Darren

Qualified Teacher in Secondary History.
Teaching History and English to key Stage 4
Any advice/tips truly appreciated.

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@Seadragonseeker Yeah we have also received the call. Half of our entire cohort are in exams so makes zero sense

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@mrfitzhist This document has been a huge help for my year 11 throughout the year!!!! Thank you so much

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@hkateaching [email protected]
Thank you so much Hannah :)

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@PolitlcsUK @JackElsom Watering down requirements for some core subjects but still keeping English as a memory test...

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@currys Does 50 first dates count???

[Matt Lynch @Mathew_Lynch44]

*NEW* for AQA: English Lang & Lit mock exam trackers, using June 2025 boundaries and RAG rating for QLA, for each paper like so 👇

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[Darren @LabHistorian]

@currys #CurrysPurpleFriday Alan Rickman

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

Suicide.

I'm choosing to be deliberately blunt and provocative in this post because it's necessary. Government, charities, football clubs are all pushing water up a hill in highlighting what is undoubtedly a major health crisis.

You take a rope.
You put it up in a garage or a tree nearby or far away.
You're thinking about every loved one you'll leave behind as you put that rope around your neck.
Then you drop.

Some are decapitated.
Some aren't.
All are found by someone who has a lifetime of trauma that will never leave them.
A son.
A daughter.
A brother.
A sister.
A mother.
A father.

I know 2 men who hung themselves.

One was found by his Mom.
One was found by his brother.
Neither have recovered fully. 20 and 30 years on.

A life sentence for people who were already worrying, terrified their loved one may do something.

So just visualise the above and ask, "is there another way"?

A segway for a moment.

I do a few Q&A's every year. Tales of yesterday with a 99% male audience of my age group.

After the stories and fun, my last question back to the audience is..

"Hands up if you struggle with a mental health issue".

Nobody ever puts a hand up. Despite 1 in every 3 of 500 attendees statistically struggling.

"Ah, nobody, that's fucking brilliant! Well I do! ". I then graphically tell people, stunned into silence about how a rope around my neck in the middle of nowhere jolted me to go home and cry like a baby to my Mom.

After the Q&A has finished, something always happens. I'll be chatting to a few guys, saying bye and one by one, men will come over and whisper " I struggle".

Or my mailbox the next day will have 30 emails from guys, their partners or kids saying " Dad/Uncle /Brother was there last night and what you said hit them hard".

And that's how some people realise that it's time to speak to a pal or family member or even rant to me in an email. It works, I often get a follow up email a year or 6 later saying that they took responsibility for their suicidal feelings and are now flying.

Humans are programmed to want to live, to have families and to keep the species growing and thriving. So for a human to want to short circuit that desire isn't normal, and it should never be spoken of as normal. It's the ultimate red flag.

If you suspect your mate, Dad, Brother, Uncle is struggling mentally, they deserve your intervention.

They deserve a " are you OK, please tell me what's up".

They deserve an opportunity to get past wanting to hang a rope over a tree or in a garage and slowly struggle until they die and you find them.

If you've been there and trust me I have plenty, then you'll know that text out of the blue, or a footie mate or one of your kids asking jow you are can open the curtains to some sunshine.

Because when suicide is your only answer, the room is already dark, and you can't see a way out.

So please, fucking pretty please, ask that husband, Dad, Uncle, Cousin, footie pal TODAY how they are.

You may be shocked what comes back but extremely glad that you asked.

For those who struggle, you're not alone.

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@hkateaching Thanks Hannah we have done something similar in the past :)

[Wolfson History Prize @WolfsonHistory]

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[Darren @LabHistorian]

@mrfitzhist These are amazing!!!!

[Brad Busch @BradleyKBusch]

🚨✈️ Evidence-Informed Wisdom is here!! ✈️🚨

RT for a chance to be the first to read it.

Today we received our advance copies.

I wanted to initially call it ‘How to not mess up cognitive science in your school or college’. But that was a bit long.

It’s a serious book written in a funny way. It’s my favourite thing I’ve ever done.

Anyway…if you want to be the first to read it before it gets officially released, just RT this.

Will pick someone at random on Sunday night and post them a copy!

[Teacher Fast Feedback ™️ @TeacherFFB]

Happy 🐣 LIKE AND RETWEET for a chance to win a free device! Winner announced here on Tuesday. #teacher #education #edutwitter #teaching #teach

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@H_Hardy We made a move away from Sherriff (Journey's End) to Malorie Blackman (Boys Don't Cry) for the first time this year.

I think the biggest fear for most is that they still use the same texts as the work associated with starting afresh is overwhelming especially in a 2yr cycle.

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@mrwmhistory We currently use Edexcel with GCSE students and wanted to see what subjects were offered with yourselves. I'm not too far away from your school and keen to look at potential switch...

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@mrfitzhist Genuinely love this resource James!!!

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@andyhassan1985 @KellyCollinge @worcesterjonny Thought it was just me feeling this way!! Getting through content this year feels so slow

[Darren @LabHistorian]

@mrwmhistory Thanks Dan :)

[Zach Groshell @MrZachG]

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