Tom Howell

@DrFautley Anecdotally I would say it definitely has an impact. In almost all of the training work I do and when moderating for exams, it’s very clear that there are schools in which the music lead has no autonomy in the classroom and it’s all very top down.

I've got more than enough research to do at the moment, but one thing I might have done if I had time would be to investigate whether whole-school diktats on teaching and learning are having a deleterious effect on music lessons?

Today, we’ve set out plans to submit to government, for a tram running from Leeds to Bradford! This would be just the first phase of a mass transit system to connect the whole region - helping our communities thrive and our economy flourish. Learn more: westyorks-ca.gov.uk/all-news-and-b…

@johnmacgold Absolute rubbish. Bradford City Centre is a wonderful bustling vibrant young place full of wonderful art and fantastic food. Go to the city centre on a spring evening and you’ll see city square full of people of all ages and backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. It’s fab.

@MayorOfWY There’s no need to go to Bradford it’s a ghost town since you introduced Caz. Go & have look for yourself.

@TimmoGoodall Thanks for the letter through the door Tim. Was a really interesting meeting to attend, I wouldn’t have done so if you hadn’t let us know.

Attended the PACT meeting in Headingley this evening. I’ve been out talking to residents, letting them know about the meeting. Great to see lots of residents there. Key issues were speeding cars, drug dealing , theft from vehicles and paving stone theft. If you’d like to…1/2

Pearl Jam at the world famous home of the Spurs, beautiful, I'm loving Ed Ved instead.

Internal matter

The winning moment for West Indies 🤩 #AUSvWI

What a game Test cricket is. Cut to the bone but still a different level to every other format. Its death is a paradigm of dumb consumerism. Money and margins tell you to make a worse product. At the end of which you have money, for a while, and a worse product for ever

@DarrenBar88 I like it, but we need to ensure that the cycling and pedestrian routes go somewhere. Getting to and from the station and canal by wheeling or walking is incredibly difficult at the moment.

What do you think of the plans for #Shipley Market Square?

I'm a clinical psychologist. This means that I use psychological theory and practice to help people with their mental health. I have two doctorates, one in developmental psychology and one in applied clinical psychology. In the therapy room, I hear stories. People tell me things that they haven't told anyone before. It's an immensely privileged job and has opened my eyes to the experiences of people who I would never have otherwise met. I hear about how people's experiences affect them and their emotional wellbeing. I have worked with refugees, survivors of trafficking, police officers, military veterans and many more. I worked in the NHS for years. I am concerned about what I hear about our schools from young people and their parents. I hear about increasingly authoritarian practices, and of sanctions such as isolation rooms used for minor misdemeanours. They tell me that there is a 'no excuses' culture which for some young people means that things go downhill very fast as they accumulate consequences and their relationship with school and their parents breaks down. Parents tell me that their concerns go nowhere, and that the focus is on making their children comply. I have checked out whether this is really happening - many schools have behaviour policies online which align with what young people are telling me. And I hear many stories from different areas of the UK from people who do not know each other, but whose stories are similar. When I raise the alarm about this, I'm often told that I'm not a teacher and so I don't understand and should keep quiet. That's true. I'm not a teacher and I have never claimed to be one. That isn't where my expertise lies. I'm an expert in mental health, and what I'm saying is that what is happening in our schools is having an adverse effect on the mental health of our young people. Not all of them, of course, but a significant number. Not all schools, of course, but it appears to be an increasing number. I don't think this is the fault of teachers, many of whom also report mental health problems and who are leaving the profession. Mental health problems are a result of the interaction between a person and their environment. Some environments cause more distress, and when this happens, some people will develop serious problems as a result. Yes, there are many reasons why young people develop mental health problems, but one of them, for some young people, is the systems which are being put in place in an increasing number of our schools. I wish I knew the answer. I wish I could produce a checklist of easy adaptations which would solve this problem. I don't know, but I do know that whilst we don't even accept that there might be a problem with the way we are treating our young people, we'll never find the solution.

This only gets better. Sound on. 😂😂😂

Still very much in the tie

Have you seen our latest video? The latest film in our series focuses on @saharijazz Sahar works hard inspiring her local community through initiatives to get them involved and active! Watch below! youtu.be/TM31nUGMOcQ #JoinUsMovePlay

Excited to share the trailer for Mogwai: If The Stars Had A Sound - a new documentary filmed and directed by @MrACrook. The film will have its World Premiere at @SXSW in Austin, Texas in March 2024. Keep an eye out on our socials for more info. youtu.be/2n-kiHUupb4

The best way to fix Britain? Ban public schools and private health care. If everyone- including those in charge - had to use comprehensive schools and the NHS they'd make damn sure they were the best around. As only us peasants use them they don't currently give a shit.

It’s time to introduce this in England. Scotland becomes the first UK nation to introduce a ban on pavement parking next week. From Monday (11 December 2023), drivers in Scotland can be fined £100 for parking on the footway. livingstreets.org.uk/press-media/le….

Coroner's conclusion: suicide contributed to by an OFSTED inspection. That is a finding of fact.

Michael Spicer posted a wonderful clip yesterday "If art critics spoke like football pundits." Here is my response: If football pundits spoke like Art Historians. @MrMichaelSpicer #Football #Art

The Premier League table of fortresses as they stand after the weekend fixtures

#AccidentalPartridge twitter.com/BatesInThePlac…