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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

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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
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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'
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
But 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.
The Observer and Pat McFadden gush over the Netherlands' approach to NEETs - which has some good aspects but is fundamentally about grammar schools.
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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
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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.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The ARGHH bit: Labour politicians need to relearn macroeconomics and political economy. Public services can't create jobs by themselves:
Milburn says young people on benefits is a failing in education, skills and health policy. Economic policy gets a pass.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The 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.
Milburn says primary schools should identify potential NEETs then secondaries should put them on a different pathway
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The 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.
Research from Bradford shows children who don't reach early years GLD are more likely to be NEET age 16-17
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Lucy 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.
Lucy Powell argues, incorrectly, that the one-size-fits-all education system has created the NEETs issue
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
This 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.
Lucy Powell suggests she will plough on with the SEND reforms but with more 'reassurance' for parents, so we don't have to fight tooth and nail
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
First, 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.
Lucy Powell blames Tory education policy for NEETs levels
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
There is something deeply ingrained in the British political psyche that prevents properly funding FE
Padme meme where Anakin says he's serious about sorting literally any British policy problem so Padme asks if he's going to fund FE
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Like this? ;)
Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort pulling off a black shirt (and I just clocked the allusion)
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Meanwhile, in New Zealand. Always good to see robust education debate.
Group of NZ teachers expressing some mild skepticism about the science of learning
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Entirely unrelated to events of 12 hours ago
Club sandwich, celeriac remoulade and chips
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Made gyros. Mainly because I had a pack of Mythos in the freezer and several people said I should make gyros.
Home made gyros Home made gyros, Greek salad, chips, tzatziki, pitta and beer
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
She'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.
Times article where Bridget Phillipson tacitly admits her flagship SEND policy lends itself to systematic misuse.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Observing the ancient English tradition. Off to Spain. (and yes, someone did drop a glass and the people therein assembled did unto shout 'wahey')
5.30am airport pint
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
I 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.
Paragraphs from the Southport Inquiry report saying no one took responsibility List from the Southport Inquiry report of all the agencies that passed the buck in a referral merry-go-round
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
I made some pizza dough on Friday. Checked this morning - and it had risen! Happy Easter everyone.
Spicy keema lamb pizza. Gotta have lamb on Easter Sunday.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
It'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.
Post from Matt Yglesias highlighting that, when the US education system was performing best on test scores, parent satisfaction was lowest.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Tonight's effort: pork chop, roast garlic mash, chickpea stew
Pork chop (high quality and just a little bit pink inside), chickpea stew and roast garlic mash
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Chaser. Paper is a wild read this morning. I should've gone into private equity and profited from state failure and suffering.
Times article about private equity firms making money from ADHD assessments
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Sunday morning daal
Tarka daal in progress
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Steak night
Steak cooking in a pan. I overcooked it a touch for my liking (foolishly allowed myself to be swayed by the packet cooking guidance). But very yummy, with pepper sauce, dauphinoise and veg.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
(Veggie) Burns night supper
Homemade veggie haggis, neeps, tatties and whisky and pepper sauce (without the whisky, it's a school night)
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
Cavolo Nero and feta pie Sunday dinner. Yum.
Veggie Sunday roast with cavolo nero and feta pie
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
Back to school borscht
Borscht - featuring all the ageing veg that didn't get used over Christmas
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
I'm a trust leader working on EDI at Dixons Academies. Available at all good bookshops and online retailers now :)
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Schools by the dream team of Natasha Raheem and Funmilola Rothery
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
1. 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.
Govt source quote on SEND in the Times: 'there has been a lot of bed-wetting from No 10 about this. We are very wary of the visuals of hitting disabled children at such a moment of political weakness.'
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
Turkey jalfrezi. Yes I did get a stainless steel pan for Christmas and it's great.
Turkey jalfrezi and garlic naan
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
British Indian restaurant style turkey vindaloo <3
British Indian restaurant style turkey vindaloo
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Turned out like most of my cooking - not elegant but tasty! Thanks for the idea.
Leftover ham and leek pie. Lots of garlic, wine, parsley and pepper. Could've used a lick of Colman's in the bechemel base.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Fluffy potatoes ready to freeze then roast on Christmas day :)
Parboiled potatoes
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
I 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 🙃
Ham and egg. Breakfast, lunch and dinner for the foreseeable.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Last minute stocking filler idea - this from two of my fantastic colleagues! So proud. Out December 22nd.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in schools by Natasha Raheem and Funmilola Rothery
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
I appreciate colossally cheating but I feel like my Youtube algorithm has absolutely nailed this week:
The terrible selection of huge, cheesy bangers the algorithm has granted me for running music this week. But very happy!
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
That 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.
Extract from Observer interview where Keir Starmer appears to agree with criticism of his own (very good, as it happens) curriculum and assessment review.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Had 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.
Ham and dauphinoise - this was seconds
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Made 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.
Potatoes dauphinoise - used Fallow's recipe from their FB reels. It's good.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Stop trying to make skillz happen. They're not going to happen. schoolsweek.co.uk/a-curriculum...
Goose chase meme about failed curriculum experiments
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Looks 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...
Article promoting RE needing to be focused on various trendy issues instead of the religions themselves.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
November evening
Cosy food
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Missed this yesterday. Of course, it's bang on. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
School leader describes resource bases, often correctly, as a garage down the end of the school site.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
This 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...
Clip from Sunday Times article saying students will be required to discuss maths problems in groups.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
Friday's pumpkin and last night's Greek veg turned into tonight's lasagne.
Greek veg lasagne
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
New vision of hell just dropped
Article calling for the return of 'school cruises' where teachers presumably have to entertain a vomiting year group on a boat for several days.
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
School 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...
Extract from Times op-ed from Alice Thomson, highlighting the UK's total failure to support children post-pandemic in comparison to other countries
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Some lovely Yorkshire for the Sunday timeline
Looking towards Ilkley moor
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Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
This is a very important point and needs to be a major direction of travel. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Bridget Phillipson discusses relationships and meaningful engagement with parents
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