Blog Posts

Deficit Language: The Invisible Barrier We Do Not Talk About

We do not just describe people with our words – we define their possibilities. And sometimes, we unintentionally define them by what they lack. Too often, the language we use to describe communities puts the blame on individuals instead of the systems that fail them. This is what we call deficit language. Why is Deficit Language Problematic? As we strive to become more inclusive, we really need to

15/10/2025 Read more

Whose Values Are They Anyway?

This blog is based on a provocation I gave to the Practical Wisdom Network to the question of “Whose values are they anyway?” I approach the provocation through the character lens of practical wisdom.  Walk into any school or scroll through a Multi-Academy Trust’s website, and you’ll see them: Respect, Aspiration, Ambition, Integrity, Courage. Neatly framed, laminated and polished like a bran

15/10/2025 Read more

Belonging in the Classroom: responding to a divided world

It’s a Sunday morning—my favourite time of the week. Coffee in hand (with collagen and creatine, of course), I wander around the house while the kids are already asking for ice cream, Lego time, and the TV (yes, it’s only 8am). Usually, this part of the day comes with a little doom-scrolling, some memes, and a few oddly satisfying cleaning videos. But today feels different. As I scroll, I’m pulled

15/10/2025 Read more

Distorted Mirrors, Fogged Windows: A Call for Deeper Representation in Education

The concept of  “mirrors, windows and sliding doors,”  introduced by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, has become a foundational framework in conversations around diversity in children’s literature and multicultural education. In her metaphor,  mirrors  reflect readers’ own identities and lived experiences,  windows  offer insights into lives different from their own, and 

01/07/2025 Read more

Nurturing Student Growth

As educators, we often encounter students who challenge the structures and expectations imposed upon them. These students, who may not fit neatly into standardized molds, compel us to reconsider how we approach learning and behavior. Much like many of our students, there are times when we, too, long to respond with greater patience, understanding, and freedom from ingrained patterns. The complexit

01/07/2025 Read more

Why Black History Is More Than Just a Month: Embedding Legacy, Learning and Leadership All Year Round

As we mark five years since the murder of George Floyd, the question many of us in education and leadership circles are still grappling with is this: how do we move from reactive to proactive when it comes to race, equity, and inclusion? How do we ensure that Black history is not confined to a single month in October, but becomes a golden thread woven through every aspect of our curriculum, polici

01/07/2025 Read more

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Leadership: Shaping the Future of the Teaching Workforce

In today’s educational landscape, fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) feels essential for creating a supportive and effective teaching workforce that reflects the lived experiences of the students we serve. This blog post offers some thoughts on the importance of DEIB in educational leadership and highlights the challenges and opportunities for improvement. Understanding I

16/05/2025 Read more

Women of a certain age: The menopause at school

Developing an anti-misogynist culture in your school starts from the top. There must be a commitment from leadership at all levels, and it must be threaded throughout all school practices and policies. However, women remain under-represented within school leadership (Bergmann et al, 2022). In England, the school leadership characteristics and trends report (DfE, 2022) reveals that at primary level

16/05/2025 Read more

Supreme Court Ruling - Key Information for Educators

Introduction  On Wednesday 16th April the UK Supreme Court shared their ruling on the case For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Minister, which interprets the legal definition of the word ‘sex’, as used in the context of The Equality Act 2010.  Since the court handed down, the ruling has been spoken about extensively in the regulated media, unregulated social media, and in Parliament. W

16/05/2025 Read more

You can’t just teach a child out of poverty

One of the most urgent and complex issues schools face today is the deep-rooted impact of poverty on the communities they serve. For school leaders and educators, this isn’t just about data, it’s about real lives, and the daily reality of hardship affecting pupils and families. The challenges of poverty extend well beyond the school gates. It influences everything from children’s learning experien

17/04/2025 Read more

What can we learn about masculinity and misogyny from the Netflix drama 'Adolescence'?

Originally published here:  https://www.boldvoices.co.uk/blog/2025/3/20/what-can-we-learn-about-masculinity-and-misogyny-from-the-netflix-drama-adolescence On March 13 Adolescence premiered on Netflix, a week on and the show has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has sent waves across media, starting conversations about themes of masculinity, the ‘manosphere’, incel culture and gender-based

17/04/2025 Read more

What Is the Point of Dialogue?

Dialogue is fundamental to building relationships and resolving differences. It is a crucial tool for addressing conflicts, yet when pain and injustice run deep, the idea of engaging in dialogue can feel futile—or even wrong. When faced with deep moral disagreements, people may question whether dialogue is worthwhile. Engaging with opposing viewpoints can feel uncomfortable and even counterproduct

17/04/2025 Read more

From Lettuce to Leadership: The Recipe for Real DEIB in Schools

The room fell silent. A lone voice cut through the air like a scalpel. “If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we’ve always got.” A murmur of agreement rippled across the table, but the truth hung heavy. Governance in education wasn’t evolving fast enough. The diversity deficit on school boards was glaring, and yet the solution was tantalisingly within reach. Diversity, Equi

18/03/2025 Read more

World Book Day 2025

Another year, another World Book Day—same costumes, same characters. Harry and Hermione? Check. Little Red Riding Hood? Of course. The Gruffalo? Naturally. And let’s not forget Mrs. Trunchbull, stomping through the halls. Sound familiar? Thought so.  But here’s the thing—World Book Day can be so much more. It’s time to move beyond the usual suspects and reimagine it through a t

18/03/2025 Read more

To Belong Is Not Enough: Why We Must Move Towards Mattering

“No one would care if I weren’t here.” I can remember the words hitting me hard. As Designated Safeguarding Lead there were immediate red flags, but on a human level it broke my heart. 100% attendance, great progress, and never in trouble. On paper he belonged – but in reality he thought nobody cared. Across the country, I hear the language of belonging increasingly referenced in discussions about

18/03/2025 Read more