Simon Beale

Head of History & Politics. teaching and learning strategies. #historyteacher. Co-founder of @historybookgrp. see my pinned tweet for resources.

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

Anything I have posted or shared can be found here: https://t.co/pJa2ZGO8fQ

If you see it being charged for somewhere else please let me know!

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

I’ve been thinking a lot about how to articulate AI use and its impact on Students. Here is a piece that sums up an assembly I delivered last week. Come for the heuristic, stay for the frosted tips!

https://t.co/Vd8JZPzrsg

[James Fitzgibbon @mrfitzhist]

We’ve adapted our ‘Classwork Check Up’ sheet to a termly version. The whole year on one sheet! Mainly to reduce workload yet maintain standards. Verbal reviews, feedback and prompts take place daily but this acts as a defined milestone for both staff/students. #historyteacher

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

I'm fundraising for British Heart Foundation. Check out my @JustGiving page and please donate if you can. Thank you! #JustGiving https://t.co/kwTC4de8ht

[James Fitzgibbon @mrfitzhist]

Mini whiteboards have been perfect for date and event recall. Interleaving with crime and punishment and Elizabeth whilst tackling Weimar Germany. Useful to have this format on the main board as a visual for questioning or to adapt as a written test. #historyteacher

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

@MsAylingHist Sure! Always happy to have people in.

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

@adamboxer1 @amymayforrester The fact this has not already had 100s of RT and comments demonstrates how X/Twitter has withered as a forum for discussion. Always listen when you tweet Adam. Now I’m not optimistic

[Adam Boxer @adamboxer1]

For a very long time, I was optimistic about the future of education in this country.

This time last year, @amymayforrester and I predicted that when the next round of PISA results came out, England would tick up. There had been 15 years of positive change in the sector, and we thought that would pay dividends.

That then came to fruition. England is doing well, especially compared to countries that are similar in many demographic and social respects, but have different education systems.

But now, I am worried. There are lots of things going on that I think are problematic. The current government and DfE seem hell-bent on reforming a sector that does not need reform, and introducing changes that will row back some of the gradual improvements we have seen. Ofsted seem stuck in a mire of unpopularity, and are unable to convince the profession or the public that they are a force for school improvement. Big, respected, organisations that hold government contracts and an important place in the sector do not seem to be delivering. None of these groups are bad actors, and I really do believe they all want what's best, but that isn't always enough.

Alongside that, we seem to now lack the public discourse infrastructure to adequately challenge these issues. The 2012-2019 years on Twitter were ones of fierce debate and criticality, and ideas could be well-tested before, during and after implementation.

That doesn't exist any more. The debate seems so much flatter. That's partly a numbers game: social media has become a less popular place. But also, politically and commercially, more and more "big voices" find it harder to make public statements and take strong positions on things. It's easier to get in line and bend with whatever winds happen to be blowing at the minute, and you often see people taking surprising and contradictory positions. Critically, I don't exempt myself from this, and know that there are things I would have said 5 years ago that I won't now.

For the first time in a while, I'm worried. I am certainly no longer optimistic.

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

What a privilege to speak to @MattChorley on @bbc5live about A-Level politics. So great to hear from enthusiastic students like Joe, Olivia and George. The campaign to get Matt to study for an Alevel starts now!

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

Fascinating evening at @CWBookshop event with @johnsweeneyroar discussing his new book on Nigel Farage. So many notes and anecdotes to use in politics lessons.

[Adam Boxer @adamboxer1]

We always get a huge bump in listeners at the start of the academic year - tune in and share 🙏🙏

[Tom Rogers @RogersHistory]

When you give a year 9 a warning for something they have just done right in front of you

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

@bex_renshaw @HughJRichards @richkbristol @AQAHistory Sure thing! Happy to help if I can.

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

Love this Aztec football shirt from @TheRestHistory & @icarus_football. So many great details.

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

Smoky Aubergine Parm. Yes.

[SPBealeCFC @SPBeale_cfc]

Neto is the 26/27 Victor Moses.

[James Fitzgibbon @mrfitzhist]

Thoughts return to work after a great Summer and the arrival of another baby girl Lyla ❤️. Keen to be more organised and have seen HoD’s use departmental bulletins as one point of reference for info. I’m attempting a monthly version. We’ll see how long it lasts! #historyteacher

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

@adamboxer1 @llewelyn20 Pretty much all of my views were challenged through Pratchett. It was the City Watch that really pulled me in. Vimes’ shoe theory is brought up often in politics

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

@adamboxer1 @llewelyn20 I’d love to know about your Terry Pratchett connection!

[Simon Beale @SPBeale]

Check out the books I added on Goodreads! https://t.co/dp5i3v1LeQ