PastMatters

Dad, Husband, SLT for PD, Subject Leader. wannabe poet. Interested in leadership, RE&worldviews, history, food, #archery and sailing. Views all personal.he/his.

[PastMatters @PastMatters]

Decided to emigrate to @bluesky - I’d be delighted to connect and reconnect there. https://t.co/yGLi5TZToK

[Adam Boxer @adamboxer1]

One day, I'll receive an email about keynote speakers being announced for a big conference, and those speakers will be actual teachers. With timetabled classes.

I'll receive an email about educational panel events where organisers have committed to having at least one person with a timetabled class on the panel.

I'll receive an email about people being invited to some glitzy event in town or Number 10, and the people invited will be actual teachers. With timetabled classes.

One day, but not today.

[Farrukh @implausibleblog]

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot,

"Let us say to our British friends"

"If they stand ready to return to the EU Single Market with all associated privileges and duties"

"They will be be met with open arms"

Sounds like a plan. Who's in?

[PastMatters @PastMatters]

@stjosephskly Any update on a return time from the Industrial museum trip please?

[Zack Polanski @ZackPolanski]

A real shame if this photo went viral again today.

[il Donaldo Trumpo @PapiTrumpo]

OK, WHO DID THIS???🤣🤣🤣

[Sam Strickland @Samstricko181]

My @Strickomaster account has been hacked & cannot be salvaged. I’m having to essentially start again. Retweets appreciated @teacherhead @RogersHistory @tombennett71 @BarryNSmith79 @m_chiles @MrChrisPassey @Counsell_C @MaryMyatt @DrSarahMullin

[PastMatters @PastMatters]

@mrfitzhist Thanks for sharing James. Stolen and will incorporate into RS. Thank you

[PastMatters @PastMatters]

@SoLInTheWild Love this, started to use these to recap knowledge and have found it hard to get students to maximise all their prior learning so intend to move to modelling via visualiser.

[PastMatters @PastMatters]

@DeputyGrocott Look at socrative (now inside Showbie app) it’s brilliant. You can let them go or control q at a time plus v detailed breakdown done for you.

[Teacher Fast Feedback ™️ @TeacherFFB]

Proud to announce V2 TeacherFastFeedback printers are about to drop this half term ! Sleeker design , great print quality. the perfect teacher companion Website updated shortly. Retweet and ❤️ to enter for a chance to win a free device. All orders will now receive this new V2 version . #Education #teaching #teacherlife

[PastMatters @PastMatters]

@mrfitzhist Adapted this for RS. It worked well. Need to trial with a few more groups. Take your point on definitions 👍

[mary beard @wmarybeard]

I confess I’m not v keen on the idea that Classics & other humanities disciplines teach you how to THINK (they may or may not). They do however teach you how to READ & argue responsibly on questions to which there are no right answers. I believe these are v important civic skills

[𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡 𝙈𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨 @PhilMyers53]

I don't know who started this, possibly Thatcher, but politics is now about showmanship. Style over substance

He may not be the greatest showman, but Keir is a good man, an honest and decent man

Labour for a GENERATION

#TenYearKier

[Tory Fibs @ToryFibs]

Zack Polanski is a Jewish lad from Salford, Manchester.

Today, he taught our journalists & politicians a wee lesson in honesty.

[Cian McCarthy @arealmofwonder]

Rest in peace, Patricia Routledge 🙏🏻

In memory of her, I encourage everyone to read these words of hers from February last year.

Whether young or old, you're bound to get something out of it.

*****

"I’ll be turning 95 this coming Monday. In my younger years, I was often filled with worry — worry that I wasn’t quite good enough, that no one would cast me again, that I wouldn’t live up to my mother’s hopes. But these days begin in peace, and end in gratitude.

My life didn’t quite take shape until my forties. I had worked steadily — on provincial stages, in radio plays, in West End productions — but I often felt adrift, as though I was searching for a home within myself that I hadn’t quite found.

At 50, I accepted a television role that many would later associate me with — Hyacinth Bucket, of Keeping Up Appearances. I thought it would be a small part in a little series. I never imagined that it would take me into people’s living rooms and hearts around the world. And truthfully, that role taught me to accept my own quirks. It healed something in me.

At 60, I began learning Italian — not for work, but so I could sing opera in its native language. I also learned how to live alone without feeling lonely. I read poetry aloud each evening, not to perfect my diction, but to quiet my soul.

At 70, I returned to the Shakespearean stage — something I once believed I had aged out of. But this time, I had nothing to prove. I stood on those boards with stillness, and audiences felt that. I was no longer performing. I was simply being.

At 80, I took up watercolour painting. I painted flowers from my garden, old hats from my youth, and faces I remembered from the London Underground. Each painting was a quiet memory made visible.

Now, at 95, I write letters by hand. I’m learning to bake rye bread. I still breathe deeply every morning. I still adore laughter — though I no longer try to make anyone laugh. I love the quiet more than ever.

I’m writing this to tell you something simple:

Growing older is not the closing act. It can be the most exquisite chapter — if you let yourself bloom again.

Let these years ahead be your TREASURE YEARS.

You don’t need to be famous. You don’t need to be flawless.

You only need to show up — fully — for the life that is still yours.

With love and gentleness,

Patricia Routledge

*****

Once more, rest in peace. 🤍

[NATRE @NATREupdate]

Really pleased that @bphillipsonMP joined the panel for this event to listen to the concerns and questions that many people working in education have about improving the life chances of children and young people

[NATRE @NATREupdate]

We are at the #LabourConference2025 today as part of our lobbying and advocacy work on behalf of teachers of RE. Starting with a packed fringe event discussing what is needed to give every child the best start in life

[PastMatters @PastMatters]

@csheppardwrites Wow that’s so impressive 😁

[Carol Sheppard @csheppardwrites]

Debut poetry collection to be published later this month #poetry #poetrycommunity #madeofglass

[Manchester News MEN @MENnewsdesk]

OPINION: Angela Rayner's real offence was being a working class woman in power https://t.co/L5ggxdYdUa