Rachel Dunn

Looking forward to the first meeting of Foundation Year practitioners in the north next week at @sunderlanduni. If you work on #foundation in a NE institution get in touch for details and sign-up. #support #goodpractice #fynorth @UniversityofSu1 @du_foundation

Every phone call I've taken this week has broken my heart a little bit more. So much unnecessary suffering. Please spread this information, as far and wide as you can. You may save a life. 🙏 A hedgehog *out in the open* in the day is in serious trouble and needs urgent help. Always. No exceptions. Any size. Any time. Hedgehogs are nocturnal prey animals, they have no defences in the daytime, it's deadly dangerous for them. They are designed to hunt at night, to navigate and catch insects in the dark, occupying a specific ecological niche. They are not adapted to withstand high temperatures, and their shape means they rapidly dehydrate during daylight hours. They are nocturnal animals. So they don't come out in the day simply because they're hungry, or lost, or disturbed, or to move nests, or are pregnant, or for any other trivial reason. They come out in the day because it's warmer than the night and they are feeling cold. Deadly cold. They're feeling cold because they're so sick they're starting to die, and hypothermia is a stage of dying. Blood has been redirected to the vital organs, keeping them alive as long as possible, leaving the limbs feeling cold. If you see a hedgehog like this, out in the open, in the day time, no matter how 'well' he looks, it is an emergency. Every minute counts. DO NOT put them in a box and keep them, feeding them, not calling a rescue for advice for 3 days until their agony and infection is too much for them to bear and they stop moving. DO NOT feed them then move them under a bush because you think they shouldn't be in the sun, leaving them, utterly defenceless, to be predated alive there. DO NOT take them to a vet, none of whom are trained in wildlife and will simply put to sleep even viable wild animals. Please take them to a rescue (never a vet) URGENTLY. Just Google 'hedgehog rescue near me' to find a list. More info: x.com/HedgehogCabin/…

Not long to go to submit an abstract for our Annual Conference in July, hosted by the University of Sunderland. Details here: foundationyear.ac.uk/fynac2026/

We are looking forward to two events this week: our online Writing Retreat tomorrow, 10am-3pm, and the Easter Coffee Chat on Friday, 1-2pm. Check out the events calendar here: foundationyear.ac.uk/events/

Recent suggestions that A-levels are the only indicator of academic potential misunderstands both education and people. If we restrict access to student finance based only on traditional academic routes, we don’t protect universities — we are just protecting privilege.

60 years ago today, Jennie Lee set out a bold vision in her University of the Air White Paper that would become The Open University 🎓 From that moment, the idea of a University that welcomes everyone, whatever their background, began to take shape. Since then, millions of life changing journeys have started with the OU and we are just getting started. As we celebrate 60 years of open learning, we remain committed to making education accessible to every community and every stage of life. #OUfamily #TheOpenUniversity #OU60 💙

Hi friends, my debut album is now out on all platforms. Hope you enjoy it! open.spotify.com/artist/2RCcygI… #NewMusicFriday #songwriter #guitarist #singersongwriter

Enjoyed hosting the @foundationyear1 Science and Maths Assessment Workshop yesterday, thanks to all who came. Great to connect with FY colleagues and share ideas and good practice. Planning a follow-up practice sharing event. #foundation #practitioners #STEM #assessments

@HarryCotterill @QMUL That's fab news Harry!

I am so excited to have received an unconditional offer from @QMUL to study MSc Astrophysics, starting September 2026. I've not made any definite decision, yet! I will be attending an open day next month to learn a little more. I have until March to make my final decision.

Happy New Year! If you’re going out tonight, I hope you have a lovely time. And please remember: Getting home 10 minutes later because you drove slowly won’t make that much difference to you, but it could make all the difference in the world to a hedgehog.

On this day in 1914: Tom Weir was born in Glasgow. The legendary climber and TV presenter was immortalised with this stunning bronze statue on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond in 2014, eight years after his death. It was created by sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn.

@GouldyBalls147 Merry Christmas Martin 🎄

Merry Christmas everyone 🎅

It’s #WildlifeConservationDay – a day to highlight the need to conserve the planet's natural resources & biodiversity. So what better time to talk about hedgehogs..? 🦔 Hedgehogs populations across the UK are in decline - but you can help👉 buff.ly/XjKF2HK 📷 C Morgan

Physics has a reputation for being dominated by men, especially a century ago, as quantum physics was just being invented – but there have been so many women who helped shaped the field since its inception #Echobox=1764076098" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">newscientist.com/article/250441…

Have you seen a #hedgehog you're worried about? 📞🦔🩹 Follow these simple first aid steps & call us on 01584 890801 or your local independent hedgehog rescue as soon as possible. buff.ly/2wodWgS Don't delay - acting immediately makes a difference! #MondayMotivation

If you have any questions about this, get in touch. Deadline 5pm!

Just a reminder that there is one week left to submit applications to host our Annual Conference in 2027. Check your email for details or get in touch via the website. #FYNAC27 #foundation #goodpractice

@DrAndrewRowland Wonderful, congratulations 👏🏻 🎖️

Everyone at the England & Wales Cricket Board is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dickie Bird. A proud Yorkshireman and a much-loved umpire, he will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, Dickie 🤍

“What is the world made of?” Today we say: atoms. And that’s thanks in part to John Dalton! He was the first to put forward experimental evidence of elements and matter being composed of extremely small particles, which he called atoms.

WE ARE SUNDERLAND 😤 #SUNWHU