Caroline Spalding
Secondary school Deputy Headteacher | English teacher | NPQH | MA Education | Wrestling fan | Hana’s mum
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingWell done! Know how hard it can be to carve out that time for yourself. So often when it feels almost selfish to do so is when it is most necessary and beneficial.
- In one of those work grooves where things feel fairly relentlessly full on. Felt even more important to get to smash out a few miles with the family today and then get to celebrate my dad’s 70th with him ❤️
- 6 years ago today I went for a job that @benniekara.bsky.social got. I lost out on the job but gained a brilliant brilliant mate. I also wrote this blog: mrscspalding.blogspot.com/2019/05/what... #EduSky
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingThank you to @mrsspalding.bsky.social and @lindsaykittens.bsky.social for good examples in schools. Thanks @teachingofsci.bsky.social @joannelouisehayley.bsky.social @anotherjules.bsky.social @doctorpreece.bsky.social @rhid83.bsky.social @risu.bsky.social for your thoughts/support/resource ideas.
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingDelighted that @nexuseduk.bsky.social l asked me to blog about how schools can get more female students interested in tech - the perceptions, barriers and ways to encourage with good examples from schools and resource links. ❤️
- When it comes to promoting #tech careers to girls and young women, there can be hurdles and stereotypes to overcome. @kcauchi.bsky.social shares how to encourage them. bit.ly/44ltf8q #EdTech, #WomenEd, #STEM
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingThe number of senior leaders in schools who aspire to headship is at a record low, an @naht.org.uk survey has suggested
- And now we celebrate! 🥳🥳🥳
- 21 miles and 600m elevation of Edale skyline conquered today with my birthday twin @aviewaskew.bsky.social. Last year, Ibiza. This year, Sheffield. With views like this it’s a reasonable trade.
- 21 miles and 600m elevation of Edale skyline conquered today with my birthday twin @aviewaskew.bsky.social. Last year, Ibiza. This year, Sheffield. With views like this it’s a reasonable trade.
- She only went and bloody did it! @jenowenteacher.bsky.social bagged her first teaching job today and honestly I couldn’t be prouder. She’s been my best mate for 20 years and having her fall in love with the job I love had been an unexpected delight this year. DEAD PROUD. #EduSky
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingA few more days to apply for this. A lovely school in Derbyshire. Perfect for English teachers looking for a move or an ECT.
- There’s an English job going at our wonderful school. Please share to your English teacher friends who are looking for another job! mynewterm.com/jobs/112989/...
- Photos of the day ☀️ 🌊
- Wednesday brings a cracking book, a brandy sour, and a view of the sea. Loving your work, holidays 😎😎
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingSchools serving disadvantaged communities suffer the most from the recruitment and retention crisis this has driven, he adds
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingAll of this impacts on ASCL members and NEU members - "squeezed resources and sky high expectations have acted like a pincer movement on the profession", he says
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingHe highlights the "vital" relationship between ASCL and NEU
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingHe highlights funding, recruitment and retention crisis and Ofsted as the crucial issues facing everyone working in education
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingASCL general secretary @pepediiasio.bsky.social is about to speak at #NEU2025 - follow below for key points
- Reposted by Caroline Spalding"don't overload your lessons with text, 3 or 4 bulletpoints max, cognitive overload..." cpd for staff: wall of text if you don't believe it yourself... ...sometimes I literally shut my eyes or look away so I can try to concentrate on what is being said
- There are only really two kinds of slide in a research talk. 1. Slides that take complex stuff & make it easier to take in (Graphs, infographics etc) 2. Signposting slides that remind your audience where we are in the flow of the talk. Neither kind is about putting up a wall of text! #PHDChat
- Happy Easter break to all in education 🥳 Here (as ever) to (controversially) show that you can be a teacher/school leader, be happy and have a life! 🤪
- Also chuffed to say that, now it’s been announced at school, I can say I’ll be Senior Deputy Head in Sept. It’s a moment of change for the school with a new Head and 2nd Deputy. My new role marks my ongoing commitment to a wonderful place I’m proud to help lead. #EduSky
- Well this has restored my faith in Bluesky! For those not crossing over from Twitter, I am Deputy Head in an 11-18 school with 1800 on roll. Over 50 languages spoken and outcomes we are proud of. I’m also and English teacher and passionately believe in system leadership for the good of every child.
- I’ve had a bunch of new followers and I’m worried a whole load are bots 😭 If you work in education or have more than a passing interest in schools and teaching please say hi so I know who to follow back! #EduSky
- I’ve had a bunch of new followers and I’m worried a whole load are bots 😭 If you work in education or have more than a passing interest in schools and teaching please say hi so I know who to follow back! #EduSky
- The face isn’t right but the styling is spot on. Yes to the cheese and lucha masks but not sure I’ve written out a lesson plan since 2014.
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingSign up here: my.chartered.college...
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingThis online roundtable in our series with @teachingcommission.bsky.social focuses on improving SEND provision, and what training needs are required for both new teachers and teachers in service. 👥 This is a members only event, if you're not a member you can join via our website.
- This looks excellent #EduSky
- Hi Beth. Thanks for the kind mention. The follow up chat about the limitations of NPQH is very familiar. It came up in our Rethinking Headship survey repeatedly last year. Which was why I developed the Head Cases offer, now recruiting for a second cohort. www.ssatuk.co.uk/cpd/leadersh...
- Today 11yrs ago my dad retired as Head in the school he had served in for over 20yrs. The staff bought him a surprise helicopter ride from the school tennis courts to meet his family near home. The students lined the route from his office. What a send off ❤️❤️❤️
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingHey, Bluesky, I normally get the niblings a book each at easter and I'm after some recommendations for a 12yo, two 8yos, two 6yos and a 5yo. (fairly new ones are a safer bet that they've not got them already, but anything'll do) 📚
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingKeep an eye out for this tomorrow 👀
- A lovely school in a lovely town with a lovely Headteacher! East Mids, folk I highly recommend.
- There’s an English job going at our wonderful school. Please share to your English teacher friends who are looking for another job! mynewterm.com/jobs/112989/...
- Shocked to hear of the passing of @missdcox.bsky.social. Shared with much love and respect her first message to me 8 years ago. We might have never met but like so many I benefited from her wisdom and support.
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingThe brilliant @missdcox.bsky.social was a wise friend to so many people. She was also a great blogger. Remembering her today, I thought I would re-share one of her thought provoking and useful blogs. missdcoxblog.wordpress.com/2020/07/18/the-golden-threads-substantive-concepts-in-re/
- A classic first day of the hols doing a spot of DIY. Sold my daughter’s furniture to whole else but two teachers 😅 I reckon if you surveyed the queue at B&Q we’d make up for a good third this week! #EduSky
- Ignore the recycling bin and the morning view out of our upstairs window is magnificent 🥰
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingOut-outstanding. Out-out-outstanding. In fact, let’s call the middle grade just Standing. Then we can have outstanding and understanding.
- I’m not sure it’s a measure that will find its way into the new Ofsted framework, but I’m pretty sure that knees like this are a pretty great hallmark of quality EYFS provision ❤️ #EduSky @ofstednews.bsky.social
- “School leaders are at risk of our thinking being hijacked by the luxury beliefs of those at the top of the edu social media elite. Conformity bias can motivate us to copy whatever seems common.” 🔥 🔥 🔥
- *New post* In case you’re not on the other platform and missed it, here’s my latest post from over the weekend on school leadership. Still exploring my thinking. @bennewmark.bsky.social @mrsspalding.bsky.social @isaacmoore7.bsky.social birminghamteacher.wordpress.com/2025/03/30/e...
- I am very much enjoying the ‘Happy Easter’ in this message from preschool. Subtitle - So long, suckers! 🤣
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingThere are no doubt more, but that will have to do for now because I have to cook dinner. For anyone who has got this far and not got bored, here's my response to the @ofstednews.bsky.social consultation if you're interested in more. occamshairdryer.wordpress.com/2025/03/08/m...
- Reposted by Caroline Spalding3. The assumption that the Ofsted framework offers a good guide for school improvement. I don't think this is true, certainly not in every area. I have written here about why I think the separation of curriculum from teaching will be actively harmful. occamshairdryer.wordpress.com/2024/11/16/a...
- Reposted by Caroline Spalding2. The assumption that school staff are motivated to improve their practice by Ofsted frameworks. My experience has been that, while Ofsted certainly drives action, it tends to involve lots of evidence gathering to look good, which more often than not gets in the way of meaningful improvement.
- Reposted by Caroline Spalding1. The assumption that Ofsted can award these grades reliably. There can and should be evidence for this. Where is it? At the very least Ofsted should be investigating it thoroughly before implementation and committing to transparency about what they find in the interests of public scrutiny.
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingI feel like I am becoming a stuck record on this, but the argument that a greater range of @ofstednews.bsky.social grades will drive schools to higher standards rests on some assumptions which are questionable at best. Here are some of them...
- Chief inspector Martyn Oliver has defended @ofstednews.bsky.social plan for 5 different inspection grades, saying he doesn’t want to simply tell schools they have met a standard ‘and that’s good enough'
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingRight, things cost money and in the long run you get what you pay for. Making mainstream more inclusive is what we all want to aim for (but will be v tough). In the meantime there are parts of the system that do just need money.
- All eminently sensible suggestions.
- 📖 In one of our most-read articles this week, @greeborunner.bsky.social offers some short, sharp, 10-minute activities to help your students with the final push towards their GCSE exams
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingIt makes me so very cross. This week a family friend in Yr10 asked me for advice for her art because her school has said they all need a 5 to pass (4 minimum). Even if that's her interpretation, it's what she believes and is worrying about 😠
- Let’s be clear: a Grade 1 is a pass. I remain unsure whether qualification revolution is required or just reevaluation of the 3 grades our system appears blind to. #EduSky
- Ooo anyone else a little busy? #EduSky
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingI have been a school leader for 19 years and even I am losing sleep over budgets this year. A big virtual hug of support to all those grappling with the impossible gap between funding and costs this year. I feel your pain.
- Reposted by Caroline SpaldingFunny that.
- Reposted by Caroline Spalding*Diagnostic overshadowing* can thwart inclusive teaching. What's useful for teachers to know: ↓
- This video had totally got me today. These are the Ilson (Ilkeston) kids who went to my dad’s school, who I went to college with, and who I’ve taught so many times. They’re the ones I do this job for. So much potential, sincerity, fun, and kindness right there. www.instagram.com/reel/DHazweB...
- I’m not sure I’m friends with targeted ads any more 😏 #EduSky
