Emma Knights

This is an important article - getting to the crux of one of the big issues

Oil giants record $467bn in profits since Russia's invasion of Ukraine Shell, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and TotalEnergies saw collective profits jump by 125 per cent following Russia's invasion, according to a new investigation from Global Witness

As calls grow for oil and gas companies to be spared windfall taxes, a timely report from Global Witness provides a reminder that just five listed energy giants have recorded profits of nearly half a trillion dollars in the four years since Russia's invasion. www.businessgreen.com/news/4526031...

Schools white paper: The key schools and academies policies Fair banding transparency, a crackdown on off-rolling and calls for all schools to be in trusts

📝 A crackdown on off-rolling pupils, a call for standalone schools to join or form MATs and changes to the admissions code are among major plans unveiled in today's schools white paper

Read more for all the key proposals 🔽
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-white-paper-the-key-schools-policies/

Interesting for us governance geeks. Think there's more info & guidance in the state sector than Philip had as an independent school head, & also for chairs eg www.nga.org.uk/knowledge-ce...
Hope the Handbook is one of Philip's references!
@belmasoffice.bsky.social

The CABx nationally analyse the issues raised locally & come up with powerful trends & recommendations. MPs' cases should be analysed in the same way. That would inform the rest of their role @aliceolilly.bsky.social

I don’t know who needs to hear Jesse Jackson leading the kids on Sesame Street in this beautiful call-and-response reminding them that every child is somebody, but here it is

I heard Jesse Jackson speak in the 70's when I was a teenager in Bermuda - unforgettable. As well as the message of Black power, he was also on a mission that day against drugs. Inspiring young people to education & better things. He certainly was somebody. RIP

Interesting - hoping the @resolutionfoundation.org book also digs more explicitly into poverty and inequality

The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable? The Netherlands has the lowest working hours in Europe, but some say it is harming its economy.

Interesting. The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable? - BBC News share.google/nAFjNBCx7wHK... Their productivity is good too

Important discussion for a host of reasons. But once again the workload for governors & trustees is ignored. Why? @tesmagazine.bsky.social

This report made the increased ressure on these crucial volunteers v clear:
www.nga.org.uk/knowledge-ce...

Once again illustrates the need for an executive pay framework @jabedahmed.bsky.social Must be about a decade ago DfE began working on one when they were told it wasn't necessary. Boards know it is

P.S. £ per pupil isn't a useful figure once a certain size is reached

Streeting calls for 'national debate' on student loan system in wake of graduate fury | LBC The Health Secretary said a serious discussion is needed about the current student loan repayment system.

A couple of years ago I asked STRB (School Teachers Review Body) to propose that educators have their graduate loans written of during their first 5 years in public service. It wasn't formally in their remit, but it should be now
www.lbc.co.uk/article/stre...

Three lessons to give schools great governance Experience shows that governors can provide powerful insights into the wider community

This is a great example @schoolsweek.bsky.social of improving the parent-school relationship without needing top down regulation schoolsweek.co.uk/three-lesson...

True, but the situation can't be changed by regulation & frameworks alone. A change of culture requires more: taking note of parental voice as well & ensuring legitimacy in governance as perceived by parents. Do they have a stake in the school? Parents are not passive consumers

Why MAT leaders should welcome inspections Given that academy trusts are responsible for school improvement, it is right that they are held accountable for the systems and cultures they create, says this MAT chief executive

‘Done well, inspection is not a threat to strong trusts, but an affirmation of the role they play in shaping opportunity for every child,’ writes the CEO of Active Learning Trust

A brave decision: how many leaders will follow Becks' lead? Few while there's still talk of growth, growth, growth

Intentional design is definitely the way to go, but the intentions for the system are still not clear. What exactly is being designed? The steward that is the SoS must share a vision

‘Oh my gosh, they’re all from London and Cambridge’: York University’s northerners fight back Lucy Morville, from Burnley, thought most students would be from the north and felt ‘culture shock’ surrounded by southerners

www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Great to have Northern Societies @hannahalothman.bsky.social
And prob also needed for the West Midlands. My daughter had to keep defending Birmingham at university - lots of prejudice & ignorance masquerading as Southern humour

This year has been brutal for the #climate movement.

Rollbacks, repression, & outright denial, especially in the US, have made progress feel fragile & uneven.

Which is exactly why it matters to pause & look back at what did move forward in 2025.

Here are 12 real wins 🏆, one for each month 🧵⬇️

The Guardian view on hard times for Britain’s charities: struggling to do more with less | Editorial Editorial: Over the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today, the challenges facing the voluntary sector as it attempts to cope with an ongoing funding ...

Sadly, very true @theguardian.com @ncvo.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Amol Rajan - Hay Festival As a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s <em>Today</em> programme, <strong>Amol Rajan</strong> makes a living out of the way he speaks. In an exclusive session for Hay Festival, Rajan kicks off a campaign to g...

I love @hayfestival.bsky.social & been going for years. But tickets prices have really gone up the last few years - eg. this on oracy is £20! You can't be paying Amol - he's an overpaid public servant

Are you involved @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social?
www.hayfestival.com/p-24836-amol...

Greenwashing, illegality and false claims: 13 climate litigation wins in 2025 Legal action has brought important decisions, from the scrapping of fossil fuel plants to revised climate plans

Fascinating & bringing a little bit of hope. Green washing by big companies & new fossil fuel projects being held to account by citizen campaigners & courts all over the world @isabellakaminski.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Yes James was also one of my 2025 faves. But my number 1 novel this year was Elif Shafak's There are rivers in the sky. Incredible

You've inspired me to read Trustee from the Toolroom: not read a Nevil Shute since I was a teenager!

2nd largest to charity trustees... but even so. And don't know how many charity trustees were honoured

Congratulations to everyone recognised, especially the volunteers. But 3 governors/trustees is the lowest for a long time. The target used to be 10 per list. Please do get nominating
#NewYearHonours

Lovely to see this as I gave my sister-in-law Shy Creatures for Christmas even though I haven't had a chance to read it yet & my husband gave her the Vermeer
#skybooks

"Carol of the Bells" / "Shchedryk" - Marsh Family adaptation of Ukrainian New Year song for 2026 YouTube video by Marsh Family

Our 2025 version of "Carol of the Bells" - originally a Ukrainian New Year celebration song "Shchedryk" - music 1st written by Mykola Leontovych in Pokrovsk (now under Russian occupation). The composer would be murdered by a Soviet agent in 1921.
#SlavaUkraïni
#dontabandonthem

youtu.be/vvMLtJ-Wyfs

Post a book you love from the 80s. No explanations, no reviews, just covers
#BookSky #bookchallenge
Barbara Kingsolver's first novel: The Bean Trees (tho I didn't read it til the 90's)

Cover of There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

#Skybook #bookchallenge
I've been useless at posting book recommendations but There are Rivers in the Sky is my absolute 2025 favourite novel by the inspirational Elif Shafak. It's moving, challenging, clever, beautiful & covering a span of place & time. Savour it

Excellent moving column from @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social
Just what's needed in these challenging times

My favourite novel of 2025 - don't think I'll better it in the last fortnight