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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 16h

Thanks to The Schools at Somerhill for a great afternoon of cross country running. 2nd U13 Boy for Len, 2nd place in team competition for Skinners’.

Lead pack rounds a corner on a grassy field with trees in the background under a blue sky with white fluffy clouds

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Thank to Sevenoaks Prep for an excellent afternoon of cross country running. 2nd place for Skinners’ with George and Josh in 5th and 6th places respectively.

A stream of cross country runners snaked across a deer park with trees in the background and blue sky and clouds

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Thanks to RGS Guildford for hosting a hugely enjoyable Haskell Junior Relay

Runner in red and black vest leads the field. Passing the frames of cricket nets on a grass field with trees in the background under a bright sunny blue 🌌

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Stephanie Cole, what a career. @bbcsounds.bsky.social needs to make every episode of Cabin Pressure available as a tribute.

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Mark Miodownik @markmiodownik.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Turn on the sound!

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Sam Strickland @strickomaster.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Reposts hugely appreciated

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Over 100 runners in the Junior Boys’ race and over 80 in the Inters. Good fields in the two girls’ races too at The Skinners’ School #TunbridgeWells #Builditandtheywillcome

Cross country runners in the Junior Boys race alongside a hedge after a long gradual climb on their first lap of two.

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Marking out part of the course for tomorrow’s Skinners’ School Cross Country Races. #TunbridgeWells #builditandtheywillcome

School fields with patchy grass. Looking through branches of a young oak tree to orange posts and tape marking out a bend on a cross country course. Orange flags follow the route into the distance. Some blue sky with clouds.

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Second gig of the weekend, a matinee at The Brighton Railway Club featuring The Would Be Goods and Railcard

Four piece band with guest Railcarder. Bass, Guitar/ Vocals, guest trumpet player, guitarist with drummer tucked behind. Purple shiny backdrop and glitterball hanging from the ceiling

Four piece band with guitarist/vocals, drums/vocals, trumpet/keyboards/vocals, and bass

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Superb gig at The Church of the Annunciation, Hanover, Brighton. Eliza Skelton and Sairie. Well done to Melting Vinyl for such a great line-up and venue.

Four piece band lit by red and blue lights in a Catholic Church. Guitarist left, singer/ukele centre bass/vocals right with drums behind

Five piece band playing in a Catholic Church, Guitars left, Vocals centre, Bass right, drums and violin behind

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Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

There are certain words that I wish we didn't need. One is 'endling'. The name given to the last individual of a species. This sad picture of the emaciated Thylacine endling was taken 59 days before its extinction. Discuss the extinction of Tasmanian Tigers tomorrow. bit.ly/TutorGroupThink

Monday 7th September
Pictured is the last known living Thylacine, otherwise known as the Tasmanian Tiger, taken in May 1936 in a zoo in Hobart, Tasmania.
Thylacine were dog-like striped marsupials (animals that carry their premature young in a pouch) that were actually more closely related to Kangaroos than dogs. Their dog-like features are a good example of ‘convergent evolution’ where their dog-like features were useful for hunting in the same way as dogs and wolves.
European colonists to Tasmania blamed thylacine for loss of sheep, so in 1888 the Tasmanian government offered £1 for each adult killed. By 1926 the Tasmanian Tiger was so rare London Zoo paid £150 for a live animal. But it was not until July 1936 that the Thylacine became protected. But by then this emaciated individual was the last of its species, an endling. It died 59 days later on this day 1936. The species was extinct and lost forever due to human hunters.
Australia now marks 7th September as National Threatened Species Day, using the date to focus attention on animals and plants that can still be saved. 5 years ago, a short section of film taken in 1935 of the last Thylacine was colourised and released.
How does this picture and video make you feel?
Do you know of any other endlings?
What should we do when conservation conflicts with human activity such as energy or agriculture?

Pictured is the last known living Thylacine, otherwise known as the Tasmanian Tiger, taken in May 1936 in a zoo in Hobart, Tasmania.
Thylacine were dog-like marsupials more closely related to Kangaroos than dogs. European colonists to Tasmania blamed thylacine for loss of sheep, so hunted them.
Thylacine became protected in July 1936, but by then this emaciated individual was the last of its species, an endling. It died 59 days later on this day 1936.
The species was extinct and lost forever due to human hunters.

How does this picture or this later coloured film make you feel?
What should we do when conservation conflicts with human activity such as energy or agriculture?

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Reposted by Richard Newbold

Ed Finch @edfinch.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

'The Human in the Classroom' Podcast Are you a human? Do you spend time in or near a classroom? Do you have experience of, or thoughts relating to; laughter grief introversion creativity music play having a 'world view' Would you let me record a quick conversation with you?

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Year 7 head off into the distance accompanied by two Skinners’ School Science Teachers who fancied joining them #TunbridgeWells

160 boys in red and black rugby pitched across a free/brown field towards a pavilion and trees under a leaden and cloudy sky

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Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

TGT is back. The kids are probably not back (though 5% are according to @teachertapp.bsky.social). But 1st September seems the right place to start and you could always show it at INSET instead. Discuss Danny Leon's amazing Eclipse Shot. bit.ly/TutorGroupThink

Tuesday 1st September
This stunning shot is of Spanish Olympic skateboarder Danny León taken during the total solar eclipse experienced by parts of Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and Spain on 12th August this summer.
Danny and his team spent months planning the shot, choosing a ridge on farmland near Novales, 50 km northeast of Zaragoza where they could sent up a ramp at the right angle for the eclipse to be right behind.
Danny’s videographers and photographer José Ángel Izquierdo (Jai Cano) were set up around 500 meters away, which was key to the shot. They used a powerful telephoto lens, which makes distant objects appear close together so that Danny’s silhouette seems very close to the annulus (ring of fire) which appears during a total eclipse (Youtube video of the tick).
The day before they set up the ramp, practiced the trick and the shot and then hoped for perfect weather. At the moment of eclipse, Danny had just 30 seconds to do the trick and get it right on cue. A fairly simple trick for an Olympic skateboarder, but there’s no second chance*. No next Olympics in 4 years time.
Did you see the eclipse (the UK had around 90% of the sun obscured)
If you had to get a simple skateboard trick right on cue - could you handle the pressure?
Is this an achievement of sport, science or creativity? Is it art?

* there is another total eclipse next summer (2nd August) across southern Spain, but the sun will be much higher in the sky.

Tuesday 1st September
Did you see this stunning photo of skateboarder Danny León taken during the total solar eclipse last month?
It was months in the planning and required a powerful telephoto lens to take the photo from distance. Danny needed to get the trick right too as he only had around 30 seconds to perform on cue.
Watch: Video of trick

Did you see the eclipse?
If you had to get a simple skateboard trick right on cue - could you handle the pressure?
Is this an achievement of sport, science or creativity? Is it art?

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Bit of Chemistry at Hackney Wick Station, reflecting the Victorian industry that dyed the River Lea.

Chemistry inspired molecules and repeating units in a concrete wall.

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Looking rather sad now that people have realised that a hot bath isn’t a cure all.

Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Bath. Sandstone Georgian building with pillared portico. Boarded up windows on ground floor.

Inscription in the side of a sandstone building reading:
Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases
Royal Mineral Water Hospital
Established by act of parliament as The Hospital or Infirmary in the City of Bath AD 1739

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Bill Wilkinson @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

We just want to get these little nuggets of cool stuff in front of as many eyeballs as possible so we want to make it as easy as possible for teachers to use. What's easier than it turning up in your email every day? Sign up here: 👇 buttondown.com/TGT

buttondown.com

Tutor Group Think - Daily Slides

Sign up to receive a free, inspiring daily slide each evening to share with students during tutor time the next day. What teachers have said about us: “This is a brilliant resource and I am shocked i...

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The best bit of The Natural History Museum in Oxford is the building itself.

Intricate carving on top of a pillar and balcony

Glass roof supported by cast iron pillars and arches with Moa, T Rex and Iguanadon skeletons

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Jakob Ingebrigtsen! Quite remarkable.

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Please can someone explain why they like musicals? Everyone seemed to be enjoying it but I preferred the non-singy bits. Sadly there weren’t very many :(

Theatre looking down to the stage from the upper stalls. Projection of “Operation Mincemeat” on the curtain.

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Daisy Christodoulou @daisychristo.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

The UK economy has problems. There's been barely any per capita GDP growth or real income growth in about 20 years. Policymakers would be better off finding solutions for this than getting primary schools to make lists of children at risk of unemployment. substack.nomoremarking.com/p/schools-ar...

substack.nomoremarking.com

Schools aren’t to blame for the NEET crisis

When learning more doesn’t help you earn more

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

There may be a few clips of Achaens versus Lystrigonians used when teaching alloys in Chemistry GCSE!

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Super 5th place from Tonbridge AC’s Lewis Church in the Commonwealth Games Decathlon. Interesting watching it on BBC Alba in Gaelic!

Lewis Church raising his arms while being introduced to the crowd on the start of the 1500m

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OperaBunny @operabunny.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

FT POLL: Would you support a boycott of the World Cup? Currently 96% yes. compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/fi...

compass.pressekompass.net

Poll

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

How long does it take to hand out a trophy? Have they got to grind off “Argentina” off the trophy?

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

As if getting beaten by Argentina wasn’t bad enough now we have to endure a Chris Martin singalong. Another break ITV what the frog?!

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

What have we done to deserve this? Do Americans like this stuff?

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Athletics has got a big problem. Josh Kerr smashes a 27 year old record and it’s the last sport story on The Guardian website, after golf, rugby, cycling and qualifying at The Belgian Grand Prix 😬

Guardian website shows Josh Kerr celebrating his 3-42.66 mile record as the last story on the sport section of their website

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Another year done. Hopefully the scaffolding will be down by September!

Victorian school buildings, 2000s library and lots of scaffolding

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

I wrote about the silence around Alexander Zverev on the BBC's TV broadcasts of Wimbledon, which has left UK viewers without the whole picture. Why do the BBC avoid this topic on television when discussing it elsewhere? Free at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/bbc-wimble...

benrothenberg.com

On BBC’s Wimbledon Coverage, the Information Will Not Be Televised

Viewers in the United Kingdom are not getting the whole picture of Alexander Zverev.

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Holy flip. Jorgen is good but not Haarland good!

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Amelia Fletcher joins @jetstreampony.bsky.social onstage at The Pets Sounds launch gig. Top tip, launch your albums in the autumn🥵

The Water Rats stage with five piece band joined by guest vocalist

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Can’t reply to the post by Sue Cowley about mini whiteboards. They weren’t a thing when I was at school but in my first year of teaching I visited a primary school and saw them in action. I bought a class set that day. That was 22 years ago. I’ve used them every day since.

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Brilliant Chemistry sessions by Dr Peter Hoare from @newcastleuni.bsky.social Spectroscopy for Y12 and Colourful Chemistry for Y9

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Omfg I’m agreeing with Lee Dixon. Shoot me now.

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Adam Boxer @adamboxereducation.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Sarah Ledger has been a teacher for FORTY YEARS and is due to retire in a matter of weeks. Across all that time, she's seen a helluva lot of change, and isn't afraid to talk about it. Fascinating and hilarious new episode, please share if you can 🙏🙏 open.spotify.com/episode/5gDU...

open.spotify.com

What's changed across FORTY YEARS in the classroom? With Sarah Ledger

They Behave For Me · Episode

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

I’m just about to teach chirality :)

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

The Sun is definitely over the yardarm

Pint of Neck Oil and glass of Prosecco on a wooden table. Shingle beach and cloud streaked blue sky

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Mark Miodownik @markmiodownik.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

The ball in this year's World Cup is more predicable in terms of its flight and dip, than previous years. It comes down to the science of the geometry of the seams and surface roughness www.nytimes.com/athletic/737...

nytimes.com

Analysing the Trionda: The science behind the 2026 World Cup ball

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Mark Enser @ensermark.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Drawing on Berliner's research on expert teachers, Priestley on teacher agency, and Stenhouse on teacher professionalism, I make the case that principles beat practices every time — and that the stakes are higher than we think. open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p... 3/3

open.substack.com

Why principles beat practices every time

What CPD gets wrong, and what it costs us

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Richard Newbold @newboldrj.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Sunny but rather breezy at Bromley for the Kent Schools’ Athletics Championships

Athletics track with throws cage to left and sports centre behind. Trees and blue sky with clouds in the distance

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