Reposted by Kelly SmithBuckinghamshire Archives @bucksarchives.bsky.social · 10hFor no better reason than it's Friday, we're going to review wrestlers on how useful they'd be working in the archive. First up: Triple H. He'd probably be great to have in the office, but that water spit thing is just going to raise our humidity levels so it's a no from us. 1020255
Reposted by Kelly SmithTimes Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · 11hOptional modules are being cancelled at the last minute at some UK universities as institutions feel the full effect of summer job cuts and ongoing strike action. Juliette Rowsell reports #highered #strikes #jobcuts #edusky ow.ly/eG7c50ZTAaN 001
Reposted by Kelly SmithBart⚓️ @bartgonnissen.bsky.social · 30/09/20261/x Have you ever heard of a ship that raced another ship with her crew and passengers in a drunken stupor, hit a rock, and caused almost two decades of civil war? One man survived. “No ship that ever sailed brought England such disaster”. This is the story of the White Ship. #maritimehistory 33317
Reposted by Kelly SmithLuca @lucagalletti.bsky.social · 30/09/2026She turned it on herself and her water bowl is already full. IG: @charlieeandlaylaa 2092962374
Reposted by Kelly SmithSandra Sinfield @danceswithcloud.bsky.social · 30/09/2026#LTHEChat A6 Yes - one hour to sit and stare - what a lovely idea!! (Of course following my logic - it should be a module - and at the end they should produce something that reflected back to the rest of us what that hour per week had brought them - even if it were just the joy of boredom!) 152
Reposted by Kelly SmithCentral Bylines @centralbylines.co.uk · 27/09/2026M&S Custard Cream Spread: Britain has completed food One jar of M&S Custard Cream Spread has caused us to question civilisation, breakfast, mashed potato and the limits of human restraint @willyandbill.bsky.socialcentralbylines.co.ukM&S Custard Cream Spread: Britain has completed foodOne jar of M&S Custard Cream Spread has caused us to question civilisation, breakfast, mashed potato and the limits of human restraint 5243
Reposted by Kelly SmithColum @columfromcork.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Looking forward to tomorrow evening's #LTHEchat where we'll be exploring how the design of time and space shapes student engagement, participation, and belonging Join @lthechat.bsky.social, me, and others tomorrow here 8-9pm Beforehand have a gander at the blog post: lthechat.com/2026/09/27/l...lthechat.comLTHEChat 374: Apathy or Architecture? The hidden curriculum of time and spaceJoin us on Wednesday 30th of September at 8.00pm (GMT/BST) with our guest contributor, Colum Cronin of Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, (@columfromcork.bsky.social). This #LTHEChat on BlueSky… 032
Reposted by Kelly SmithGaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 29/09/2026if you haven't been through this with an elderly parent yet it's maybe hard to explain why social care reform feels like a big deal but there will be a surprising number of people i suspect feeling quite tearful listening to this 1312318
Reposted by Kelly SmithVelour Shirt @object.works · 29/09/2026This is a metaphor for so many things these days that I couldn't choose 692143712
Reposted by Kelly SmithEmma Kennedy @emmakeddev.bsky.social · 29/09/2026"This is not an argument against excellence. It is an argument for recognising that there is more than one kind of excellence in higher education." So glad to have read this - it's spot on and brightened my morning. 0298
Reposted by Kelly SmithJay Hulme @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I'm going to tell you a story and then, at the end, I'm going to ask you if anyone happens to have the niche knowledge I need to help... The story begins, as so many of my stories do, in an ancient church in the middle of a city. But it's not now. And it's not hundreds of years ago. It's the 1960's 718763
Reposted by Kelly SmithThe Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · 28/09/2026Six finalists want your vote for the People’s Choice winner of the Vitae Three Minute Thesis competition.tcnv.linkRegister to vote for the winner of the Vitae Three Minute Thesis competition 2026 – supported by The ConversationSix finalists want your vote for the People’s Choice winner of the Vitae Three Minute Thesis competition. 011
Reposted by Kelly SmithMichael Rosen @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Parents, grandparents, carers, keep your eyes peeled for showings in cinemas of a double bill of animations of 'The Tiger who came to Tea' and 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'. Coming soon. 17224
Kelly Smith @smithkj.bsky.social · 27/09/2026#GreatGlobalGreyhoundWalk - Coventry UK version. 24 hounds with a good number dressed up as ‘mythical creatures’. Daz hates anything around his head or flapping round his back so wore a pillowcase with happy puppy skeletons on. 1111
Kelly Smith @smithkj.bsky.social · 27/09/2026I had long COVID for 7 months. My symptoms were severe fatigue and brain fog. I was on the cusp of having to give up work when friends send me a BBC need article on a food supplement that was showing promise. I tried it and was back in 3 weeks. Colleagues still talk about how much it affected me.youtu.beBBC covid nutritionYouTube video by Professor Robert Thomas MD 110
Reposted by Kelly SmithJared Yates Sexton @jysexton.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Just helping with editing here. These bots aren’t sentient. They’re doing what they’re programmed to do. OpenAI, a private company supposedly bound by laws, committed federal crimes. 16892933065
Reposted by Kelly SmithThe English Oak Project @thekentacorn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Every other living thing including deer, badgers, rabbits, humans & velociraptors use our paths, but because foxes are the mammal equivalent of 00 Agents they walk ON the logs to not leave paw prints 824035
Reposted by Kelly Smithrekati.bsky.social @rekati.bsky.social · 26/09/2026@biggreenbooks.bsky.social Guess whose Big Green Books/Bluesky Book Club books arrived? MINE! Thanks to Big Green Bookshop for the fast dispatch and reasonable prices to the US! Perfect timing! 053
Reposted by Kelly SmithCog to Gear @cogtogear.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Profound - and a beautiful piece of writing from @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comThe makers of the 7 Up series set out to prove a point about class. What they achieved is far more profound | Jonathan FreedlandThe epic documentary series reveals much about the shifting social attitudes of the last 60 years – and much more about the quiet mystery of human life, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland 045
Reposted by Kelly SmithGail Myerscough @gailmyerscough.co.uk · 26/09/2026All my Christmas card preorders were posted yesterday. Thank you to everyone who ordered. 2026 Christmas cards are now available in my online shop if you fancy getting in there early. www.gailmyerscough.co.uk/christmasgailmyerscough.co.ukChristmas Cards | Gail MyerscoughChristmas cards with bold graphics, retro pattern and a mid-century colour palette. For anyone who likes their Christmas a bit less traditional. 02712
Kelly Smith @smithkj.bsky.social · 25/09/2026I was very lucky to be able to go up Old Joe in the 1990s. Privilege of being a bellringer at the time and the society asking to see the bells. 141
Reposted by Kelly SmithHugh Jones @hbsj.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Entirely coincidentally, @unibirmingham.bsky.social are making a bit of a thing about Old Joe this morning too, with what looks like a fabulous project I bet if they persuaded Lego to do an Old Joe set it would go down a treat! www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/fu...birmingham.ac.ukFuture civil engineers build 5m ‘mini’ Old Joe clock tower - University of BirminghamStudents join innovative infrastructure project to build a massive scale model of the University of Birmingham's iconic campus clock tower. 052
Reposted by Kelly SmithHugh Jones @hbsj.bsky.social · 25/09/2026My #HigherEducationPostcard blog for @wonkhe.bsky.social this week looks at Old Joe, the @unibirmingham.bsky.social campanile Hope you enjoy it! wonkhe.com/blogs/higher...wonkhe.comHigher education postcard: Old JoeThis week’s postcard from Hugh Jones’ postbag takes us to a landmark tower 131
Reposted by Kelly SmithHetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Wow I’ve never seen this photo before. The two figures from American Gothic (who turn out to be the family dentist and the artist’s sister!) www.ft.com/content/6015... 823769
Reposted by Kelly SmithLeah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 24/09/2026POPE LEO: “Technological progress is never simply a technical matter. Every technology reflects, whether explicitly or implicitly, a particular understanding of the human person, of society, and of the future we wish to build…” (www.vatican.va/content/leo-...) 17322
Reposted by Kelly Smithabbi @abbis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026A6 #LTHEchat I would hire a lot more staff to make time and space for us to a) develop our teaching and assessment b) develop ourselves c) find resource and space to work with students to cultivate belonging. Time is everything's enemy this year. 042
Reposted by Kelly Smithifawolowo.bsky.social @ifawolowo.bsky.social · 23/09/2026I love this distinction. Compassion is not about lowering expectations. We can challenge students, maintain academic rigour and still lead with humanity. Sometimes care is precisely about believing someone can achieve more and supporting them to get there. #LTHEchat 031
Reposted by Kelly Smithifawolowo.bsky.social @ifawolowo.bsky.social · 23/09/2026“Care doesn’t have a KPI” is powerful. Perhaps the problem is that we measure what is easy to count rather than what truly matters. Care, kindness and compassion may be harder to quantify, but their impact can be seen in whether people thrive, stay and belong. #LTHEchat 164
Reposted by Kelly Smithifawolowo.bsky.social @ifawolowo.bsky.social · 23/09/2026I really like this distinction. Inclusion can give you a seat at the table, but belonging is about feeling that who you are matters once you are there. It is relational — being known, valued and able to bring your whole self into the space. #LTHEchat 171
Reposted by Kelly Smithifawolowo.bsky.social @ifawolowo.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Yes! I like the idea of intentionally designing for belonging rather than leaving it to chance. Creating different ways for students to contribute, reflect and bring their own experiences into learning can make participation feel genuinely open to everyone. #LTHEchat 031
Reposted by Kelly Smith@suebecks @suebecks.bsky.social · 23/09/2026A4 Students may belong not simply because they see people like themselves in the curriculum, but because they come to believe that their own histories, cultures, experiences, and ways of knowing are welcomed as part of the collective construction of knowledge. #LTHEchat 081
Reposted by Kelly SmithTW @twesq.bsky.social · 20/09/2026this is fantastic and I learned something new 562802426
Reposted by Kelly SmithCliff PervoSCARY @pervocracy.bsky.social · 20/09/2026This is a canary resuscitator, which miners would use to revive canaries that had passed out from toxic gas, because ideally not only do you care, you don't even leave the bird behind. just a little mining history and not at all a furious scream 172962930
Reposted by Kelly Smith@suebecks @suebecks.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Join us on Wednesday, 23rd of September at 8:00pm BST for #LTHEchat with our guest Dr Francis Awolowo @ifawolowo.bsky.social where we will consider “What might HE look like if belonging were not an accidental outcome, but an intentional part of how we teach?“ lthechat.com/2026/09/18/l...lthechat.comLTHEChat 373: Beyond Inclusion: Can We Teach for Belonging?Join us on Wednesday, 23rd of September at 8:00pm (GMT/BST) with our guest contributor, Francis Awolowo from Sheffield Hallam University, @ifawolowo.bsky.social. This #LTHEChat on BlueSky will cons… 026
Reposted by Kelly SmithMini Motley Sanctuary @minisanctuary.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Please can anyone help us towards 50% of our goal? We’re at 17% (thank you!) but we desperately need to reach our goal for big hay deliveries, vet bills & care costs at our not-for-profit animal sanctuary: gofund.me/8757b56da Please SHARE to find support 💚 #rescueanimals #animalsanctuary 22921
Kelly Smith @smithkj.bsky.social · 19/09/2026I’ve been feeling overly tired, grumpy and stressed for a good few weeks. But tonight there was Strictly and it was joyful. 140
Reposted by Kelly SmithTom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 19/09/2026In case you’d like to purchase from a great independent bookshop… 16114
Reposted by Kelly SmithCraig Newmark @craignewmark.bsky.social · 19/09/2026On the record regarding suckage: “As a manager I sucked,” Newmark told Ignatius. “I didn’t have the top-down leadership skills or inspirational talent that Craigslist needed, and I realized that I had to hand things over to someone who did.” hbr.org/2026/09/when...hbr.orgWhen Is It Time to Step Down?In this week’s HBR Executive Agenda, editor at large Adi Ignatius speaks with Craigslist founder Craig Newmark about recognizing your leadership limits and stepping back before it costs the company. I... 0187
Reposted by Kelly SmithRobin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Hey Birmingham pals, I’m popping to Kings Heath next Wednesday if you fancy a chat. 2 til 4pm. I’ll read you a poem or two if you fancy it as well. We can have tea . #birmingham #poetry #conversation #bookshop 15318
Reposted by Kelly SmithCaroline Keep @ka83k.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Btw I'm not anti tech at all or even anti AI but the idea you can really learn, develop new knowledge with just dumping in AI is a massive oversimplification of how the human brain actually works. 152
Reposted by Kelly SmithMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 14/09/2026'The latest Home Office data – which shows a stark drop in the number of people seeking sponsored study visas in August – is sending shockwaves through UK higher education, with some warning of university closures should the trend continue.'timeshighereducation.com‘Universities could go under’: sector responds to UK study visa dataDecline in applications for study in the UK will ‘harm delivery of everything universities do’, observers say 12111
Reposted by Kelly SmithBrian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Today’s poem is called ‘You Can’t Judge a Book’. 228159
Reposted by Kelly Smithsteveaich.bsky.social @steveaich.bsky.social · 12/09/2026It's also a report about the future of graduate work that doesn't mention the 14% of graduates who create their own future job through start-up, freelancing and creative careers. They may have been represented if UUK involved students 032
Reposted by Kelly SmithMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12/09/2026'Am I really reading a report on universities offering work experience that has managed to involve 30 universities, 200 employers and business groups, a poll of 500 employer senior leaders, but not a single student?' 'I am, I'm afraid.' UUK: universities, but without the faff of students & staff.wonkhe.comUUK's work experience target forgets that most students already have someAm I really reading a report on universities offering work experience that has managed to involve 30 universities, 200 employers and business groups, a poll of 500 employer senior leaders, but not a s... 36633
Kelly Smith @smithkj.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Doing some voluntary work today helping out on @employability.bsky.social’s Innovation Induction Programme for 160 sixth formers. Excited and nervous! employabilityuk.org/volunteering/employabilityuk.orgVolunteering | EmployabilityUK 020
Reposted by Kelly SmithSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 08/09/2026One 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 Kelly SmithOmar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026One answer that I don't often see cited is a more explicitly inclusive, or even multicultural approach to schooling in English cities from the 1980s onward. See, e.g., a summary of the recommendations of the 1985 Swann report, presented to then-Edu Sec Keith Joseph: education-uk.org/documents/sw... 043
Reposted by Kelly SmithDiane Coyle @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social · 10/09/2026In my day, we had work experience too. It was called work. Christmas post, barmaid, admin. My impression was that students do this even more now than back in the dark ages. 1014318