Heidi Jones | The Education Ground

The Sirens’ song was worth hearing. The danger was letting it change the ship’s course. Does PISA pose a similar problem to education? The Siren Song of PISA theeducationground.co.uk/hom…

When did a question become a complaint? And when does safeguarding become censorship? A thought-provoking piece in the latest ‘Educate’ on book challenges and the pressures facing school librarians. But it left me thinking about something broader… 🧵

Interestingly, our headline results in English and Maths were very similar — despite the very different movement in grade boundaries. That’s partly why I think the context matters. Similar percentages don’t necessarily tell us the same story about the underlying raw marks.

AQA English grade boundaries rose in 2026 — by up to 6 raw marks. Meanwhile, AQA Maths boundaries were broadly unchanged - or fell considerably. When a handful of marks can shift headline percentages, how meaningful are simple yearly comparisons? Context matters.

A very proud results day. Huge congratulations to our Year 11 students — so much hard work behind these results. 👏

A new addition to my classroom. Before ‘bookworm’ was a reader, it was a pest — a creature that bored through books. By the 16th century, it was a metaphor for the voracious reader. Perhaps it’s due an upgrade? Literary rascal: curious, questioning, and a little mischievous.

❤️

Great day at The Care Managers’ Show: two great presentations from Charlie Jones and Bhavna Keane-Rao @BKR_CC, George was on microphone duty for the Q&A sessions, met (and was hugged by) Davina Macall and gained some useful information (and stationary) from the GL stall -

Kate Fleetwood is superb throughout. ‘All you need is love, love Or, failing that, alcohol.’ Or love, alcohol - and poetry. Or even love, alcohol, poetry - and a guest performance from Helena Bonham Carter! youtu.be/8DBxWCuSJRw

Controversial article in the NEU: phonics isn’t the only answer. Being able to decode underpins all reading. If it isn’t working for some then it needs revisiting again and again until it is - alongside a diet of rich literature and vocabulary.

Benefited or benefitted? My son has come home with spellings including benefit, benefited and benefiting. However I believe that the consonant should be doubled before the suffix.

Every day an anonymous student has left a note on my desk with a little message…this is today’s offering. This has made my day (and beyond), reminding me why I do this job and work in this lovely school. ♥️