Sign in

Pauline Ridley

@paulineridley.bsky.social
629 followers 478 following 503 posts

Educational developer, ex art historian, interested in education, visual literacy (blogs.brighton.ac.uk/visuallearning), dress history, local (East Sussex) history dallingtonhistory.uk - also here for other random unexpected stuff

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Prof Katherine Schofield 🇬🇧🇦🇺🇪🇺 @katherineschof8.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
It's that time of year again when we need to remind National Trust members that Restore Trust is a dark-money funded right-wing astroturfing entryist outfit. Please vote, and vote for literally anyone else.
3274159
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Teresa MacKinnon @warwicklanguage.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
notopalantir.goodlawproject.org/s/LLzgDU
notopalantir.goodlawproject.org
Say no to Palantir in the NHS
NHS England is rolling out software to run our health records from Palantir - fight back
012
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Gwen C. Katz @gwenckatz.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Fuck ChatGPT flyers. The future is broadsheets.
A crowded broadsheet with way too many fonts. It says:
Forget ChatGPT Flyers
Say it with 
Broadsheets
Unlimited fonts
Stretch them
Or cram a really long sentence into one line for no good reason
No whitespace
Mix capital and lowercase
Pointing hands
(They're called manicules!)
Don't be left behind
Broadsheets are the future
204190165428
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
'A third and two thirds can’t both be right. And when a minister at the heart of the government’s economic thinking picks one of them, it matters which is closer to reality.'
wonkhe.com
Students are working more than ever. Or are they?
Torsten Bell and Alan Milburn say fewer students are working. Jim Dickinson goes down the Labour Force Survey rabbit hole to find out why purpose-built surveys say the opposite
097
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
literally thousands of jobs in higher education were cut *last year alone* and there's been almost no media coverage and no government action
8698221
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Daniel C. Blight @danielcblight.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
***URGENT PLEASE SHARE*** University of Brighton management have announced today that they ‘give notice of termination of all collective agreements’. This is a fundamental erasure of workers' rights. Management have announced the termination of all contractual documents, which includes:
13598709
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
In awe at friends in their own difficult situations declining to step into my departed colleagues’ shoes to save management from the consequences of their own stupidity. That’s amazing solidarity. Thank you.
419412
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Angry Algonquin @angryalgonquin.com · 13/09/2026
If you change to duckduckgo as your search engine, you can turn ALL AI features off...and you're not supporting google/gemini.
182
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Heather Stewart @guardianheather.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
“The idea that you could be here for the next 10, 15 years and you’d still have no legal right to remain in the country … how the hell do you plan?..It cuts across any effort to integrate at all.” www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
‘Fundamentally unfair’: Burnham must overhaul migration reforms, says TUC general secretary
Paul Nowak says changes to immigration rules risk overstretching social care and fuelling far-right sentiment
11576179
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Dr Dave Hitchcock @davehitchcock.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Every course having a mandatory "AI Trailblazer" shows us all how absolutely desperate this is getting. Thou shalt use generative ai we paid for it the beatings will stop when ai is used, etc.
2242
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
kottke.org @kottke.org · 10/09/2026
From the Internet Archive: Vanishing Culture: A Report on Our Fragile Cultural Record. “When digital materials are vulnerable to sudden removal…our collective memory is compromised, and the public’s ability to access its own history is at risk.” [archive.org]
archive.org
Vanishing Culture: A Report on Our Fragile Cultural Record
23414
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Caroline Dodds Pennock @carolinepennock.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
In news that will surprise absolutely no one in HE... ‘It notes that institutions “routinely” hire consultancies for these restructures as well as change management specialists, however, these processes often introduce additional management layers, “adding cost rather than removing it”…’
timeshighereducation.com
Restructuring ‘too often adding cost rather than removing it’
Universities are ‘underestimating’ the challenges caused by outsourcing services amid major professional services staff redundancies, report warns
829277
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social @alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
#Denmark built so much wind that some blustery hours the turbines out-produce what the whole country is using. When that happens, the extra power doesn’t sit idle. It moves through Denmark’s links into the wider European network and heads to neighbors like Germany, Norway, Sweden. #ActOnClimate
371147024389
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Headlines from the school meeting: 1. We've sacked a lot of you. 2. More of you will be sacked shortly. 3. Here's an awful lot more work to do. No you can't object. 4. Recruitment and outcomes are all your fault.
97012
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
One reason England does so well is our second generation immigrants outperform their peers which is not true in most OECD countries. We are also very good at integration. And it's v sad that this is never acknowledge in debates on immigration.
602405852
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Richard Murphy @richardjmurphy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
We can afford nationalisation if only politicians understood it youtu.be/iyz-qzmNkCE?... Our politicians claim we cannot afford nationalisation. They ignore two things. We only pay with bonds, not cash, and the interest would pay the interest cost if they go at the right price.
youtu.be
We can afford nationalisation if only politicians understood it
YouTube video by Richard J Murphy
416086
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Bonnie Stewart @bonstewart.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
...edtech that is nontransparent, proprietary, & built on extraction & plagiarism. the only 'ethic' of BigAI is profit.
074
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
'Examinations of London schoolchildren before and after the introduction of the city’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) found a restoration of lung capacity that had been stunted by exposure to pollution.' Brave politics, wise policy, good news.
theguardian.com
Ulez led to better lung size and function among London children, study finds
Researchers find capacity stunted by pollution restored after introduction of ultra-low emission zone
120775
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Long read: Amid all the debates about student employability and academic integrity, the question of how AI mandates square with universities’ commitments to addressing climate change has been largely neglected. Juliette Rowsell reports #highered #AI #netzero #edusky ow.ly/pJiY50ZA0ts
021
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Dr. Nick Posegay @nposegay.northsky.social · 16/08/2026
Dear readers, the correct figure is 0.4%. Nearly 100x less. www.varsity.co.uk/features/29235
While the proportion of BAME professors has increased from 7.1% in 2016 to 9.4% in 2022, progress remains slow and uneven. Asian academics form the majority within this category, while Black academics remain critically underrepresented at 0.4%. White staff continue to dominate senior roles, shaping hiring and promotion
5607141
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
NEW on Wonkhe: To address the very really inequalities in higher education we need to "call in" meaningful conversations rather than "call out" problematic behavior. Josephine Gabi and Sarah de Sousa explain. buff.ly/IdESE8b
023
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Richard Murphy @richardjmurphy.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Keynes transformed economics, making clear how markets fail and that governments have to intervene to deliver wellbeing. We need another Keynes now. I used AI, among other tools, when creating this post. I also used about 50 years of experience writing about economics.
An infographic on Keynesian economics and its benefits.
614553
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
The question to ask is not whether degrees produce earnings. It is whether higher education produces knowledge, capability, opportunity and social contribution in a changing economy, says Peng Zhou #highered #employment #knowledge ow.ly/AJR350ZxlIK
1115
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Rachel Sylvester @rachelsylvester.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
New Scandinavian wings at Wandsworth and Pentonville jails have seen a 45% fall in assaults, 57% drop in self harm and halving of staff absence rates - fascinating results from trial into a more rehabilitative approach to prisons observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk
‘Scandi wings’ offering pianos, pool and tea parties coul...
A unit in London’s Wandsworth prison has been transformed using methods from Sweden and Norway that prioritise rehabilitation over retribution
531489582
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Ellory @thelocalmuffin.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
If you are cutting corners with art, photos, and even text, I will assume you are cutting corners elsewhere. I have been proven right one too many times. If I see AI in your flyers, I'm now just avoiding you. I don't care if it's rude. I'm dropping you mid order.
16522144
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
‘A delivery was attempted today.’ From the new Private Eye, out now.
7932245
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Lucy Delap @lucydelap.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Great discussion at the 'crisis in UK history' meeting hosted by @ihr.bsky.social, @royalhistsoc.org, @histassoc.bsky.social and History UK. Horror stories of closures and redundancies, balanced by new resources. Check out for ex. the new Independent Historians Network independenthistorians.org
independenthistorians.org
Independent Historians Network
The place for independent and freelance historians to connect
44627
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
David Veevers @davidveevers.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
I honestly would love to know what policymakers think will happen to social mobility, regional growth, employment, and educational attainment, when all these provincial universities are gone or shrink to almost non existence? Isn’t avoiding that disaster alone worth a billion quid right now??
8261100
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Dr Heidi Colthup @heidi-colthup.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
The Creative Industries added £124 billion to the UK economy in 2023, but yes, let's not bother to fund any training and education in them. I mean, it's not like we're known for music, fashion, artists, filmmakers, performers. Make it make sense.
12917
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
East Anglia Bylines @eastangliabylines.co.uk · 04/08/2026
Traditional economics says governments are limited by money. Trump's war suggests otherwise. The problem isn't dollars. It's missiles, factories, skilled workers & supply chains. Money can organise resources. It cannot create them. Prof Richard Murphy explains
eastangliabylines.co.uk
Traditional economics is wrong: Donald Trump has proved it
Conventional economics says that governments can only do what they can pay for. Trump’s war proves its not true
18033
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Dan McQuillan @danmcquillan.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
To paraphrase Raoul Vaneigem, people who talk about Resonsible AI or Responsible Tech without referring to the need to restructure our political-economy for the common good and to socialise all infrastructure, such people have a corpse in their mouth.
46921
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
NEW on Wonkhe: With curriculum reform converging on fewer, larger modules across the sector, Jim Dickinson argues that consolidation solves institutional problems while reallocating regret onto students least able to absorb it buff.ly/5xu4GGB
021
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Jim Dickinson @jimdickinson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
NEW on Wonkhe: With curriculum reform converging on fewer, larger modules across the sector, Jim Dickinson argues that consolidation solves institutional problems while reallocating regret onto students least able to absorb it buff.ly/5xu4GGB
022
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Dan McQuillan @danmcquillan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Where is the university ethics committee that has stepped up to the plate and said "There's no ethical way to use Generative AI"?
316251
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education @jldhe.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Join #JLDHE Managing Editor, Dr Chad McDonald for a free webinar: Demystifying the JLDHE publication journey: from submission to success July 29, 11:00 - 12:00. Book a ticket at: aldinhe.ac.uk/events/events-calendar #LoveLD
Demystifying the JLDHE publication journey: from submission to success
012
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Bonnie Adamson @bonnieadamson.com · 25/07/2026
Funniest thing I've read in a long time. Seriously. You need to read this.
15616
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Anna Hetherington @anechka.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
the-toast.net/2015/04/02/r... this popular publication is useful, I think!
the-toast.net
Reading Lines in Pictures: Why I Teach Visual Literacy - The Toast
An art historian on how and why she teaches visual literacy to her students.
2187
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
'Notably, a record 88.1 per cent of students who completed the NSS are positive about the quality of teaching on their course – with 93.6 per cent agreeing that teaching staff are good at explaining things.' 1/3
wonkhe.com
The NSS shows us that students still seem to like higher education
The 2026 NSS results bring evidence that most students are happy with their academic experience, and particularly appreciate the skills of their academic staff
23515
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
'The decision to slash funding for creative subjects comes despite the field being named as one of the UK’s “highest potential sectors” in the government’s industrial strategy.' 1/2
timeshighereducation.com
Cuts to creative courses ‘undermining government’s own strategy’
Arts institutions warn creative education is becoming increasingly hard to deliver as government slashes funding from September onwards
10228117
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 01/07/2026
NEW BLOG FOR YOU Google's energy consumption numbers in their new climate report are mind-blowing. 2 years ago they flipped from linear to exponential growth, and their climate impact is blowing out, too. A WILD testament to the obscene bloat and waste of GenAI: ketanjoshi.co/2026/07/01/g...
a chart showing google's rising energy consumption - huge, and rising faster than ever beforea chart showing google's rising energy consumption - huge, and rising faster than ever beforea chart showing google's rising energy consumption - huge, and rising faster than ever beforeGoogle's total energy consumption more than new zealand
4426571469
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
This week on Wonkhe: With universities relying on disclosure models and deficit framing to address awarding gaps, Emma Gaunt argues that racism and ableism aren't distortions of the system – they're built into it
buff.ly
Inclusion without a structural lens just reproduces exclusion
With universities relying on disclosure models and deficit framing to address awarding gaps, Emma Gaunt argues that racism and ableism aren't distortions of the system – they're built into it
042
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
K M Flett @keithbeard.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Alf Dubs has the right idea on who needs to go at the Home Office www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Remove home secretary Mahmood and rip up her asylum plans, says Alf Dubs
Exclusive: Labour peer who fled Nazis as a child says Andy Burnham has chance to ‘correct mistakes’ on refugees
0143
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Ned Hartley @nedhartley.com · 26/06/2026
This is a great example of a politician sticking to an unpopular policy (ULEZ) which was the right thing to do and ended up saving lives.
414952
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 26/06/2026
This is remarkable.
Bar chart which shows y-axis running 0-8000, and x-axis showing years 2019 and 2024. For 2019, a light orange bar runs up to just over 6000, with a darker orange running up to 8000. For 2024, a green bar runs up to 4000, with a dark green running to about 5000. The text "40% lower" is on the lighter green bar. Text at the top of the graphic reads "Estimated air pollution deaths are down by around 40%. New analysis estimates deaths associated with air pollution in London reduced substantially between 2019 and 2024." Text at the bottom of the graphic reads "Note: darker shading shows estimated ranges. Data based on a comparison of estimated mortality burden using updated methods and a scenario-based analysis where only air pollution changes. Source: london.gov.uk/aqmortality". The Mayor of London logo sits in the bottom right-hand corner.
912764773
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Dr Sue Clayton @topofthefield.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
100%
072
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Jens Notroff @jensnotroff.com · 24/06/2026
#AI is not only reshaping how we perceive #history by generating fictional images of real events - it is also increasingly preventing historic sources from being documented and #archived.
0199
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Dr_Aust_PhD @draustphd.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
You join a Union in the University sector: (i) to help protect you from bullying & unfair dismissal; (ii) to protect your pension from regular attempts to gut it; (iii) to protect your & colleagues' jobs from regular attempts at 'restructuring' mass redundancy; (iv) to negotiate on pay.
1113
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Jim Dickinson @jimdickinson.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
NEW on Wonkhe: Universities organise student experience and student life into separate portfolios. Kirsten Farrell makes the case that without deliberate connection between them, both are flying blind buff.ly/g4Elhxr
011
Reposted by Pauline Ridley
Teresa MacKinnon @warwicklanguage.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
We think youth clubs and coffee mornings and your local community centre can do as much public good as museums and art galleries. So why aren't they also eligible for a VAT refund? We want to change that. Add your name if you do too. party.coop/campaign/vat...
party.coop
Take VAT off Community Buildings
021
Pauline Ridley @paulineridley.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Currently taking a break from my usual comfort-reading detective stories (only way I can usually cope with what’s going on in the world) and completely absorbed by this other kind of detective story (and only 99p on Kindle!) Brilliant!
020