like the idea that the pastis an imagined world to your students, come and think/discuss to how other people do it! Last year was bloody brilliant, absolute source of joy.

1167

Reposted by Josh Vallance

mjburnage.bsky.social @mjburnage.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

#Soane25 is live! Come and join us on Saturday 8th February for a day with a *phenomenal* line up of speakers. Tickets are ONLY £25 (including lunch!) Don’t miss it! www.eventbrite.com/e/ark-soane-...

13222

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

I think a ‘house style’ of T&L is desirable (MwB routines, precise instruction, paired talk etc.), as is a common means of talking and thinking about teaching. But each subject must also be allowed to speak through its own language. The subject curriculum should guide subject pedagogy.

1215

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Isaac @isaacmoore7.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Agreed. We have a house style of 6 core strategies but each subject has a subject teacher guide that has been agreed by teachers of each subject. This is how teaching is done in the subject.

152

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Equally, there *are* cases where schools have been in chaos and a v rigid blanket T&L approach has been implemented firmly and it’s gone well. Harris EL Science is a good example of this. Total uniformity across lessons has brought huge stability in a school that desperately needed it.

110

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

I think different but connected things. House style is driven by insights, supported by common routines, and about departments applying to their subjects. Blanket T&L often talks about same things (eg MwB) but in a far more heavy-handed and ill-informed manner.

210

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

And to be clear, I think it’s desirable because if you *don’t* have a common style/shared principles in place, then you leave far too much up to chance. That might be fine in some schools, but in a turnaround situation teachers and students need - and value - these guidelines.

100

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

1215

Reposted by Josh Vallance

Sam Jones @sam-jones.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

@alfdubs.bsky.social I’m a history teacher at a state school in West London. When we teach our year 10s about Britain’s migration story in the spring term, we teach them about you as one of our case studies! I wonder whether you might be interested in talking to our students in person or virtually?

0102

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Agree. Where most school improvement journeys fail is a lack of clarity around vision. You need to constantly spell out ‘this is what this school is going to look like.’

010

Josh Vallance @joshvallance.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

School staff as interlocking teams driven by a common vision, but with distinct and individual modes of operation, and distinct and individual goals and targets. Each team is developed in its own right but all teams sit under a collective, school-wide identity and culture.

110