iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 30/09/2026

In my latest podcast, @lukesibieta.bsky.social from @theifs.bsky.social explained how England's stable score for reading in the latest PISA tests comes against a backdrop of very concerning developments at a global level. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 29/09/2026

Great panel. Great topic: making vocational qualifications work for 14 to 16 year olds. Great work @edupolicyinst.bsky.social and OCR.

011

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 29/09/2026

Super @suttontrust.bsky.social panel on apprenticeships at Labour conference this morning. Great combination of a government minister, an apprentice, an employer and a policy expert!

011

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 28/09/2026

@lucympowell.bsky.social and @juliemcculloch.bsky.social kicking off tonight's reception on 'skills for the future'. Lucy committed to not taking an ideological approach to reforms. Amen to that.

010

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 28/09/2026

Expert hosting by @iaindale.bsky.social at the @plmr.co.uk policy hub, discussing how to help young people earn, learn and progress courtesy of Emily Rock and the St Martins Group. So refreshing to skip the long speeches from panellists and just dive into a discussion!

020

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 28/09/2026

@lucympowell.bsky.social right to say at this morning's @edupolicyinst.bsky.social event that tackling persistent disadvantage requires a 0-19 approach and will need to extend well beyond the school gates.

010

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 27/09/2026

Minister in charge of apprenticeships listening to apprentices. Great stuff at my first event at Labour conference from Jacqui Smith and St Martins Group.

010

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 27/09/2026

India's education system is a disaster at both ends. At the top, only 7% of graduates find a formal job within a year. At the bottom, frightening numbers of children cannot read, write or count. No wonder India - the world's most populous country - steers clear of PISA. (via the Economist)

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 24/09/2026

Yes, trying to create perfect dividing lines between subjects is not easy. I like the word 'applied' because it distinguishes something from theoretical learning (which happens in your head), hence why I think we should have 'academic', 'applied' and 'technical' as the three subject buckets.

010

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 24/09/2026

So, Vocational GCSEs, eh? If you think that something about this announcement feels eerily familiar, you're in good company. Time for a quick history lesson.... My new post on LinkedIn: lnkd.in/p/eJVMzP-S

202

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 22/09/2026

England's performance in the latest round of PISA tests was brilliant....... wasn't it? I mean, we rose up the rankings in maths, reading and science, so everything is going well....... isn't it? My new post on LinkedIn: lnkd.in/p/e9hJCK5n

022

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 21/09/2026

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 What did we learn from England's latest PISA results? @lukesibieta.bsky.social from @theifs.bsky.social joins me to discuss whether England fared better or worse than 90 other countries in maths, reading and science. Listen here: insideyoured.com

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 17/09/2026

In my latest podcast, Sam Gibbs explained why she thinks little progress will be made on improving teacher retention unless fundamental changes are made to teachers' daily lived experiences. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 15/09/2026

In my latest podcast, Dr Haili Hughes said that there needs to be a greater focus on retaining experienced teachers, given the impact that their departure can have on pupils and schools. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

0154

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 09/09/2026

It was also remarkable to see Édouard Geffray, the French education minister, say “the results are worrying but they aren’t a surprise.” If phones and social media are the problem, what will be France's solution?

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 08/09/2026

Hi, yes Scotland has pursued some similar curriculum and assessment goals to Wales. They use phonics but also use other reading methods that are not evidence-based.... And just like in Wales, things have got a lot worse in Scotland (which used to outperform England!). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

151

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 08/09/2026

They'll be a lot of chatter about England's PISA results this morning, but we need to talk just as much about Wales. They rejected phonics and knowledge-rich curricula in favour of 'areas of learning', 'skills suites' and barely any testing. Wales is now 40 points below England in every domain.

2316454

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 07/09/2026

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 Should we shift the focus from teacher recruitment to teacher retention? Dr Haili Hughes and Sam Gibbs join me to discuss their new book that outlines a new approach to keeping more teachers and senior leaders in the profession. Listen here: insideyoured.com

220

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 02/09/2026

What's fascinating is that this MIT report also highlights the damage that AI is doing to the "social fabric of residential education". Students are talking to each other much less than before. Is this really what we want? What is the point of residential degrees without human interaction?

032

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 02/09/2026

"these technologies can produce credible solutions and provide reasonable responses to almost any written assignment ...including essays, math and science problems, proofs, and coding" A new report from MIT tells it like it is on AI. cc @benjaminjriley.bsky.social aiandeducation.mit.edu/report/

121

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 24/08/2026

Exam season may be over for another year in England, but one country has recently decided that their students' final exams are going to look very different in future - and I think they're onto something big. My new post on LinkedIn: lnkd.in/p/efafDF4h

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 20/08/2026

If you can find research evidence showing that somehow bias can be 'accounted for' in high-stakes tests then I'm all ears. To the best of my knowledge, that evidence does not exist. No amount of, say, extra training for teachers has made the bias go away. My research findings are below. It's grim.

200

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 11/08/2026

And the UK is feeling the squeeze, like many other countries....

010

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 11/08/2026

Rising costs. Rising geopolitical tensions. Rising concerns about the value of a foreign education. Super graph from the Economist showing how Chinese students - once the bedrock of international student recruitment - are increasingly turning down the chance to study abroad.

110

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 04/08/2026

Self report seems pretty sensible to judge confidence, self esteem etc? The NFER found "high numbers of students with Special Educational Needs participating in IFP courses", so it's not right to blame these programmes for not improving the entire school system! Also, Ofsted found the following...

210

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 04/08/2026

Because engagement is what unlocks the confidence, motivation and belief to learn the knowledge / skills you rightly refer to. This has been shown time and time again by different programmes e.g. the 14-16 Increased Flexibilities Programme under the last Labour government, as the NFER reported.

120

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 03/08/2026

As my previous research has shown, the evidence on Technical Awards - offered alongside GCSEs, albeit in much smaller numbers - strongly suggests that disaffected students can indeed be engaged by tech ed.

121

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 31/07/2026

In my latest podcast, Julian Gravatt OBE, Deputy CEO at @aoc-info.bsky.social, explained why devolving 16 to 19 funding to Mayors and strategic authorities could be a lengthy and complicated process. An unexpectedly timely observation....! Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

040

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 30/07/2026

In my latest podcast, Professor Diana Beech told me that she doesn't think Andy Burnham is 'anti university', but universities may still need to reconsider where they fit into the new Prime Minister's plans. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

022

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 29/07/2026

Quite. Anyone who thinks expanding universities is still the best way to promote social mobility hasn't been paying attention. Just look at the collapse in support for university degrees over the past decade or so among voters in the US. India is a warning sign. www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

010

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 29/07/2026

This week's Economist shows that England is not the only country facing up to the (very expensive) reality that it seems to have too many university graduates for the available graduate jobs. Which might explain why, in a recent US poll, almost two-third of adults say a degree isn’t worth the cost.

111

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 21/07/2026

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 What might Andy Burnham in No.10 mean for post-16 education in England? Diana Beech and Julian Gravatt OBE join me to discuss what could be awaiting universities, colleges and apprenticeship providers in the coming months and years. Listen here: insideyoured.com

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 20/07/2026

In my latest podcast, Reza @schwitzer.bsky.social told me that Andy Burnham's desire for more devolution may not necessarily fit with the need for schools to deliver a consistent experience for pupils across the country. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

021

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 17/07/2026

In my latest podcast, Meg Powell-Chandler - director of the New Schools Network - explained why we should be wary of unintended consequences if the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham now asks schools to prioritise areas such as 'employability skills'. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

010

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 15/07/2026

"I went back to the drawing board and assessed, and that’s when I heard about apprenticeships" High-quality degree apprenticeships remain in very short supply, but when they are good, they're very good. www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/s...

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 09/07/2026

Enjoying hearing about the impact of school phone bans in the US at the @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social annual lecture. Hot topic on a hot day! 🥵

010

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 09/07/2026

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 What might Andy Burnham in No.10 mean for schools in England? @schwitzer.bsky.social and Meg Powell-Chandler join me to explore some of the big changes that could be awaiting pupils, teachers and leaders in the coming years. Listen here: insideyoured.com

132

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 06/07/2026

Meet Jonas Gahr Støre. You've probably never heard of him, but he might be the most important person in the world of education right now. My new post on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/tdrich...

031

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 30/06/2026

Very helpful reminder from The Economist that other countries are also struggling with an influx of university students who lack even the most basic skills. The graph shows students in post-18 education whose literacy and numeracy skills are at / below that expected of *primary* school pupils.

0135

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 25/06/2026

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 VAT on independent school fees: is the debate over, or just getting started? Julie Robinson (@isc-schools.bsky.social) and @maxwellmarlow.bsky.social discuss the recent drop in independent school pupils and where the VAT debate may be heading next. Listen here: insideyoured.com

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 18/06/2026

In my latest podcast, @jonnyuttley.bsky.social explained why a state school having a good 'reputation' for supporting children with SEND can sometimes be a cause for concern. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

032

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 17/06/2026

Super panel for what I expect will be a super discussion about the new book by @loicmnzs.bsky.social - 'How policy happens'.

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 15/06/2026

In my latest podcast, @charleyo.bsky.social from the @suttontrust.bsky.social explained why children with SEND from less privileged backgrounds find it particularly difficult to access high-performing state schools. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 02/06/2026

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 Is school admissions the missing piece of the SEND puzzle? @charleyo.bsky.social and @jonnyuttley.bsky.social join me to discuss the findings from a new @suttontrust.bsky.social report on the difficulties some pupils face accessing top state schools. Listen here: insideyoured.com

033

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 28/05/2026

And speaking of not bothering with small measures, the last two paragraphs of Alan Milburn's interim report chime with my approach. Brutal assessment of recent governments' record on helping the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people.

121

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 26/05/2026

In my latest podcast, Ben Rowland - CEO of AELP - explained to me why he thinks that financial incentives for recruiting apprentices should be directed at training providers instead of employers. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 19/05/2026

In my latest podcast, @stephenevans.bsky.social, CEO at @learnworkuk.bsky.social, explained why he supports the Government's recent decision to remove management and leadership courses from the apprenticeship system. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

120

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 13/05/2026

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 Is the Government right to start intervening in the apprenticeship system? @stephenevans.bsky.social and Ben Rowland join me to discuss the big and often controversial changes to apprenticeships in the opening months of 2026. Listen here: insideyoured.com

000

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 06/05/2026

In my latest podcast, Mark Roberts (@mrenglishteach.bsky.social) told me that both teachers and parents can have a huge impact on whether students respond positively or negatively to failure. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

033

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 05/05/2026

Great little snippet from The Economist this week, on the dangers of 'cognitive surrender': the wholesale capitulation of thinking skills when you get AI to do your work for you. Even utterly absurd answers go unchallenged. (£) www.economist.com/business/202...

131