I wasn't going to do one of these reviews of my work for 2019 because, to be honest, I've had a rough few months didn't really feel like I'd done much this year.
But I've just had a look through my publications and it's better than I thought, so here goes...
But I've just had a look through my publications and it's better than I thought, so here goes...
25/1 - @ScotNational
For my first piece of the year I wrote about why a campaign to restart the ferry from Scotland to Belgium would be such a good idea, particularly in the face of Brexit
thenational.scot/news/17383521.…
For my first piece of the year I wrote about why a campaign to restart the ferry from Scotland to Belgium would be such a good idea, particularly in the face of Brexit
thenational.scot/news/17383521.…
19/2 - @FerretScot
Using FOI, I discovered that ScotGov had sought and received advice confirming it could stop a nuclear waste shipment campaigners argued would end up on Aboriginal land in Australia
theferret.scot/scottish-gover…
Using FOI, I discovered that ScotGov had sought and received advice confirming it could stop a nuclear waste shipment campaigners argued would end up on Aboriginal land in Australia
theferret.scot/scottish-gover…
8/3 - @FerretScot
I reported on concerns about the impact of Brexit on Scottish education, including worries over data issues and teacher shortages
theferret.scot/no-deal-brexit…
I reported on concerns about the impact of Brexit on Scottish education, including worries over data issues and teacher shortages
theferret.scot/no-deal-brexit…
14/3 - @FerretScot (follow up of 19/2)
Discovered that Sturgeon refused to meet an Aboriginal anti-nuclear campaigner to avoid political damage - not because she was too busy, as she claimed - after officials made a mess of redacting the documents
theferret.scot/sturgeon-nucle…
Discovered that Sturgeon refused to meet an Aboriginal anti-nuclear campaigner to avoid political damage - not because she was too busy, as she claimed - after officials made a mess of redacting the documents
theferret.scot/sturgeon-nucle…
17/3 - @heraldscotland
A wee bit of analysis for the Herald showing the reality of the SNP's much-vaunted Pupil Equity Funding (including a consultant raking in a grand a day with expenses on top)
heraldscotland.com/news/17502170.…
A wee bit of analysis for the Herald showing the reality of the SNP's much-vaunted Pupil Equity Funding (including a consultant raking in a grand a day with expenses on top)
heraldscotland.com/news/17502170.…
22/4 - @guardian
Having left Arran in 2014, I went back with @severincarrell to report on the housing crisis, uncovering the huge proportion of empty, holiday and 2nd homes threatening the island
theguardian.com/society/2019/a…
Having left Arran in 2014, I went back with @severincarrell to report on the housing crisis, uncovering the huge proportion of empty, holiday and 2nd homes threatening the island
theguardian.com/society/2019/a…
22/4 - @guardian
We also spoke to people facing the effects of the housing crisis and put their experiences together in this piece
theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/a…
We also spoke to people facing the effects of the housing crisis and put their experiences together in this piece
theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/a…
26/4 - @TesScotland
A short opinion piece backing the Scottish Government's decision to end the tax relief that private schools get as a result of their (ridiculous) charitable status
tes.com/news/its-only-…
A short opinion piece backing the Scottish Government's decision to end the tax relief that private schools get as a result of their (ridiculous) charitable status
tes.com/news/its-only-…
8/5 - @FerretScot
Highlighted the ongoing crisis with Computing teaching in Scotland - with both teacher and students numbers causing concern and experts demanding major changes
theferret.scot/computing-scie…
Highlighted the ongoing crisis with Computing teaching in Scotland - with both teacher and students numbers causing concern and experts demanding major changes
theferret.scot/computing-scie…
19/5 - @FerretScot & @SunScotNational
Revealed the near-total lack of progress in tackling gender gaps in a range of subjects in Scottish secondary schools
theferret.scot/scotland-gende…
Revealed the near-total lack of progress in tackling gender gaps in a range of subjects in Scottish secondary schools
theferret.scot/scotland-gende…
29/5 - @TesScotland
One for the teachers, calling for changes to improve the landscape of Continuing Professional Development
tes.com/news/weve-all-…
One for the teachers, calling for changes to improve the landscape of Continuing Professional Development
tes.com/news/weve-all-…
16/6 - @FerretScot & @SunScotNational
This story shows extremely poor rates of progression from National 4 to National 5 qualifications in Scottish schools, an issue that has received very little attention despite the concerns of teachers.
theferret.scot/qualifications…
This story shows extremely poor rates of progression from National 4 to National 5 qualifications in Scottish schools, an issue that has received very little attention despite the concerns of teachers.
theferret.scot/qualifications…
28/6 - @TesScotland
Wrote this as anti-trans rhetoric continued to increase, arguing that we need to protect our kids from those trying to weaponise them just as homophobic campaigners did in the past over section 28.
tes.com/news/shield-ch…
Wrote this as anti-trans rhetoric continued to increase, arguing that we need to protect our kids from those trying to weaponise them just as homophobic campaigners did in the past over section 28.
tes.com/news/shield-ch…
9/7 - @FerretScot
Work on the earlier Arran story encouraged me to look into this - I found the government miles off meeting targets for rural and island house-building
theferret.scot/rural-housing-…
Work on the earlier Arran story encouraged me to look into this - I found the government miles off meeting targets for rural and island house-building
theferret.scot/rural-housing-…
14/8 - @TesScotland
Some idea for tackling teacher shortages in rural schools, an issue close to my heart after teaching on the Isle of Arran in the first part of the last decade
tes.com/news/five-ways…
Some idea for tackling teacher shortages in rural schools, an issue close to my heart after teaching on the Isle of Arran in the first part of the last decade
tes.com/news/five-ways…
23/9 - @thetimesscot
Although John Swinney publicly dismissed worries about 2019 exam results, I discovered that concerns had been raised by his own staff
thetimes.co.uk/article/john-s…
Although John Swinney publicly dismissed worries about 2019 exam results, I discovered that concerns had been raised by his own staff
thetimes.co.uk/article/john-s…
9/10 - @FerretScot
Amidst much political hot air, this piece showed the reality of multi-level teaching, where several different qualification levels are delivered at once by a single teacher, finding a possible link to deprivation levels
theferret.scot/multi-level-te…
Amidst much political hot air, this piece showed the reality of multi-level teaching, where several different qualification levels are delivered at once by a single teacher, finding a possible link to deprivation levels
theferret.scot/multi-level-te…
21/10 - @FerretScot
More FOI work uncovered schools in Scotland charging between £5 and £125 for students in practical subjects like Home Economics and Art. Parents group called the situation 'unacceptable'.
theferret.scot/charges-school…
More FOI work uncovered schools in Scotland charging between £5 and £125 for students in practical subjects like Home Economics and Art. Parents group called the situation 'unacceptable'.
theferret.scot/charges-school…
28/10 - @openDemocracy
Went on holiday to Girona and ended up in the middle of major protests over the treatment of Catalan pro-independence leaders. One of those things that insists on being written and certainly my favourite piece of the year.
opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-…
Went on holiday to Girona and ended up in the middle of major protests over the treatment of Catalan pro-independence leaders. One of those things that insists on being written and certainly my favourite piece of the year.
opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-…
6/12 - @FerretScot
Here I revealed that parents are facing huge bills and a postcode lottery when trying to exercise their right to delay their children's entry into primary school
theferret.scot/nursery-bills-…
Here I revealed that parents are facing huge bills and a postcode lottery when trying to exercise their right to delay their children's entry into primary school
theferret.scot/nursery-bills-…
5/12 - @FerretScot
Reported on research by @BarryBlackNE which showed that pupils in Scotland's most deprived areas attempt fewer quals than richer peers, leaving them being further disadvantaged
theferret.scot/schools-subjec…
Reported on research by @BarryBlackNE which showed that pupils in Scotland's most deprived areas attempt fewer quals than richer peers, leaving them being further disadvantaged
theferret.scot/schools-subjec…
30/12 - @thetimesscot (follow up 23/9)
Ended 2019 with my first Times front page showing that Swinney did indeed commission an investigation in 2019 exam results, even while insisting there was no issue.
thetimes.co.uk/article/swinne…
Ended 2019 with my first Times front page showing that Swinney did indeed commission an investigation in 2019 exam results, even while insisting there was no issue.
thetimes.co.uk/article/swinne…
So not a bad year all things considered, I guess. There wee bit of telly and radio in there too. No book this year but news to come on that front for 2020!
So Happy New Year. May your cup be always full and your enemies forever vanquished.
@threadreaderapp unroll please
