Debbie Bowers

@Edmund_B_W @RachelOrr Personally, I love it when people speak with emotion. Thank you as always 👏

Following my “forensic” blog, I made a rather less forensic appearance on Teachers Talk Radio. I was a little emotional, and I’m not nearly as cogent when I speak, but it is what it is.

An absolute must read for anyone wondering why there is such negativity towards Ofsted. How anyone who works in education can read this and then think they want to represent and work for Ofsted is beyond me.

@Edmund_B_W @HappyHead74 Thank you Edmund as always. This is a powerfully written summary of what has happened &such a helpful explanation of the word ‘contributing’ at the inquest. We have to remain hopeful for change whilst feeling rather powerless. Thank you to you and Julia for your continued support

I’ve been away for a bit. We haven’t been having the best time, to be honest. I’ve noticed a few things happening with Ofsted and their supporters recently, and I’ve written about it. Ofsted, of course, are driving on regardless. difficultlessons.wordpress.com/2026/03/17/dri…

@75ThunderRoad This is so well-written Steve -clear, logical and practical. It is so frustrating that we are still in this position in 2026, nearly 6 years on from the first mention of air filters for every classroom. Thank you for continuing to fight for this.

#InternationalLongCovidAwarenessDay Over the last six years, Long Covid has become one of the biggest chronic illnesses in children and young people in the UK. It doesn't have to be this way. We can and we should mitigate the risk from harm... stevebheadteacher.wordpress.com/2026/02/22/and…

@Teacherglitter @3dancingfeet Absolutely stunning 🤩

When you are passionate about Art and teach it to the same level you would do a maths lesson, you get results. Examples of my current EYFS art and a past year 5 class. I love art. #artteacher

@dave_mcpartlin The number of wet breaks/lunchtimes as well as dark mornings and evenings come on top of all the other pressures of school life. I hope you can have a relaxing half term break ☺️

Never known a term like this one. Ready for bed and it's only 7pm.

@2StefanMoore Hi Stefan I always look out for your posts ☺️

Feel like I’m invisible on X. If you see this, please say hi.👋🏻

@RogersHistory IMO partly to blame has been a change in planning -overuse of ppts and schemes. Part is due to the continued SATs pressure and Ofsted. Part has been a change after the pandemic in attitudes to school. And of course we can’t ignore the effect of phones and devices. 2/2

A fantastic teacher said to me yesterday ‘the biggest problem in schools today is that too many children don’t care, it’s a growing number, so much effort to get them to do anything (in general terms)’. Pupils are provided an unprecedented standard of teaching and learning, more support and opt out opportunities than ever before. The passivity is a huge problem and this isn’t about teachers and schools IMO.

@RogersHistory This post definitely resonates with my recent experience although I haven’t been able to decide how much has been moving from the South in an 11+ area to the Midlands. I have struggled with their passivity and tried hard to understand where it comes from. I think it’s complex 1/2

@Edmund_B_W Thank you - I know you and Julia won’t ever give up.

@DebbieBowers18 Debbie, that's very kind. I haven't been very vocal in this place recently but I've continued to work behind the scenes and more of that work will become clear in the coming months.

Three years today a fantastic headteacher took her own life as a consequence of an Ofsted inspection. The inquest led to the coroner issuing a Regulation 28 report, identifying systemic weaknesses in Ofsted’s processes that, left unchecked, present a danger of further death…

@Edmund_B_W Thanks Edmund for your posts this morning and over the past 3 years. You have been such a brilliant advocate for change and given those in the teaching profession hope for change.

Three years on, the system that led to Ruth Perry’s death is functionally the same: high-stakes grades, fear-driven inspection, no independent route for complaint. Dangers formally warned about — and ignored. Death must never be the price of accountability. Do not forget Ruth.

@SwailesRuth Maybe try and finish early? I’m sure everyone would understand.

Well, that forecast hasn’t improved a lot. 100% chance of snow tomorrow , 95% chance today. Fingers crossed I make it to Lincoln and back for today’s training day.

@2StefanMoore Hello Stefan

If you see this, can you say Hello? 👋🏻 Trying to see how many people are still seeing my posts.

@Joshuadenton @Headteacherchat I agree with @PieCorbett about expecting Reading to be higher than Writing, however as has been pointed out: Reading is a timed test with only one opportunity whereas Writing is untimed with may different opportunities to write at their best level.

@PieCorbett @Headteacherchat Also, last year I had a child score 99 on the day but had scored significantly more in every assessment leading up to that point. Means they get WTS but EXS in writing. Can they read? Yes. Am I worried about them? No. Could it make my data look strange? Yep.

DfE data update: KS2 attainment KS2 attainment 2024/25 headline picture: • RWM combined: 62% • Reading now above 2019 • Writing and maths still below • Higher standard unchanged Contextual briefing here: community.headteacherchat.com

@CrowtherSim Hope the day improves for you 😊

An early train to London on a wet Tuesday makes you question your life choices.

@9000lives_org I love this - thank you

Ragebait is the Oxford Word of the Year 2025, The Book of Romans was written by St Paul in 57AD yet it has lots of advice that is relevant to the online world now. #OnlineSafety #EduTwitter

@dnleslie @tombennett71 Yes -from teaching in Y6 for many years and watching children in the Reading Sat- it is definitely fluency or reading and stamina that are the biggest issues.

The OECD’s work on reading fluency is a wake-up call. Too many teenagers still struggle with the basics: slow, effortful reading that blocks deeper understanding. Fluency turns out to be one of the strongest predictors of reading success, and a simple 3-minute fluency check can highlight issues long before a comprehension test does. If we’re serious about literacy, this matters. oecd.org/en/publication…

@dave_mcpartlin I always appreciate your honesty. Your school looks so amazing but having recently retired (DH never a Head) I am so aware and so worried about the pressure on everyone. How I long for true Ofsted reform for everyone.

I meant to add that I'm ok, I really am - good in so many ways. But, my goodness, is education facing some serious challenges & I worry about my colleagues. I seem to have a bit of a voice & feel obliged to use it to say what so many of us are thinking. Oh, and real men cry. 👊🏻

I cried in our staff meeting tonight. Not for attention. Not to make a point (and I'm not doing that on here). But because I finally said out loud what so many of us are feeling - that this is the toughest time in education I’ve ever known and I need my colleagues’ help to get through it (so I can keep helping them too). I love my job, our community and the people I work with. I'm lucky because I really do. But the intense pressure and relentlessness… the growing SEN needs… the feisty world we live in... the funding cuts that force us to dismantle the very things we all know make a difference - it all takes its toll. It hurts. It keeps you awake at night. After 15 years as a head in two very different places, I’ve never felt pressure like this. I want to do more for our families, more for the children who need us most, more to support my brilliant colleagues who are running on empty. Their tears break me and I’m running out of wise words and clever solutions - and we’re not even in the Ofsted window yet. The daft thing? School is in a great place. We’re playing like we’re pushing for a Champions League spot while living in a relegation battle. It’s confusing and so bloody exhausting. So yes, I cried. And I’m glad I did. Because my colleagues were there for me - and vulnerability brought us closer and made me feel stronger, not weaker. If you’re feeling it too, please talk to someone at school. Make space for each other. Create safety. Create belonging. Make it deliberate. Things will improve. They have to. Until then, let’s be kind - to ourselves and to each other.

@DeputyGrocott Having taught in Y6 for many years (& a teacher since 1982) the things that chn struggle most with in the reading SAT are speed &stamina.Chn who love reading have both. And yes you still teach skills to answer different questions types but the chn have a strong starting point 2/2

Reading for pleasure should be on every primary school classroom timetable every day imo. Dedicated time to just sit and read. No questions, no tasks, just reading. Grab a drink, grab a book and read. On the floor, on your chair, anywhere comfortable but just reading.

@DeputyGrocott I totally agree: it’s something that slipped off the daily timetable with Gove’s curriculum. I have a very simple belief that helping children to love reading by making time in the day for simply that not only gives them a lifelong ‘hobby’ but brings the most progress 1/2