Nat Parnell

CEO Westcountry Schools Trust. All views on X are my own.

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

Good teaching has always been, and will always be, essentially: explain well, check understanding well, practise lots. Oh and do 'little and often' revision.

Almost everything else is just snake oil we love to tangle our teaching up with.

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@ManusAI you are holding my domain hostage and failing to follow up on multiple tickets left. Pretty shoddy. And I'm not the only one having this sort of trouble with your customer service.

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@MustafaCharts 7 (14/2)

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@suttontrust Thanks. Why wouldn’t you want to show grammar schools?

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@brijones @lemire This was only activated here in the UK in the last few weeks. Until then we have had an annoying ‘clippy’ type chat bot. While others have Claude Code…

[Daniel Lemire @lemire]

I am in Microsoft Word. I press Copilot. I ask for a table.

The AI can't modify the Word document so it creates a new document in the cloud. It then allows me access the document through a link. Presumably I am supposed to go there, copy the table and put it in my Word document myself.

Who designed this ?

This is so obviously a low-effort implementation that I am baffled. It is almost as if they wanted to fail.

Why can't Microsoft see that having direct access to Microsoft Word is an incredible edge that they could leverage to embed the AI directly?

It is almost comical.

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@mike_reeves I've sent a couple of emails to [email protected] over the last month. No response. Could you have a look please. Thank you. Nat Parnell

[Paul Kirschner @New_Old_Paul]

The persistent and seductive appeal of discovery learning, despite its limitations and failures, reflects a mix of cognitive biases, ideological commitments, and cultural narratives rather than any strong empirical support.
https://t.co/W3zDiYDJ0s

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

Absolute respect for my boss. What a legacy he leaves. The values I feel he role models most to me: Optimisim, Belief in Others, Courage and genuine Humility. Thank you, Rob, for the hundreds of thousands of young lives you have influenced so much, directly and indirectly.

[Westcountry Schools Trust @westcountryST23]

Today we celebrate Rob Haring as he retires from his role as CEO of WeST. Rob’s vision, kindness, and beliefs have strengthened schools and touched lives across the South West.💚
Thank you, Rob, for your dedication and heart.💚

Stronger together… every child in a great school.

[Adrian Rogers @AJRAllModCons]

Wonderful two days @westcountryST23 . Learnt lots about ops & structures. Visited 5 fab schools for learning walks. I’ve never been in a Trust that absolutely insists you challenge & give EBIs! Great to say goodbye to education legend @ReHaring ❤️ @HelesSchool @EggbucklandCC

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@AJRAllModCons @westcountryST23 @ReHaring @HelesSchool @EggbucklandCC @IvybridgeComCol @unleashing_me @plymouthcc @LorraineHughe20 @JeffoA28 @Douggie954 @TeachLeadAAli @embarkfed @CSTvoice Was great to see you.

[Niels Hoven 🐮 @NielsHoven]

@StevenPWalsh the field of education has become more concerned with ideology than effectiveness

sometimes the old ways are the best ways

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@GCSE_Macbeth Then you can just get on and teach, not waste everyone’s time with convoluted classroom management that doesn’t work anyway.

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@GCSE_Macbeth You work in a school that had a central system for warning and removal. And use the system.

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

“There’s a reason we don’t teach discovery based swimming.”

[Westcountry Schools Trust @westcountryST23]

✨ We’re hiring! ✨
Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) is seeking a dynamic Chief Operating Officer to join our Executive Leadership Team.
Plymouth, Devon
Closing date: 5 Jan 2026
Permanent, full-time
https://t.co/FjLjJU4CgJ

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@Strickomaster Works best on a tablet or computer.

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@Strickomaster I made an app pulling out the interesting bits: https://t.co/2S2EJ7ln1q

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

School funding inequities 26/27 - look yours up: https://t.co/L4t1zJL7X1

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@kateowbridge @norchcity And (remembering how) reading with them and filling in the parent book. That was useful. All those set as homework.

[Nat Parnell @NatParnell]

@kateowbridge @norchcity I’m not sure I agree about Primary. I’ve helped all four of mine over the years with tables and spellings each week. Agreed: make a volcano is pointless but regular learning homework really helps seal the ‘joint responsibility’ side of learning and it has been nice time to spend