James McEnaney
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
Journalist and writer
Former English teacher & lecturer | Author of 'Class Rules: the Truth about Scottish Schools' & 'A Scottish Journey' | Fond of FOI, motorbikes, La Gomera, and all things education
www.jamesmcenaney.co.uk
Former English teacher & lecturer | Author of 'Class Rules: the Truth about Scottish Schools' & 'A Scottish Journey' | Fond of FOI, motorbikes, La Gomera, and all things education
www.jamesmcenaney.co.uk
Pinned
James McEnaney
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
· Sep 15
People like Charlie Kirk made women and girls less safe in schools
The murder of the far-right commentator has created a martyr for people seeking to radicalise boys and young men.
www.heraldscotland.com
I've seen far too many people either praising or at least sanitising Charlie Kirk following his murder, so I've written something about his actual impact for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2546...
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2546...
Reposted by James McEnaney
EXCLUSIVE
Staff at Scotland’s only exam board were so concerned about a colleague’s evidence to a parliamentary committee that they drafted an official apology to be sent in her name
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
Staff at Scotland’s only exam board were so concerned about a colleague’s evidence to a parliamentary committee that they drafted an official apology to be sent in her name
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
June 3, 2026 at 8:27 AM
EXCLUSIVE
Staff at Scotland’s only exam board were so concerned about a colleague’s evidence to a parliamentary committee that they drafted an official apology to be sent in her name
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
Staff at Scotland’s only exam board were so concerned about a colleague’s evidence to a parliamentary committee that they drafted an official apology to be sent in her name
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
Reposted by James McEnaney
'To listen to some, you’d think phones are the biggest threat to children since German bombers forced mass evacuations to the countryside'
www.heraldscotland.com/opin...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/opin...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
June 5, 2026 at 3:13 PM
'To listen to some, you’d think phones are the biggest threat to children since German bombers forced mass evacuations to the countryside'
www.heraldscotland.com/opin...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/opin...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
Did one of Qualifications Scotland's top officials mislead a parliamentary committee? Staff planned to apologise over it, but then a senior figure intervened.
Full story from @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Full story from @heraldscotland.bsky.social
EXCLUSIVE
Staff at Scotland’s only exam board were so concerned about a colleague’s evidence to a parliamentary committee that they drafted an official apology to be sent in her name
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
Staff at Scotland’s only exam board were so concerned about a colleague’s evidence to a parliamentary committee that they drafted an official apology to be sent in her name
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
June 3, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Did one of Qualifications Scotland's top officials mislead a parliamentary committee? Staff planned to apologise over it, but then a senior figure intervened.
Full story from @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Full story from @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Reposted by James McEnaney
Education Specialist and former teacher @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social breaks down the issues with Scotland's school curriculum
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
June 1, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Education Specialist and former teacher @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social breaks down the issues with Scotland's school curriculum
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
Reposted by James McEnaney
EXCLUSIVE
The children's charity says that a lack of education leaves young people vulnerable to exploitation and abuse
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
The children's charity says that a lack of education leaves young people vulnerable to exploitation and abuse
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
June 1, 2026 at 7:14 AM
EXCLUSIVE
The children's charity says that a lack of education leaves young people vulnerable to exploitation and abuse
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
The children's charity says that a lack of education leaves young people vulnerable to exploitation and abuse
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
Good argument for First Past the Post though.
May 29, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Good argument for First Past the Post though.
Reposted by James McEnaney
EXCLUSIVE
A Scottish council has been criticised for failing to record specific data about pupils missing school due to problems with ferry services, The Herald can exclusively reveal
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
A Scottish council has been criticised for failing to record specific data about pupils missing school due to problems with ferry services, The Herald can exclusively reveal
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
May 28, 2026 at 11:31 AM
EXCLUSIVE
A Scottish council has been criticised for failing to record specific data about pupils missing school due to problems with ferry services, The Herald can exclusively reveal
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
A Scottish council has been criticised for failing to record specific data about pupils missing school due to problems with ferry services, The Herald can exclusively reveal
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
A *VERY* rare piece of personal writing from me, with bonus photos of excellent dogs.
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2610...
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2610...
May 25, 2026 at 8:50 AM
A *VERY* rare piece of personal writing from me, with bonus photos of excellent dogs.
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2610...
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2610...
Reposted by James McEnaney
Education writers @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social and @garrettbaylorstell.bsky.social preview the latest edition of The Herald's Education HQ, which you can read online and in print on Thursday
May 20, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Education writers @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social and @garrettbaylorstell.bsky.social preview the latest edition of The Herald's Education HQ, which you can read online and in print on Thursday
Reposted by James McEnaney
EXCLUSIVE
The Scottish Government has been accused of wasting public money on a 'cosmetic rebrand' of the country’s only exam board while schools struggle to cope with increased pressure
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
The Scottish Government has been accused of wasting public money on a 'cosmetic rebrand' of the country’s only exam board while schools struggle to cope with increased pressure
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
April 22, 2026 at 11:04 AM
EXCLUSIVE
The Scottish Government has been accused of wasting public money on a 'cosmetic rebrand' of the country’s only exam board while schools struggle to cope with increased pressure
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
The Scottish Government has been accused of wasting public money on a 'cosmetic rebrand' of the country’s only exam board while schools struggle to cope with increased pressure
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
It seems there are 2 possibilities.
1) Starmer lied.
2) Starmer is so bad at his job that he has no idea what's going on in the organisation he runs.
Either one should mean the end of the road as Prime Minister.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
1) Starmer lied.
2) Starmer is so bad at his job that he has no idea what's going on in the organisation he runs.
Either one should mean the end of the road as Prime Minister.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
No 10 knew Mandelson failed security vetting seven months ago
The Independent put revelations that Peter Mandelson had failed MI6 vetting for the US ambassador role to Downing Street in September – but a ‘furious’ Sir Keir insists he did not know until this week
www.independent.co.uk
April 19, 2026 at 11:51 AM
It seems there are 2 possibilities.
1) Starmer lied.
2) Starmer is so bad at his job that he has no idea what's going on in the organisation he runs.
Either one should mean the end of the road as Prime Minister.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
1) Starmer lied.
2) Starmer is so bad at his job that he has no idea what's going on in the organisation he runs.
Either one should mean the end of the road as Prime Minister.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
The SNP are happy enough to reference the Mull school saga in their manifesto in attempt to get votes from islanders, but guess what happened when I tried to get them to provide some clear information...
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2602...
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2602...
'It is starting to feel like the Mull School saga might never end'
In the latest edition of Lessons to Learn, The Herald education correspondent James McEnaney revisits the Mull School controversary after its…
www.heraldscotland.com
April 16, 2026 at 6:06 PM
The SNP are happy enough to reference the Mull school saga in their manifesto in attempt to get votes from islanders, but guess what happened when I tried to get them to provide some clear information...
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2602...
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2602...
Re: the 'Record your reason for calling and I'll see if this person is available' phone systems
No.
If you won't even bother to answer a phone call I'm just going to go elsewhere for a story / comment / product / service.
No.
If you won't even bother to answer a phone call I'm just going to go elsewhere for a story / comment / product / service.
April 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Re: the 'Record your reason for calling and I'll see if this person is available' phone systems
No.
If you won't even bother to answer a phone call I'm just going to go elsewhere for a story / comment / product / service.
No.
If you won't even bother to answer a phone call I'm just going to go elsewhere for a story / comment / product / service.
Nothing like an election campaign to remind you that the state of politics is absolutely dire.
April 7, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Nothing like an election campaign to remind you that the state of politics is absolutely dire.
Reposted by James McEnaney
The Scottish farm that could change how we feed the world — and save the planet
www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
April 6, 2026 at 7:18 AM
The Scottish farm that could change how we feed the world — and save the planet
www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
Reposted by James McEnaney
'We have asked the SNP these questions and received no details in response'
www.heraldscotland.com/opin...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌: 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘸/𝘗𝘈 𝘞𝘪𝘳𝘦/𝘗𝘈 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴
www.heraldscotland.com/opin...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌: 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘸/𝘗𝘈 𝘞𝘪𝘳𝘦/𝘗𝘈 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴
April 3, 2026 at 4:17 PM
'We have asked the SNP these questions and received no details in response'
www.heraldscotland.com/opin...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌: 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘸/𝘗𝘈 𝘞𝘪𝘳𝘦/𝘗𝘈 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴
www.heraldscotland.com/opin...
@jamesmcenaney.bsky.social
𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌: 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘸/𝘗𝘈 𝘞𝘪𝘳𝘦/𝘗𝘈 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴
The SNP are making BIG promises on childcare... but they don't want to answer any questions about it.
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2599...
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2599...
SNP childcare promise raises big questions – the party doesn’t want to answer them
The SNP’s £500m childcare pledge could transform Scotland, but major questions remain over funding, delivery and who will benefit.
www.heraldscotland.com
April 3, 2026 at 8:17 AM
The SNP are making BIG promises on childcare... but they don't want to answer any questions about it.
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2599...
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2599...
Reposted by James McEnaney
I have never been a supporter of Donald Trump, but if Democrats are unable to stop random liberal low-follower BlueSky accounts from talking about neocolonialism and "unhoused people", I will have no choice but to hold my nose and vote for him for the fourth time in 2028.
March 31, 2026 at 4:16 PM
I have never been a supporter of Donald Trump, but if Democrats are unable to stop random liberal low-follower BlueSky accounts from talking about neocolonialism and "unhoused people", I will have no choice but to hold my nose and vote for him for the fourth time in 2028.
A key road on one of Scotland's largest islands needs to be closed for repairs. In order to 'reduce disruption' the council has decided to delay the start of the work...until 2 days before the exams start.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2598504...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2598504...
Council to close key island road during school exams
The String Road on the Isle of Arran will be shut for three weeks, with officials choosing the start of the exam period to 'reduce disruption'.
www.heraldscotland.com
March 31, 2026 at 4:18 PM
A key road on one of Scotland's largest islands needs to be closed for repairs. In order to 'reduce disruption' the council has decided to delay the start of the work...until 2 days before the exams start.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2598504...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2598504...
The same thought just keeps coming up: would the leaders of the local council, or the folks running the Scottish Government, tolerate this if THEIR kids were the ones being shipped off to a state-run hostel during term time for up to six years?
Children living in the south of Mull are separated from their families during their time at secondary school, and the council wants this to continue even when a new school is built.
Islanders have been fighting that plan for more than a year.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2597232...
Islanders have been fighting that plan for more than a year.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2597232...
March 29, 2026 at 5:18 PM
The same thought just keeps coming up: would the leaders of the local council, or the folks running the Scottish Government, tolerate this if THEIR kids were the ones being shipped off to a state-run hostel during term time for up to six years?
The south west of Mull is absolutely wonderful but would you live there if it meant your kids had to go and live in a council-run hostel?
Seems a bit of a no brainer given other island communities have secondary schools that cover the whole island.
Spoke to an islander who grew up in Criagnure (& took the bus) his partner comes from Fionnphort, they would move back to the family farm but don’t want their kids to go to school in Oban
Spoke to an islander who grew up in Criagnure (& took the bus) his partner comes from Fionnphort, they would move back to the family farm but don’t want their kids to go to school in Oban
March 29, 2026 at 5:18 PM
The south west of Mull is absolutely wonderful but would you live there if it meant your kids had to go and live in a council-run hostel?
Children living in the south of Mull are separated from their families during their time at secondary school, and the council wants this to continue even when a new school is built.
Islanders have been fighting that plan for more than a year.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2597232...
Islanders have been fighting that plan for more than a year.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2597232...
March 29, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Children living in the south of Mull are separated from their families during their time at secondary school, and the council wants this to continue even when a new school is built.
Islanders have been fighting that plan for more than a year.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2597232...
Islanders have been fighting that plan for more than a year.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2597232...
Finding out that Linda Holt was a candidate for Reform was one of the least surprising things that had ever happened to me.
A close second is finding out she has now had to quit.
A close second is finding out she has now had to quit.
March 26, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Finding out that Linda Holt was a candidate for Reform was one of the least surprising things that had ever happened to me.
A close second is finding out she has now had to quit.
A close second is finding out she has now had to quit.
In news that will surprise nobody, the leader of Reform in Scotland is not fit for public office.
Okay the National have published it so I guess I can too!
March 25, 2026 at 12:29 PM
In news that will surprise nobody, the leader of Reform in Scotland is not fit for public office.
This is basically all good education: time, space, expertise, and care. If you've got those things in abundance you won't go far wrong.
Good HE is really simple: quality time spent with subject experts who know and care about their students. My university and many others are deliberately abandoning this truth in favour of financial and organisational efficiency.
March 25, 2026 at 12:18 PM
This is basically all good education: time, space, expertise, and care. If you've got those things in abundance you won't go far wrong.