iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

What a privilege to speak to @mattchorley.bsky.social on @bbc5live.bsky.social about A-Level politics. So great to hear from enthusiastic students like Joe, Olivia and George. The campaign to get Matt to study for an Alevel starts now!

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Looking to connect with more people on goodreads; www.goodreads.com/friend/i?inv...

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Goodreads

See what your friends are reading

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

As the school holidays are about to begin (after a 6 days music tour to Germany), here is my summer list for the holidays. A range of activities to help make the most of the 6 weeks. Mind, body and soulful nourishment

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Thank you Carmel. Means a lot that a leader in education like yourself has read it!

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

As exam classes leave, it’s the time of year to look towards the future. I’ve written a piece on how to craft a department vision and drive meaningful change. A step by step guide for those new to post and experienced heads of department alike. historyiseverystory.wordpress.com/2026/06/11/d...

historyiseverystory.wordpress.com

Does Your Department Have a Vision, or Just a To-Do List?

A head of history’s guide to crafting a shared purpose to drive curricular change. At the start of your career as a history teacher, a love of the past is considered mandatory for success. In…

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Side note. The comments from bystanders that: A) it’s daddy day care day B) double trouble/hands full C) poor him on his own Are unwelcome and boring. I’m enjoying a day with my two amazing children

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Wonderful day with the twins at The British Museum. They wanted to see the mummies after reading about them and it made my heart soar when they matched the pictures in their books to the artefacts. The Reading Room has become a highlight for me, what a range of figures that have visited!

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

I recently re-shared a post about sources of historical scholarship. Here is the sequel! How to embed historical scholarship in your lesson with over 25 practical approaches. Organised as a hierarchy based on how much time it takes to implement. historyiseverystory.wordpress.com/2026/06/03/e...

historyiseverystory.wordpress.com

Embedding Historical Scholarship in the Classroom

Practical strategies to bring historians into your classroom One of the biggest trends in history teaching in the last 10 years has been the increased focus on the importance of scholarship in the …

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Yr 12 braved the tube strike and torrential rain to make it to St. Martin in the Fields to hear @sarahchurchwell.bsky.social discuss The American Dream at 250 with a focus on The Wrath to Come. Brilliantly incisive and the students made copious notes for their History, Poltics and English A-levels.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Braving the tube strike to take year 12 history, politics and English students to hear @sarahchurchwell.bsky.social discuss “The American Dream at 250” at St Martin in the Fields.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

I spoke to BBC News about the importance of active revision. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… To really get into the concept, here is the blog post that the article is based on. historyiseverystory.wordpress.com/2026/05/02/the��

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

What a fantastic book. Helm, you blew me away! 🥁 Here’s my review on goodreads: www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Wonderful evening at St Martin in the Fields listening to @hallierubenhold.bsky.social discuss a range of topics related to her books as part of “The Conversation” series. My main takeaway is the affection for London, its places and people that she has.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

It was a privilege to speak at the “Charles Ignatius Sancho: A Black British Man of Letters and His Word” conference at @northeasternu.bsky.social London. Mark Martin ⭐️ chaired the roundatble superbly as we discussed Teaching Sancho and Black British History.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

A brilliant session tonight on “Teaching Irish history in English schools” by @msquinnhistory.bsky.social. Jam packed with strategies and knowledge to make this possible. Thanks to the @histassoc.bsky.social NE network for putting it on.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

On Friday I went to Pints & Ponytails. Not only did i pick up a great new skill, it also reaffirmed what great teaching looks like. Here are my thoughts. Huge shout out to @teacherhead and his work on Rosenshin historyiseverystory.wordpress.com/2026/03/08/p...

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

A recommendation led me to Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney. There’s so much to like about this book, but the characters aren’t one of them. This is the books strength though. The lies we tell each-other and to ourselves.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Bonds of Blood and Duty by Jen A Egerton is my first foray into Romantasy. A fully realised fantasy world, but at the heart a tale of what a mother will do for their child and the folly of doubting her resolution. #romantasy

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

The Trees by Percival Everett. Incredible study of the racial legacy that America has wrought for itself. This book is very funny, very shocking and very scary.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

All Consuming by Ruby Tandoh was such a fascinating insight into the impact of our evolving food culture on what we eat and why we eat it. So wry that I often felt I wasn’t cool enough to be reading it!

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

I’ve made a real effort in 2026 to read more widely. Here’s a a thread of my books of 2026. I’ve also joined good reads so please follow me on there to read in depth reviews… www.goodreads.com/user/show/94...

goodreads.com

Simon Beale

Simon Beale has 49 books on Goodreads

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Could not be prouder of how Florence & Felicity have grown into such kind, enthusiastic and thoughtful children. Four years old today!

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Reposted by Simon Beale

Teach Environmental Histories @teach-envi-history.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Welcome to Teach Environmental Histories! We are a network for those interested in exploring how history can help young people understand the climate & ecological emergency. Talks, forums, classroom support & resources. Click the link to learn more about us! www.history.org.uk/secondary/ca...

history.org.uk

Teach Environmental Histories network

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Fantastic day having Matthew Green in to deliver a tour de force on the Restoration to Year 11. It was great to get a professional historian in so they could see a professional in action, weaving stories together and wielding their expert knowledge with such fluency.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Great revision session with Year 12. Chess challenge tests their knowledge and exam technique. Moving pieces requires factual recall, taking a piece requires giving their line of argument for an exam question.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Festive family fun. Chicken Berry Britannia Biryani, House black daal, Katchumber and Raita. All from the @dishoom.bsky.social cookbook. Followed by chocolate mousse from the The Devonshire in @thetimes.com

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

So… on a day that the BBC is raising millions for Children in Need (which we shouldn’t need if the state could offer the right support) The President of The United States has confirmed he intends to sue the corporation for a billion. For the broadcast of HIS OWN WORDS. Madness.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Complex thinking posters for every lens of the approach. Some varied quotes covering a range of historical disciplines and periods. @helencarr.bsky.social @peterfrankopan.bsky.social @historyeats.bsky.social @hallierubenhold.bsky.social

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Stage two of the complex thinking project is to have examples from historians own work to demonstrate to students what these look like. Here is the poster for “Contrast” using @sathnam.bsky.social work from Empireland.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Testing out some new posters around complex thinking. Please le me know what you would think and how you would tweak the visuals or message.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Wonderful evening at @britishlibrary.bsky.social listening to @drmirandakaufmann.bsky.social & Sudhir Hazareesingh discuss their new books as part of “Heiresses and Rebels: Stories of Money, Exploitation and Resistance in Caribbean and Atlantic Slavery”.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

Incredibly poor customer service from @britishgashq.bsky.social Been told I am £7,000 in debt despite being in credit in December of 2024. Raised a complaint 3 months ago, which got an initial response and gone nowhere. In mean time direct debit is now £815 (x3!). Any help to escalate further?

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Please tell me @thehistoryguy.bsky.social has a plan for a special podcast recorded on board.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Oh wow! That will also be incredible

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

When a Viking longship docks in London, what history teacher wouldn’t want to climb aboard??? Thanks to the crew of Saga Farmann for being so hospitable and answering all my questions!

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Reposted by Simon Beale

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Apparently, the pencil-pushers at the Home Office also have no clue how prohibitively expensive it would be to be treated in the US without insurance. I've lived in the UK for 23 years, and I'm a citizen. Why am I being treated like a non-citizen?

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Reposted by Simon Beale

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Immigration Update: the Home Office asked me to provide documents re: my medical condition, which I did. A few hours later, they asked me to provide evidence for why I cant be treated in the USA. Um...what? I'm a British citizen. Why am I not allowed to return home for my breast cancer care?

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

On World IVF Day I’m celebrating the science, alchemy and miracle that occurred to bring F&F into our lives. Fertility issues are a taboo that needs breaking. It’s not a guarantee (19 failed cycles) but it’s made parenthood possible for soo many more. #worldivfday

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Here is my summer list for the holidays. Something to give the weeks structure and maximise the time I have.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

It’s sports day tomorrow. So of course I’ve packed a bag full of so many snacks you would think I was competing in the Heptathlon.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Hi Jen. No, im 2Q, 1945-1980. Happy to share what I have though. I recommend the AQA Facebook group to help with resources.

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Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Wonderful anniversary episode of History Hit on the Battle of Waterloo. Make sure you listen all the way to the end as the coda with @thehistoryguy.bsky.social and his Dad is brilliant. Congratulations on 10 years!

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Reposted by Simon Beale

Simon Beale @spbeale.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Taking the EEF 7 steps model to increase students independence in revision, combined with our active revision strategies of audit, understand, memorise, organise and apply. The active revision clock models the value of structured and meaningful revision.

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