Stuart Farmer
@stuartphysics.bsky.social
Science and Physics education stuff plus a bit of bike sport and veg. Education and Workforce Manager at Institute of Physics Scotland and Associate Fellow at University of Stirling Curriculum Centre. Comments all own.
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
More on education reform, and the important and essential part that valid, reliable and objective assessment of pupil outcomes must play. Other factors must change but unless we can measure the impact of these then it is easy to come to the wrong conclusions. stuartphysics.co.uk/2026/10/01/i...
If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it
The title of this blog is often attributed to Lord Kelvin, professor of natural philosophy (physics) at the University of Glasgow for the second half of the 19th century. As with many quotes used i…
stuartphysics.co.uk
October 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM
More on education reform, and the important and essential part that valid, reliable and objective assessment of pupil outcomes must play. Other factors must change but unless we can measure the impact of these then it is easy to come to the wrong conclusions. stuartphysics.co.uk/2026/10/01/i...
Decent potato crop and good quality despite the dry summer and no watering. Had my little helper again.
October 3, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Decent potato crop and good quality despite the dry summer and no watering. Had my little helper again.
More on education reform, and the important and essential part that valid, reliable and objective assessment of pupil outcomes must play. Other factors must change but unless we can measure the impact of these then it is easy to come to the wrong conclusions. stuartphysics.co.uk/2026/10/01/i...
If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it
The title of this blog is often attributed to Lord Kelvin, professor of natural philosophy (physics) at the University of Glasgow for the second half of the 19th century. As with many quotes used i…
stuartphysics.co.uk
October 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM
More on education reform, and the important and essential part that valid, reliable and objective assessment of pupil outcomes must play. Other factors must change but unless we can measure the impact of these then it is easy to come to the wrong conclusions. stuartphysics.co.uk/2026/10/01/i...
Another excellent post by @ensermark.bsky.social on the also excellent Curriculum Reform Handbook from Learning First’s Ben Jensen and @heatherbellaf.bsky.social. Good advice for curriculum-makers at all levels from classrooms to government agencies.
*** NEW POST ***
Refections on Learning First's new Curriculum Reform Handbook - lots to take away whatever your role in curriculum development and this first post just scratches the surface. Great work from Ben Jensen and Heather Fearn.
enserm.substack.com/p/getting-cu...
Refections on Learning First's new Curriculum Reform Handbook - lots to take away whatever your role in curriculum development and this first post just scratches the surface. Great work from Ben Jensen and Heather Fearn.
enserm.substack.com/p/getting-cu...
Getting curriculum right
Five lessons from Learning First’s Curriculum Handbook
enserm.substack.com
September 30, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Another excellent post by @ensermark.bsky.social on the also excellent Curriculum Reform Handbook from Learning First’s Ben Jensen and @heatherbellaf.bsky.social. Good advice for curriculum-makers at all levels from classrooms to government agencies.
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
I haven't blogged in years, but prompted by an email @qualifications.gov.scot I've dusted off some old ideas...
drewburrett.substack.com/p/revisiting...
Please feel free to comment and share.
drewburrett.substack.com/p/revisiting...
Please feel free to comment and share.
Revisiting Assessment & Certification
(and tentatively returning to sharing my thoughts)
drewburrett.substack.com
September 20, 2026 at 4:23 PM
I haven't blogged in years, but prompted by an email @qualifications.gov.scot I've dusted off some old ideas...
drewburrett.substack.com/p/revisiting...
Please feel free to comment and share.
drewburrett.substack.com/p/revisiting...
Please feel free to comment and share.
It was great to welcome 100 science educators to @enuteachered.bsky.social yesterday for a great day of high quality subject-specific professional learning. Thanks to all the speakers, exhibitors, IOPS Coaches, ASE Scotland committee members and the Education Academy Scotland who made it possible.
September 20, 2026 at 3:15 PM
It was great to welcome 100 science educators to @enuteachered.bsky.social yesterday for a great day of high quality subject-specific professional learning. Thanks to all the speakers, exhibitors, IOPS Coaches, ASE Scotland committee members and the Education Academy Scotland who made it possible.
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
Power Up Your Curriculum is published this week!
Here’s what @daisychristo.bsky.social has to say about it👇
Pre-order here: amzn.eu/d/0gLrLxqv
Here’s what @daisychristo.bsky.social has to say about it👇
Pre-order here: amzn.eu/d/0gLrLxqv
September 20, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Power Up Your Curriculum is published this week!
Here’s what @daisychristo.bsky.social has to say about it👇
Pre-order here: amzn.eu/d/0gLrLxqv
Here’s what @daisychristo.bsky.social has to say about it👇
Pre-order here: amzn.eu/d/0gLrLxqv
Really pleased to see this report published. Without sufficient physics teachers to teach physics knowledge and skills to young people we will find it difficult in the future to thrive as a nation and society or to have well rounded, educated citizens.
Scotland recruited just 28 trainee physics teachers this year against a target of 131. Without action, shortages will continue to impact pupils, schools & future workforce. @iopscotland.bsky.social's new report calls for a 10-year plan focused on Retention, Recruitment & Retraining: bit.ly/4h3M2K0
Retaining, Recruiting, and Retraining Physics Teachers for Scotland’s Future
Read our report to see how the Scottish Government can get physics teaching in Scotland on a more sustainable footing.
bit.ly
September 16, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Really pleased to see this report published. Without sufficient physics teachers to teach physics knowledge and skills to young people we will find it difficult in the future to thrive as a nation and society or to have well rounded, educated citizens.
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
Join us on Thursday 17 Sept (4-6pm) for our first SCC webinar of the new academic year. David Gregory and Stuart Farmer will present 'Curriculum-making in the meso-level: lessons from a local authority'. Sign up at www.tickettailor.com/events/facul...
Select tickets – Curriculum-making in the meso-level: lessons from a local authority – MS Teams
Curriculum-making in the meso-level: lessons from a local authority – MS Teams, Thu 17 Sep 2026 - This webinar examines how two Associate Fellows of the Stirling Centre for Research into Curriculum Ma...
www.tickettailor.com
September 14, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Join us on Thursday 17 Sept (4-6pm) for our first SCC webinar of the new academic year. David Gregory and Stuart Farmer will present 'Curriculum-making in the meso-level: lessons from a local authority'. Sign up at www.tickettailor.com/events/facul...
A significant issue in curriculum making identified by @ensermark.bsky.social “A curriculum can print “key concepts” at the top of every unit and still not have settled what one is, let alone what to do with it.” enserm.substack.com/p/concepts-i...
Concepts in the Geography Curriculum
Part 1: What Do We Mean by a Geographical Concept?
enserm.substack.com
September 10, 2026 at 7:30 AM
A significant issue in curriculum making identified by @ensermark.bsky.social “A curriculum can print “key concepts” at the top of every unit and still not have settled what one is, let alone what to do with it.” enserm.substack.com/p/concepts-i...
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
One issue that must be considered in amongst Scotland’s PISA results today is that it is one of very few objective measures of our system.
Objective measures have been systematically dismantled over the years, leaving us reliant on these studies that come every few years
Objective measures have been systematically dismantled over the years, leaving us reliant on these studies that come every few years
September 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM
One issue that must be considered in amongst Scotland’s PISA results today is that it is one of very few objective measures of our system.
Objective measures have been systematically dismantled over the years, leaving us reliant on these studies that come every few years
Objective measures have been systematically dismantled over the years, leaving us reliant on these studies that come every few years
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
The 6th and final blog in my recent series on curriculum development and instructional design is at stuartphysics.co.uk The series ended up being a bit longer than I envisaged when I started but I hope the background and more practical examples are of interest and use to some. #TheoryIntoPractice
Stuart Physics
Education and Physics Stuff
stuartphysics.co.uk
September 2, 2026 at 4:05 PM
The 6th and final blog in my recent series on curriculum development and instructional design is at stuartphysics.co.uk The series ended up being a bit longer than I envisaged when I started but I hope the background and more practical examples are of interest and use to some. #TheoryIntoPractice
"We meet the child where they are, but we refuse to leave them there." "Attainment describes a present state; it does not reveal a future limit. Confusing the two is one of the most damaging mistakes an education system can make." Another thoughtful blog from @markmccourt.bsky.social
September 6, 2026 at 3:54 PM
"We meet the child where they are, but we refuse to leave them there." "Attainment describes a present state; it does not reveal a future limit. Confusing the two is one of the most damaging mistakes an education system can make." Another thoughtful blog from @markmccourt.bsky.social
As expected, the latest report from @profcoe.bsky.social and @profkime.bsky.social at @evidencebased.education is a good read. See evidencebased.education/professional.... Improvement in student learning needs improvement in classroom interactions which needs us to build teacher expertise.
Professional Learning Revolution
Support the Professional Learning Revolution. Help make professional learning protected, evidence-informed and taken seriously.
evidencebased.education
September 5, 2026 at 7:58 PM
As expected, the latest report from @profcoe.bsky.social and @profkime.bsky.social at @evidencebased.education is a good read. See evidencebased.education/professional.... Improvement in student learning needs improvement in classroom interactions which needs us to build teacher expertise.
Another excellent blog from @ensermark.bsky.social. In the last few days he has considered curriculum making and curriculum reform in England which overlaps with many issues I have written about with regard to reforms in Scotland at stuartphysics.co.uk. Different starting points, same destination?
September 4, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Another excellent blog from @ensermark.bsky.social. In the last few days he has considered curriculum making and curriculum reform in England which overlaps with many issues I have written about with regard to reforms in Scotland at stuartphysics.co.uk. Different starting points, same destination?
The 6th and final blog in my recent series on curriculum development and instructional design is at stuartphysics.co.uk The series ended up being a bit longer than I envisaged when I started but I hope the background and more practical examples are of interest and use to some. #TheoryIntoPractice
Stuart Physics
Education and Physics Stuff
stuartphysics.co.uk
September 2, 2026 at 4:05 PM
The 6th and final blog in my recent series on curriculum development and instructional design is at stuartphysics.co.uk The series ended up being a bit longer than I envisaged when I started but I hope the background and more practical examples are of interest and use to some. #TheoryIntoPractice
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
People are starting to write the obituary for England's "knowledge-rich" era.
Before we bury it, I wanted to check something - was it ever really alive?
enserm.substack.com/p/the-knowle...
Before we bury it, I wanted to check something - was it ever really alive?
enserm.substack.com/p/the-knowle...
The knowledge-rich revolution that never was
Part 1: Before we write the obituary, it’s worth checking the patient was ever alive.
enserm.substack.com
September 1, 2026 at 2:41 PM
People are starting to write the obituary for England's "knowledge-rich" era.
Before we bury it, I wanted to check something - was it ever really alive?
enserm.substack.com/p/the-knowle...
Before we bury it, I wanted to check something - was it ever really alive?
enserm.substack.com/p/the-knowle...
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
Number crunching 🏴
ITE Maths teachers target: 250
Actual number recruited: 73, the worst in years
Maths vacancies right now, weeks into the school year: 16
What’s the plan?
ITE Maths teachers target: 250
Actual number recruited: 73, the worst in years
Maths vacancies right now, weeks into the school year: 16
What’s the plan?
August 27, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Number crunching 🏴
ITE Maths teachers target: 250
Actual number recruited: 73, the worst in years
Maths vacancies right now, weeks into the school year: 16
What’s the plan?
ITE Maths teachers target: 250
Actual number recruited: 73, the worst in years
Maths vacancies right now, weeks into the school year: 16
What’s the plan?
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
From NASA:
It happened again! Here's Phobos passing in front of the Sun as seen by the Perseverance rover from the surface of Mars on Aug. 12. science.nasa.gov/photojournal...
It happened again! Here's Phobos passing in front of the Sun as seen by the Perseverance rover from the surface of Mars on Aug. 12. science.nasa.gov/photojournal...
August 24, 2026 at 7:32 PM
From NASA:
It happened again! Here's Phobos passing in front of the Sun as seen by the Perseverance rover from the surface of Mars on Aug. 12. science.nasa.gov/photojournal...
It happened again! Here's Phobos passing in front of the Sun as seen by the Perseverance rover from the surface of Mars on Aug. 12. science.nasa.gov/photojournal...
Very much looking forward to reading @profkime.bsky.social and @profcoe.bsky.social have to say in this new paper. I definitely agree that many teachers have never experienced good professional learning.
We Need a Revolution in Professional Learning.
In this short preview, @profcoe.bsky.social and @profkime.bsky.social explore why that matters, what the revolution could look like, and how schools, colleges and educators can get involved.
The paper will be published on 5 September 2026. Stay tuned
In this short preview, @profcoe.bsky.social and @profkime.bsky.social explore why that matters, what the revolution could look like, and how schools, colleges and educators can get involved.
The paper will be published on 5 September 2026. Stay tuned
August 24, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Very much looking forward to reading @profkime.bsky.social and @profcoe.bsky.social have to say in this new paper. I definitely agree that many teachers have never experienced good professional learning.
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
We Need a Revolution in Professional Learning.
In this short preview, @profcoe.bsky.social and @profkime.bsky.social explore why that matters, what the revolution could look like, and how schools, colleges and educators can get involved.
The paper will be published on 5 September 2026. Stay tuned
In this short preview, @profcoe.bsky.social and @profkime.bsky.social explore why that matters, what the revolution could look like, and how schools, colleges and educators can get involved.
The paper will be published on 5 September 2026. Stay tuned
August 24, 2026 at 9:23 AM
We Need a Revolution in Professional Learning.
In this short preview, @profcoe.bsky.social and @profkime.bsky.social explore why that matters, what the revolution could look like, and how schools, colleges and educators can get involved.
The paper will be published on 5 September 2026. Stay tuned
In this short preview, @profcoe.bsky.social and @profkime.bsky.social explore why that matters, what the revolution could look like, and how schools, colleges and educators can get involved.
The paper will be published on 5 September 2026. Stay tuned
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
Why?
To avoid the shambolic "one night ahead" CFE approach. Gives time to assess, hone and plan.
BTW... We haven't even looked at assessment and homework.
To avoid the shambolic "one night ahead" CFE approach. Gives time to assess, hone and plan.
BTW... We haven't even looked at assessment and homework.
August 21, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Why?
To avoid the shambolic "one night ahead" CFE approach. Gives time to assess, hone and plan.
BTW... We haven't even looked at assessment and homework.
To avoid the shambolic "one night ahead" CFE approach. Gives time to assess, hone and plan.
BTW... We haven't even looked at assessment and homework.
For various reasons @mrdissent.bsky.social, I thought I would use some of my time over the last few weeks to put some of my experience and thinking on curriculum making in the sciences down in writing. I hope that some in Scotland might find it interesting and useful in the coming months and years.
Outstanding Stuart.
Especially the comment that teachers should not be left to develop courses alone. (Did you mean unsupported)
Especially the comment that teachers should not be left to develop courses alone. (Did you mean unsupported)
August 21, 2026 at 3:53 PM
For various reasons @mrdissent.bsky.social, I thought I would use some of my time over the last few weeks to put some of my experience and thinking on curriculum making in the sciences down in writing. I hope that some in Scotland might find it interesting and useful in the coming months and years.
Reposted by Stuart Farmer
Outstanding Stuart.
Especially the comment that teachers should not be left to develop courses alone. (Did you mean unsupported)
Especially the comment that teachers should not be left to develop courses alone. (Did you mean unsupported)
August 21, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Outstanding Stuart.
Especially the comment that teachers should not be left to develop courses alone. (Did you mean unsupported)
Especially the comment that teachers should not be left to develop courses alone. (Did you mean unsupported)
In the 4th blog in the series I look at the purpose and detailed content of a curriculum strand on the properties of matter stuartphysics.co.uk/2026/08/20/s... @colinmcgill.bsky.social @drewburrett.bsky.social @mrdissent.bsky.social @andrewkbailey13.bsky.social @brucenextlevel.bsky.social
Some thoughts on curriculum development and instructional design: Part 4 – Matter matters!
In this blog I would like to consider the purpose and content of a properties of matter strand in a science curriculum. It follows on from the previous blogs in the series where I set out some theo…
stuartphysics.co.uk
August 21, 2026 at 8:04 AM
In the 4th blog in the series I look at the purpose and detailed content of a curriculum strand on the properties of matter stuartphysics.co.uk/2026/08/20/s... @colinmcgill.bsky.social @drewburrett.bsky.social @mrdissent.bsky.social @andrewkbailey13.bsky.social @brucenextlevel.bsky.social