What is the case for school uniforms? Would schools become chaotic places (more chaotic?) without them? Do they provide a ‘discipline distraction’ for some naughty pupils to hit out against? All this AND MORE in today's episode!

Some links which are referred to:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14777071/parents-fury-school-ban-skirts-gender-neutral-options.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=social-twitter_mailonline

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417240-school-uniforms-may-prevent-children-from-getting-enough-exercise/

https://www.playscotland.org/play-scotland-backs-new-made-to-move-campaign-on-active-school-uniforms/

https://www.youthsporttrust.org/news-listings/news/youth-sport-trust-research-reveals-parents-and-teachers-support-an-always-active-uniform-policy#:~:text=Research-,Youth%20Sport%20Trust%20Research%20Reveals%20Parents%20and%20Teachers%20Support%20an,break%20time%20to%20active%20learning

Guidance from NEU: https://neu.org.uk/advice/classroom/dress-code

A replay of our February 2021 interview with Professor Michael Young. The original is still viewable on our YouTube Channel, it has been reproduced here for new viewers but also for our growing band of listeners on sound only platforms, where the original wasn’t available… until now!

NB: This broadcast takes the place of our usual Thursday broadcast this week. Hopefully you managed to catch our bonus episode earlier this week, if not, check it out, it's on AI in education.

Are you the maker or the tool?

Is AI a threat to schooling or an extension to the accessibility of knowledge for humanity? (First there was writing, then the book, the library, printing, the internet and now AI...)

Some references in the chat:

The Ballad of Accounting, Sung by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger: https://youtu.be/MY3kYU5CYmk?si=oMwecn8TQV2s9Xmz written by Ewan MacColl (I think we inadvertently said Pete Seeger wrote it, can we blame AI?!)

What If AI is not Actually Intelligent? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTb2Q2AE7nA @InnerCosmosPod with David Eagleman and Alison Gopnik

Andy Clark and David Chalmers 'The Extended Mind': https://web-archive.southampton.ac.uk/cogprints.org/320/1/extended.html

Phil Beadle's AI post on SubStack: https://open.substack.com/pub/philbeadle/p/the-limits-of-ai?r=1rvl5x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Daisy Christodoulou's SubStack on How should England's curriculum and assessment review respond to AI? https://substack.nomoremarking.com/p/how-should-englands-curriculum-and?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Do schools contribute to whether we see ourselves as an Island of Strangers or not?

Some links for your delectation:

Our interview with ED Hirsch: https://youtu.be/H097vPnDpkI?si=erXALkeyInTYmRTY

Our Interview with Michael Young: https://youtu.be/xi_AhfWjeis?si=oanbhXx4OC8vc_W8

EmanRTM: https://youtu.be/OXn4lFNVb-Y?si=nAQmw4B8cXkaA_tP

Sutton Trust Report: https://www.suttontrust.com/our-research/the-opportunity-index/

Policy Exchange Report: https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/lessons-from-the-past/

More in Common Social Cohesion Report: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/our-work/research/social-cohesion-a-snapshot/

Is the current vogue for coaching in schools a fad or fundamental part of good CPD?

Scripted lessons vs Teacher Autonomy

Sam Gibbs article: https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/teacher-autonomy-how-we-dumbed-down-teaching

Greg Ashman Substack: https://fillingthepail.substack.com/p/on-scripted-lessons?r=18455&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

Curriculum Revolutions: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curriculum-Revolutions-practical-guide-enhancing/dp/1913622983/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CJAF8E626TLP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0WYdXLdKZ5VQvl_-FH5DYm2Wxdh93XhlojB_n2ij4knc0Z8T6zhPLC5LX5Rwg3SRxRvh4LKASdAyOwAD3lx7od4NsQl7NikqD2gxcysBpqvk5wtURf4u4hegd7rgi-Gzk72ZjWxo4Aghb8kD4BfIF82MVkfP78geMATSuWEcaTnmdGjvlV294NS1nQfH6bO9dI9G3VdwP10Ri_5yShBpeQ.obEGBWeDYbxld7sKy5C6xHi1IGULbXAkyCtmYA1_zNY&dib_tag=se&keywords=curriculum+revolutions&qid=1746720559&sprefix=curriculum+revolutions%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1

Do the proposed changes to Ofsted’s inspection regime go far enough? (spoiler - no)

Some of the articles mentioned in this episode:

https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/close-ofsted-consultation

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/can-ofsted-listen-its-way-out-of-its-political-bind/

https://daviddidau.substack.com/p/rewiring-inspection?r=18455&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

Autism, ADHD, and the burgeoning crisis in funding for schools. Are too many pupils being diagnosed with Special Needs?

Some sources used in this episode:

The Age of Diagnosis by Suzanne O'Sullivan (Review here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/12/the-age-of-diagnosis-by-suzanne-osullivan-review-do-no-harm)

The Lost Girls of Autism by Gina Rippon (Here is an article by her in the New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26635372-400-a-revolutionary-new-understanding-of-autism-in-girls/)

Why is There a Crisis in Special Educational Needs? The Briefing Room BBC Radio 4: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028v06

The Discontinuous Mind. Does it Ever Get it Right? By Richard Dawkins: https://substack.com/home/post/p-159676728