Sign in

Jim Lauder

@mrjlauder.bsky.social
1.6K followers 1.8K following 2.8K posts

Work at Dixons Academies. Schools as civic institutions - ensuring our communities have a voice and power. Building place based partnerships. Views my own. open.substack.com/pub/jimlauder

PostsRepliesMedia
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Britain can learn lots of how not to do things from Germany, especially in education.
010
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Mark McCourt @markmccourt.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Our search for ATT’s Chief Education Officer is now live. We are looking for an exceptional educationalist to help us build something genuinely special at ATT. If you are curious, please take a look. And if it makes you think, “perhaps…”, I would love to hear from you.
213
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Reflecting on this, in light of 'Rewiring the State' it is a bit strange that the govt isn't looking to, you know, rewire the state when it comes to supporting young people and families. Instead we're in the comfort zone of curriculum changes.
110
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Friday evening thoughts. Butter paneer >>> butter chicken
030
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Birkenhead rightly taking its place in the sun. Or Mirror, rather. Not mentioned in here, but a vital part of the Birkenhead renaissance, is Right to Succeed's flagship Cradle to Career programme that is supporting children and families to be successful www.righttosucceed.org.uk/cradle-to-ca...
000
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Has it occured to him that someone saying "school wasn't for me" went to a crap school? Or wasn't taught to read properly at primary?
2534325
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Jonathan Simons @jonathansimons.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Sigh indeed. jonathansimons.substack.com/p/making-the...
293
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Govt's announcement on vocational GCSEs is a bit hard to judge. They've not said how many of what kids will take. SoS says today that this isn't about different routes for different kids... But that was the explicit rationale earlier in the summer, and for the MBacc?
230
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This, on options for the future of the school system, is very good from @moremorrow.bsky.social cstuk.org.uk/news-and-blo...
cstuk.org.uk
The cooperative civic trust: Completing the reform journey | Confederation of School Trusts
232
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Left hand side: England Right hand side: Scotland, Wales and a bunch of other places Suprisingly, the 'teach them maths' approach is more successful at teaching them maths
130
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Excellent article in the Sunday Times by the parent of an autistic child at Frome College, defending the new behaviour approach that has been maligned in the press and online. Where was the outrage when this child was being beaten and bruised at the school? www.thetimes.com/article/fbd8...
Description of how an autistic child experiences a rowdy classroom
1121
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Have spent several years now watching all of Doctor Who. And it was almost all worth it last night for the biggest shock return of the Capaldi era - the 1970s sentient bin with the giant eyeball for a head. Superb niche fan service. God bless you, catty sentient eyeball bin.
110
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Ben Newmark @bennewmark.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
#FridayFive new starts. 1. Start Me Up. The Rollings Stones. 2. Don't Stop Me Now. Queen 3. Something Changed. Pulp. 4. Yes. McCalmont and Butler. 5. Back to Livin' Again. Curtis Mayfield.
19185
Reposted by Jim Lauder
The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
📣 Announcing the Sutton Trust Regional Ambassadors! We've developed an exciting new scheme to ensure our programmes reach the young people who need them most. Our ambassadors share our passion for social mobility and breaking down barriers for disadvantaged young people ⬇️
271
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 17/09/2026
"More than one in four Finnish pupils now perform below the basic proficiency level in reading....Nearly one in three Finnish pupils now fall into the low-performing group in mathematics." Does anyone still think England should be more like Finland? I hope not. www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/theme...
helsinkitimes.fi
Finland’s PISA scores fall again in reading and maths
Finland’s 2025 PISA results show further declines in reading and mathematics, while science performance remains above the OECD average. More than one in four Finnish pupils now fall below the basic re...
221
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Reading Thirwall coverage, once again struck by the gulf in professionalism between NHS and education leadership. Honestly think lots of school leaders in VP + DSL roles would bring a lot to hospital management. I assume this is the impact of high stakes accountability? (much as we don't like it)
130
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Mark McCourt @markmccourt.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
At ATT, we believe in sharing what we create for the benefit of the wider education system. Our principals and education team worked together to develop this Principal Competency Framework. We think it is a great tool for developing school leaders and hope others find it useful.
034
Reposted by Jim Lauder
tejparikh.ft.com @tejparikh.ft.com · 13/09/2026
AI is getting smarter. Human intelligence, however, appears to be going the other way — at least among teenagers. My latest @financialtimes.com column. Falling global test scores underscore the importance of core knowledge, attention and mindset. as.ft.com/r/dce3c6c2-e...
74930
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Isabelle Finn-Kelcey @isabellefk.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
“Inclusion requires schs to change … staff to learn, adapt & rethink … environments & spaces to shift … shared responsibility, not individual enforcement.” @sharonlsmith.bsky.social suggests how we can move on from a deficit-based #EHCP system towards true inclusion, without diluting YP rights ✨
165
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Sam Gibbs @samgibbs.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Book Day!
3142
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Mark Goodrich @markgoodrich.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
At a system rather than classroom level, @mrjlauder.bsky.social makes a plea for universalism here. One of the (neglected) reasons for England’s relatively good showing in PISA was our record with immigrants and I agree with Jim that universalism is part of it. jimlauder.substack.com/p/in-defence...
jimlauder.substack.com
In defence of a one-size-fits-all education
One-size-fits-all gives everyone an equal entitlement, and protects children from discrimination
131
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Mark Goodrich @markgoodrich.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Hi #EduSky - the big news this week was PISA results but I already shared the most interesting posts and stats (to me) so Instead wanted to respond in my #Saturday3 to this excellent blog by @claireharley.bsky.social because I am not sure that edublogging is in such a dire state as she feels…
154
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I wrote this week about why I think Lucy Powell is wrong to condemn a one size fits all approach to education and move towards more streaming jimlauder.substack.com/p/in-defence...
jimlauder.substack.com
In defence of a one-size-fits-all education
One-size-fits-all gives everyone an equal entitlement, and protects children from discrimination
120
Reposted by Jim Lauder
FOARP @foarp.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I'm recalling that we just, very recently, had a discussion that centred on how great the German education system was on here. Some people ought to be just a little bit less credulous when terms like "parity of esteem" are thrown around.
54911
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I wrote about why I think, contra the Secretary of State, a one-size-fits-all education is important: jimlauder.substack.com/p/in-defence...
jimlauder.substack.com
In defence of a one-size-fits-all education
One-size-fits-all gives everyone an equal entitlement, and protects children from discrimination
241
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Sue Cowley @suecowley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Bluesky teacher hivemind, I'm looking for examples of concepts in any subject that learners find tricky to grasp, and the creative, amusing, concrete or multisensory ways you've come up with to teach them. It's for a book I'm writing atm. Thanks in advance! Please repost. #EduSky
161627
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Miranda Green @greenmirandahere.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
enjoyable diatribe against Lucy Powell and the new cabinet's thinking on secondary curriculum - let's face it, if we're not careful, we will end up with sheep and goatsism and I'm clearly not the only one worried about this (come for the fury, stay for the delicous chip on his shoulder) 👇
281
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I wrote about why I think, contra the Secretary of State, a one-size-fits-all education is important: jimlauder.substack.com/p/in-defence...
jimlauder.substack.com
In defence of a one-size-fits-all education
One-size-fits-all gives everyone an equal entitlement, and protects children from discrimination
241
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Vindication today for crusading journalist @rhyswilliamsnews.bsky.social who has been relentless in exposing the failures of the Welsh education system. We need more journalists in England scrutinising education policy like this. www.itv.com/news/2026-09...
itv.com
010
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Worth bearing this in mind as govt considers streaming in England - there might well be bad equalities effects.
000
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Wonky question prompted by today's PISA results, looking at @loicmnzs.bsky.social @samfr.bsky.social @missmc.bsky.social (or anyone!). Migrant kids do well in England and badly in other Euro countries. Is this partly because in eg DE and NE they get streamed into the secondary moderns?
200
Reposted by Jim Lauder
John Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch.ft.com · 08/09/2026
2) England is a rare exception. During the 2010s many other countries (including the other 3 UK nations) changed tack, experimenting with ideas like transferrable skills instead of focusing on tried-and-tested disciplines and methods. It looks like those experiments have failed.
1426362
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Really important point. English education is a massive success story for multiculturalism and equality. Our schools are awesome, our kids are awesome, diversity is great and we absolutely should ram it down people's throats if they don't like it.
083
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 08/09/2026
They'll be a lot of chatter about England's PISA results this morning, but we need to talk just as much about Wales. They rejected phonics and knowledge-rich curricula in favour of 'areas of learning', 'skills suites' and barely any testing. Wales is now 40 points below England in every domain.
2316454
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Fantastic news. Our education system is world leading. The result of two decades of hard work by teachers and students, and really good policy choices that many others are now emulating.
163
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Me when I type in my CPOMS authentication code in the nick of time before it refreshes. DSLs know what I'm talking about.
Piett in Return of the Jedi - 'it's an older code sir but it checks out'
110
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 08/09/2026
162323611
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Lucy Powell has made her Observer interview yesterday available from behind the paywall. This is a good point. Curriculum and assessment should follow the contours of the discipline - eg Music should be about playing music, Food Tech should be mainly cooking etc.
Lucy Powell talks about assessment reform
120
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Very good from @jonsevers.bsky.social
100
Reposted by Jim Lauder
cpuk (trampoline park connoisseur and occasional comic printer) @comicprintinguk.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Looked better on Neil Patrick Harris.
251
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Lee D @leedon1982.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
And frankly, that the Labour Party’s agreement to that consensus was an aberration from its normal view is an incredibly frustrating aspect of being on the centre left politically.
022
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Isabelle Finn-Kelcey @isabellefk.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Pls sign & share the petition to keep children’s rights to an education that meets ind needs (not one that fits a package) ❤️ petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Protect legal right to support for children with SEND
I believe that the Government’s proposed SEND reforms could limit EHCPs, weaken legal rights, replace individual plans with packages, reduce appeals, and remove school choice. In my view, children cou...
111
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Profoundly depressing view of education from Lucy Powell. She seems opposed to the principle of academic education being for everyone - the view seems to be that there's a group who don't need academic learning, and just need preparation for customer service jobs. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
DfE quote from Lucy Powell's Observer interview today:

LP wants to 'replace the exam factory with the talent factory' and have more hands-on assessment DfE quote from Lucy Powell's Observer interview today. She says exams should involve more coursework, with a greater emphasis on oracy. This will help with work readiness and talking to customers.
483
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Burnham v impressive today I think. Light years contrast with his predecessor. I disagree with the mood music on education but we need to see the detail. Devolution is the right philosophy - just not sure it'll pay economic dividends anytime soon. But it's great to see someone with a pulse.
031
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Joel Kenyon @joel120193.substack.com · 30/08/2026
New Blog Post 📝 Politically, moving pupils away from academics and towards technical courses at 14 years old is popular, but that doesn't mean its right. Here I provide a real world scenario and a possible alternative for my friend Ben. joel120193.substack.com/p/a-tale-of-...
joel120193.substack.com
A Tale of Two Bens: What Happens When We Decide a Child's Future at 14?
Education should open doors for young people. Changing the system could make it so we lock them in and make it very difficult to provide the key.
223
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Great read. I for one am very apprehensive about what we'll end up seeing in the name of inclusion. My dream would be to stick with the best of the knowledge rich era, but with a 2000s-era economy and social policy. But we can't always get what we want...
150
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Katie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
According to @teachertapp.bsky.social , around half of schools have been asked for a flexischooling arrangement. If you want to be ready when you’re asked, or just want to know more about what flexi looks like, who uses it, and what the research says - catch me at ResearchEd next weekend :)
Table showing Teacher Tapp data on flexischooling. 

Schools that have been asked: Primaries 46% in Apr 26, up from 27% in Sep 19
Secondaries 61% in April 26, up from 44% in Sep 19
Currently have flexi pupils (1-9):
Primaries 27% in Apr 26, up from 14% in Sep 19
Secondaries 24% in April 26, same as 24% in Sep 19
Currently have flexi pupils (10+):
Primaries 0% in Apr 26, same as 0% in Sep 19
Secondaries 6% in April 26, up from 3% in Sep 19
Asked but school doesn’t allow it:
Primaries 20% in Apr 26, up from 12% in Sep 19
Secondaries 31% in April 26, up from 17% in Sep 19
064
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Ben Newmark @bennewmark.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I've started my role as Director of the Knowledge Hub and found myself explaining what exactly this is a fair bit since being appointed. I've written this to introduce us to anyone we're new to. Share and follow us for educational nerdery with purpose! theknowledgehubuk.substack.com/p/introducin...
theknowledgehubuk.substack.com
Introducing the Knowledge Hub
The Knowledge Hub, led by Ben Newmark and based at Saint Martin’s Catholic Academy in Stoke Golding, Leicestershire, is a network of experienced and successful teachers and school leaders.
1168
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Dolly sent books to my youngest son amongst many millions, funded the covid vaccine, and wrote I Will Always Love You the same afternoon she wrote Jolene. What a life. Grateful for the books, the music and the jabs.
0120
Reposted by Jim Lauder
cpuk (trampoline park connoisseur and occasional comic printer) @comicprintinguk.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
I can’t believe we’re having the “race science, is it just academic freedom” debate again. No, it’s not. We’ve done this one to death. If you want to do crankery nobody can stop you, but nobody’s got to listen to you and universities with ever-straitened budgets sure as hell don’t have to fund you.
39318