Janet Maria Gordon

Something's about to happen. It could be urgent and ugly or slow and sad. I'm not sure which way to look, but I can't look away, although I probably should

I love this image. Aren't there unpredictable periods when the snow settles, but blizzard could begin once again with a careless shake of the globe? Sometimes life feels like that!

Made these last night - delicious!

I have a file called "Quotes to cheer us up" where I try to save what our students have said about the change we've made to them/their work. I find lovely mentions from our colleague-students on LinkedIn a little squirmy still, but I am grateful #LTHEChat

How interesting, though, thinking about this. Is it too late for tea and a biscuit? #LTHEChat

Also, if those are for someone leading/facilitating, encourage students to do the middle two too.

Refer to online contributions (Discussion Board, Padlet etc) when you all come together, online or in person
#LTHEChat

Can I guess that the answer is Yes? Thanks for sharing #LTHEChat

A4 Hmm... Maybe, yes... It needn't be, in fact it shouldn't be. It should surely just be about being human (and humane) #LTHEChat

A3 All those unnecessarily complicated administrative processes that really treat students like a number #LTHEChat

I like this, although I fear it can still be fragile, so multiple and ongoing opportunities to feel connection, to feel relevant and relevance are important #LTHEchat

Agreed, especially if you can do this within class time rather than it being an extracurricular option that only some can take part in #LTHEChat

A1 To be fair, I think I see it framed as something we (staff) need to nurture and support, rather than it being the students' responsibility to feel or develop, but if that's not how it is elsewhere, colleagues could collaborate across a course and think together about what works #LTHEChat

Expecting this to be even better the second night #veganstew #vegansky

I hope we're going to take a break for at least some of it and do something we enjoy with people we like being with, or on our own if that's what helps us relax and recharge. #UKEdGovs

What might help? A buddy/mentor for newer governors to discuss what might be good questions ahead of a meeting; induction training, general and specific to the school; the option of questions in advance; modelling and acknowledging good questions during a meeting. Any other suggestions? 2/2

I really support encouraging governors to ask questions, especially when it prompts us to question our assumptions. However, contrary to what's often said, I do think there are silly questions: when someone has not read the papers or has not been listening. 1/2

#UKGovsRead - this report from Leeds Beckett Uni will be the first subject for our summer slow read & chat - probs starting at weekend. Some interesting resources on their webpage too
#UKEdGovs Look out for hashtag read along & join in
'Importance of values for governance' Leeds Beckett University

Always hoping for the very best for the young people and their future, for the staff, for the community. We have to work together ("something to do") to make some of our collective hopes possible

When it's working well, the Vice Chair and Chair are a team, playing to each other's strengths and learning together. This involves delegation, trust, reflection, succession planning and more

Thinking about several schools, as gov and clerk, there are non-negotiables: induction and safeguarding, then it becomes looser, depending on the role(s) a governor takes and their prior experience. Some are proactive, some wait to be told, then nudged, then reminded again...

How time-consuming is this for you and do governors come prepared (and then do what you agree)?

How disappointing and unnecessary. Their loss? #LTHEChat

Then a strong intro / summary in the paperwork, annotation and/or careful selection of docs and clear presentation in a meeting, where govs know why we're looking at X now. We're not always going to get it right, but it's an ongoing effort so that governance can happen 2/2

I'm not sure we can ensure, as governors come with different prior knowledge and experience, but ongoing conversations with leaders and governors about what is useful without creating much additional workload helps. 1/2

I don't think they do. Procedural training is useful, but more on dealing with people and complex issues all at once and at speed would be good. Also support afterwards

I wonder, could the students take turns with that?

#LTHEChat 335 Rethinking Research Culture in Higher Education Join us on Bluesky on Wednesday 25th June 2025 at 2000 BST Led by Dr Maisha Islam, Research Culture Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Southampton’s Doctoral College, @…

#LoveLD - love #LTHEchat - and this week's is another doozy: lthechat.com/2025/06/20/l... Weds - 8-9 in Blue Sky - follow the hashtag - answer the questions - and comment on the other answers. It's warm, it's friendly & you can even laugh out loud!

Interesting. What would that look like, @drntasler.bsky.social? Is there something in particular you've noticed that needs a tweak? #LTHEChat

I haven't come across any alternatives yet, but re-reading about Reconnect, might it be too US and classroom-focused? #ukgovsread

Yes, I'm in! Of these, I'd go for Reconnect, but all could be interesting. Thanks #ukgovsread