Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Excellent 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... 1121
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Me when I type in my CPOMS authentication code in the nick of time before it refreshes. DSLs know what I'm talking about. 110
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/09/2026But this is peak Observer brain in the accompanying piece on Finland and the Netherlands - bring back grammar schools to own the knowledge-rich brigade, because anything done by a European country must be good. 120
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Lucy 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. 120
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Profoundly 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... 483
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/08/2026The ARGHH bit: Labour politicians need to relearn macroeconomics and political economy. Public services can't create jobs by themselves: 120
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/08/2026The scary bit: if you introduce different pathways for kids labelled potential NEET in *primary school* this has the potential to be secondary moderns on steroids. 'Oh your child didn't reach GLD age 5, they won't be studying A Levels I'm afraid'. With one pathway until 16, this wouldn't happen. 361
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/08/2026The good bit: we have useful indicative data from early years that helps steer us towards the students that are at risk of low attendance and becoming NEET. Our schools are using this already. 100
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 03/08/2026Lucy Powell doubling down on this in today's Times. As the Times points out, if this is the case it is a mystery as to why the NEETs issue is as bad if not worse in Scotland and Wales. 110
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 02/08/2026This isn't good news on SEND in terms of continuing as planned (but not a surprise)... SEND parents will continue to fight tooth and nail... As it stands, the new system designs in conflict between parents and schools by limiting the tribunal and promising undeliverable individual support plans. 241
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 02/08/2026First, on this bit, Reeves and Starmer are culprits more so than Tory edu ministers - min wage hikes, emp NI, new workers' rights (all stuff I agree with in the abstract) all piled on at once... Yes, you're going to get a NEETs issue. That's pretty basic economics. 1241
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 24/07/2026There is something deeply ingrained in the British political psyche that prevents properly funding FE 110
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Meanwhile, in New Zealand. Always good to see robust education debate. 000
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 27/06/2026Made gyros. Mainly because I had a pack of Mythos in the freezer and several people said I should make gyros. 040
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 22/06/2026She's so close to getting it... It's almost as if the inclusion base policy - designed entirely as a sop to heads, LAs, and the Treasury - naturally invites the mass segregation of awkward and inconvenient kids. More DfE guidance can't patch over structural flaws. 230
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 28/05/2026Observing the ancient English tradition. Off to Spain. (and yes, someone did drop a glass and the people therein assembled did unto shout 'wahey') 250
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 13/04/2026I am very impressed with the Southport Inquiry report. It pulls no punches and calls out the elephants in the room. Everyone passed the buck and no one took responsibility. Safeguarding leads will find these sections all too familiar. 151
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 05/04/2026I made some pizza dough on Friday. Checked this morning - and it had risen! Happy Easter everyone. 010
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 20/03/2026It's not clear cut but this point from @mattyglesias.bsky.social has something in it, I think - we might see a negative correlation between school achievement and parent satisfaction. A slice of parents aren't happy with increased pressure for results, and we've not really engaged with that. 110
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/02/2026Tonight's effort: pork chop, roast garlic mash, chickpea stew 040
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/02/2026Chaser. Paper is a wild read this morning. I should've gone into private equity and profited from state failure and suffering. 171
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 04/01/2026I'm a trust leader working on EDI at Dixons Academies. Available at all good bookshops and online retailers now :) 120
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 01/01/20261. Of course it's only the 'visuals' that ever matter, not people's lives 2. Bed wetting. Really. We're really doing that in our comms with SEND parents. OK. 140
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 27/12/2025Turkey jalfrezi. Yes I did get a stainless steel pan for Christmas and it's great. 010
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 23/12/2025Turned out like most of my cooking - not elegant but tasty! Thanks for the idea. 110
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 22/12/2025Fluffy potatoes ready to freeze then roast on Christmas day :) 010
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 21/12/2025I might have overordered/allowed the butcher to upsell me on the ham. My guests have just left, with ham sandwiches for the road, and I still have so much ham. No one else left in my house eats ham 🙃 140
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 16/12/2025Last minute stocking filler idea - this from two of my fantastic colleagues! So proud. Out December 22nd. 1103
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 12/12/2025I appreciate colossally cheating but I feel like my Youtube algorithm has absolutely nailed this week: 010
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/12/2025That Observer interview once again proving that the PM's instincts on education and young people are a) bad and b) a mile wide and an inch deep (possibly mercifully). It's good he scrapped the limit though. 000
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 06/12/2025Had it with a ham. The advice to make sure it's barely simmering rather than boiling makes *such* a difference. That plus meat thermometer ensures moist tender ham. I just poached it and did a glaze quickly under the grill. No need to bake. 000
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 06/12/2025Made dauphinoise. Tried to do it low and slow, 150 for an hour 45, which was too hot and it split. 120 definitely a better idea. It was still really yummy so no complaints. Gonna do it again for Christmas eve. 140
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 23/11/2025Stop trying to make skillz happen. They're not going to happen. schoolsweek.co.uk/a-curriculum... 111
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 23/11/2025Looks like we've lost the battle for rigour in RE. Sigh. The average member of the public has a pretty ropey understanding of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism at best. That's both intrinsically and societally bad. But no, let's make it trendy. schoolsweek.co.uk/what-next-af... 151
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 21/11/2025Missed this yesterday. Of course, it's bang on. www.tes.com/magazine/new... 151
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 09/11/2025This has always been the fear with the oracy agenda - that it will lead to the DfE dictating pedagogy and the return of compulsory group work by the back door. The devil will be in the detail but this isn't encouraging. www.thetimes.com/article/40e5... 451
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 02/11/2025Friday's pumpkin and last night's Greek veg turned into tonight's lasagne. 020
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 22/10/2025School closures, and the failure to properly fund Covid catch-up, were disastrous choices, and we are still living with the impacts. www.thetimes.com/article/3a27... 041
Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 01/10/2025This is a very important point and needs to be a major direction of travel. www.tes.com/magazine/new... 231