Ali Btait

@HeatherBellaF @adamboxer1 I'd be interested in hearing what you believe were "all the old assumptions about differentiation" that are being reused in adaptive teaching Heather. And what, if anything, you would recommend doing that is neither of these.

One way or another you're right about the result. I do remember an urgent need for training to address the notion that adaptive teaching was some new magic - when really all the old assumptions about differentiation were just being reused. The idea that you could just 'change the activity and keep tbe curriculum' drove me mad. That's just learning styles dressed up with a new name.

In January 2019, Ofsted released the research underpinning the (now defunct) Education Inspection Framework. In it, they slammed "differentiation" and promoted "adaptive teaching." They cited research, which is great, and in broad thrust, I don't think what they said is wrong. BUT They did not really fully define either term. They did not provide much by way of exemplification. The example they used for "adaptive teaching" was "by providing focused support to pupils who are not making progress, is likely to improve outcomes" Ok, what does that mean? In class? Out of class? Booster or intervention sessions? LSAs? Who knows! That report was a summary, so as far as it goes that was all fine. But now we have a situation where off the back of it we have moved wholesale as an industry from a set of practices that sucked, to...what? A term which can mean absolutely anything to anyone. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6034be17…

@tombennett71 Are you aware of any official exemplification of what "as a last resort" means here in Scotland around permanent exclusions? Is there a similar idea in England? Is there exemplification there?

‘When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure’ Celebrating declining suspensions only guarantees that people will stop suspending, which makes things worse. Some suspensions and exclusions are a *feature* of a healthy system, not a symptom of a sick one.

@wyllie_cameron The change that has come in at Primary since our 2 were there that I definitely would not have liked is a more play based curriculum in P1 & P2.

@wyllie_cameron Behaviour is worse in S1 & S2. Phones being banned in Secondary this year has been good.

To start the week a - hopefully amusing - piece on the aftermath of the Holyrood election: ahouseinjoppa.wordpress.com/2026/05/11/the…

@tombennett71 I would say that here in Scotland, in the state Nurseries, Primaries and Secondaries at least, we copy Finland more than we copy England. Finland isn't critiqued. England is ignored. I would rather that we critiqued them both.

The myth that the Finnish model was worth copying still won’t die. Finland’s 2000s PISA success was because of the more traditional model that preceded it by decades…which they abandoned right as their PISA scores shone. So people went there and oohed and aahed at a model that would lead eventually to their educational deterioration. Never stop pointing this out.

@tombennett71 AI doesn't have an ounce of common sense.

Me: Hey ChatGPT I fancy doing the walk across Sydney harbour bridge ChatGPT: Great idea! Perfect for a top bloke like you! Me: *checking* Wait a minute it’s 400 dollarbucks. ChatGPT: You’re right, what a rip-off! Swell guy like you doesn’t need that! Me: I’m thinking of slamming my fingers in a car door ChatGPT: Great idea! Here’s five ways to do that- and why it matters. Top man!

@cierzo1 That is interesting. I never expected school to provide play or socialisation for my children. I regarded that rather as my responsibility.

From the architects of “1 size fits all”+factory model education:“Schools are now expected to do everything.” Well yes,when childhood becomes hyper-institutionalised,communities weaken,play disappears+education is reduced 2 compliance+metrics,schools inevitably absorb the fallout

@MrZachG Vygotsky. I like him. Well, his ZPD anyway. Some of the science of learning folk don't.

Maybe because it’s a dumb name

@tracewoodgrains There are also Scottish and Welsh Parliament/Assembly elections just now at the same time as the English Council elections. These have power over certain areas such as education and health that the UK Government doesn't have power over.

as an American, I sometimes struggle to understand the intricacies of arcane foreign elections can someone explain to me whether losing 41 seats to Reform is good for Labour

@SamStrickers181 Is there an argument Sam that after 5 years at Michaela its 15/16 year olds should be better placed than most to make a decision on after school and weekend revision sessions? I don't believe that there is a state Secondary here in Scotland where revision sessions are mandatory.

There’s a huge naivety that all 15/16 year olds make the best decisions for themselves.

@NetNym EEF is a mixed ability promoting organisation. TES are similar. Thankfully there is Professor John Jerrim holding them to account.

Has been interesting how hard even the originators have been trying to talk this down, but edu depts. are clearly edu-progressive. The sense of it all is through gritted teeth.

Yes, we did notice that the social justice dogmatists had nothing much to justify their endless claims that mixed-ability was the bestest thing ever both here & now. Lots of recent asserting it still is best for other academic subjects, as if there were good evidence.

@NetNym Yes. I believe in social justice, inclusion and equity. I also believe that these are best delivered through setting rather than mixed ability.

@mikesully97 @researchED_US @nsachdeva2019 Mike, was there anything specifically said about "the ability to adapt effectively to diverse student needs"? Some, not all, of the science of learning folk are promoting "adaptive teaching", "teach to the top and scaffold up".

Excellent keynote @researchED_US NYC by @nsachdeva2019

@ScotUnionEd I understand what you mean by this change 4. You might express the idea without referring to McCarthyism itself as such, given that there will be a number for whom the historical term doesn't resonate.

Read our manifesto for education and let us know what you think. bit.ly/sue2026holyrood #holyrood #holyrood2026

@Hardymatt0 @C_Hendrick I'd be interested to hear why you are not surprised/surprised Matt. Our children's Scottish state Secondary stopped phones in the classroom in October. There is no data yet on academic outcome. Anecdotally, behaviour has got worse.

@C_Hendrick I'm not surprised about the academic outcome. I am surprised it doesn't have stronger effects on behavior.

Do test scores improve after phone bans? Not really. - High schools gain a little. Middle schools lose a little. The average is close to zero. - Behaviour worsens before it improves when phones are removed. - Phone bans hurt wellbeing at first, then modestly help, but the effects are not large or transformative. Bottom line: Lockable phone pouches reduce phone use and initially disrupt behaviour and wellbeing, but ultimately produce near zero overall effects on academic achievement. tom-dee.github.io/files/w35132.p…

@RogersHistory @johnesharp @TTRadioOfficial I would be asking Tom why there isn't a single state funded school here in Scotland that is making these sessions compulsory, whether making it known from the outset of not.

@johnesharp @TTRadioOfficial What is everyone has opted in though from the outset in terms of knowing the approach?

NEW: A letter to families from Michaela Free School in London has sparked controversy after instructing Year 11 students to attend mandatory extra sessions including weekends with consequences for absence. Is this: ✔️ Necessary exam support? ❌ Or too much pressure on students and staff? What do you think? 👇

@wyllie_cameron What do we do about it? Permanent exclusion as a last resort? That has never gone away as an option.

@wyllie_cameron Are there serious behaviour issues? There are serious behaviour issues. Though not serious in all places and more serious is some places than others. What is causing this? ASN? Covid? Parenting? A disconnect between learners and teaching? Other things?

Why is education the neglected area in this election? On my blog now: ahouseinjoppa.wordpress.com/2026/05/04/edu…

@BarryNSmith79 @hb_history I read the Michaela books that you kindly recommended to me. Last Wednesday, I participated in a Scottish Union for Education Zoom session that included Ms B. I am thinking in this instance, why could Michaela not leave engagement with the revision sessions voluntary Barry?

@hb_history Kids doing this for 1 month. 1 month in their lives. They’ll carry exam results with them forever. I suspect Michaela parents will be v supportive. School very honest about expectations in all communication. Don’t fudge it or back track.

🚨 A letter to Year 11 families at Michaela Community School states that children who do not attend weekend and holiday revision sessions will “spend time in Referral” They must also attend in full school uniform