I'm a democratic socialist who believes no single human makes themselves, therefore any success by an individual is made by a family, a community, the school system, the health system, team mates and work mates who all get us to whatever place we end up. So we all should share

We've known this for years

The current accountability systems provide little if any incentive to be inclusive. It's actively disincentivised.

If I were Zach Polanski every time the Tory opened his mouth I'd just say... "Maaate....14 years..." #bbcqt

Tom Bennett OBE It's never about having high standards, the arguments are always about what those standards are, how they are enforced and what support is provided to achieve them. Headline statements are fine, but don't help the people on the ground make informed empowered inclusive decisions

Tom Bennett OBE Knowledge of the young person informs what you can initially expect. You wouldn't set up a school and expect there would be no need for disability access. It's the same for young people with hidden difficulties. You can do this and still maintain safety as non negotiable.

When Ofsted looks at in year movement of pupils, unlawful use of off-site direction, mandatory reintegration policies and dissuasive and avoidant admissions policies, then we will get real inclusion and fairness in the system. Competition will always result in game playing

I always find this othering and ad hom difficult, but what I will say is those who work between many schools see what inclusion is possible in great schools and see the choices made elsewhere to work differently. They see what it looks like behind the terminology and policy.

Equally, as we are asking questions, does isolation do more harm than good in schools? These are questions worth asking and shouldn't be deemed a political position.

If we take the autonomy, the relationships, the connection, all the human touches out of teaching, we will replace ourselves with AI, let alone have it done to us.

What would be "activism disguised as research"? ✅ Leading research based conferences that only promote research in line with what is already agreed with ✅ Meticulous criticism of research disagreed with, general acceptance of agreeable research That would be it, in my view.

Recently met a well known influencer in the conspiracy space whilst on holiday who I knew briefly before their new career direction. Don't agree with their views but was able to have nice chat - interesting to detect a humanising regret about their seemingly trapped life now.

Traditionalism is about always needing to appear right, whereas progressivism is about being prepared to be wrong.

If increased resources would eliminate your use of isolation, need to consider whether you think it's really that effective after all.

It's important to note in the debate on isolation ("what else can we do?") that the power to suspend students still exists. No one wants to use it more often, but what it does is give more rights to young people and count statistically. 🤔 I wonder if there is a link here.

Monthly reminder that every young person with identified SEND was at one point in their life a young person without identified SEND. In a system of unprecedented referral delays, professional curiousity allows both to be supported.

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"Affordability" should never feature in these conversations. The governments job is to find the money, not just tell us they can't afford to not make us poorer.

When the govt talks about "affordability" they aren't talking how teachers make ends meet against pay cuts. Why should our affordability problems be caused by you not solving yours?