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Michael Merrick

@michaelmerrick

Northern. Catholic. Father of 7. All views my own. AMDG Mostly on twitter: @michael_merrick - website: michaelmerrick.co.uk

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11.08.2025
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Latest posts by Michael Merrick @michaelmerrick

If you're an educationalist and you're angry with Labour on SEND reforms, you have to recognise that this government is probably the most ideologically-aligned you're ever going to get and they're still disappointing you. Suggests the problem is not the politics

19.02.2026 22:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I note Andrew is still 8th in line to the throne, having never done anything so bad as become a Catholic.

19.02.2026 16:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Pleased with how this one has done - although most of the traffic has been from the, err, *cough*, other place

18.02.2026 18:06 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Losing Faith in Education I do like a paradox – they’re useful little things. They can convey a great truth whilst appearing to demonstrate foolishness on the part of the one uttering it. This probably speaks to…

We have AI coming squarely for the knowledge economy and service sectors, that very space our school system is primarily set up to support, and our politicians' main preoccupations are breakfast clubs and phone bans. We need better. michaelmerrick.co.uk/2026/02/17/l...

17.02.2026 22:50 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Losing Faith in Education I do like a paradox – they’re useful little things. They can convey a great truth whilst appearing to demonstrate foolishness on the part of the one uttering it. This probably speaks to…

We have AI coming squarely for the knowledge economy and service sectors, that very space our school system is primarily set up to support, and our politicians' main preoccupations are breakfast clubs and phone bans. We need better. michaelmerrick.co.uk/2026/02/17/l...

17.02.2026 22:50 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Losing Faith in Education I do like a paradox – they’re useful little things. They can convey a great truth whilst appearing to demonstrate foolishness on the part of the one uttering it. This probably speaks to…

New post - on the paradox of a society that talks so much about education, whilst appearing to care so little. michaelmerrick.co.uk/2026/02/17/l...

17.02.2026 20:15 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Losing Faith in Education I do like a paradox – they’re useful little things. They can convey a great truth whilst appearing to demonstrate foolishness on the part of the one uttering it. This probably speaks to…

NEW POST: Losing Faith in Education - michaelmerrick.co.uk/2026/02/17/l...

17.02.2026 11:16 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
Losing Faith in Education I do like a paradox – they’re useful little things. They can convey a great truth whilst appearing to demonstrate foolishness on the part of the one uttering it. This probably speaks to…

NEW POST: Losing Faith in Education - michaelmerrick.co.uk/2026/02/17/l...

17.02.2026 11:16 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 3
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Between 1900 and 1970, around 2000 country houses were lost - for a bunch of reasons, but death taxes was right up there. Just an unimaginable loss of heritage. Here, Crofton Hall just outside Carlisle, home to the Brisco family for 500yrs, demolished 1955

15.02.2026 22:24 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Print featuring the silhouette of a bare hedgerow under a purple sky filled with birds flying in group formation

Print featuring the silhouette of a bare hedgerow under a purple sky filled with birds flying in group formation

'Storm light' by UK contemporary printmaker Mikki Bowers #WomensArt

15.02.2026 17:43 πŸ‘ 938 πŸ” 170 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 4

😊

14.02.2026 08:35 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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From Rates to Ruin - Policy Exchange Download Publication Online Reader This paper warns of the looming crisis of local authority SEND spending in England. In just 6 years, local authority spending on SEND provision has increased 58.5% i...

'In just 6 years, local authority spending on SEND provision has increased 58.5% in real terms – equivalent to over Β£5 billion in additional spending.' - Policy Exchange.

Some eye-watering stats in this - read the report here: policyexchange.org.uk/publication/...

12.02.2026 20:39 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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It's a dereliction of duty. Headteachers, parents and children deserve better than this

12.02.2026 20:05 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

ok

12.02.2026 19:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

1) for goodness sake 2) as we have learned already, the caveat to informing parents is so wide you can drive all sorts of horrors through it

12.02.2026 19:30 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

So I keep being told!

12.02.2026 09:02 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Been in London. Thoughts:
1) Β£6.45 a pint
2) Not seen a single buggy/pram/pushchair, or any young kids that weren't obviously tourists
3) rainy day in Feb but much quieter than I remember ever being before
4) and cleaner
5) what's the point in Warren St station?
6) Β£6.45

11.02.2026 22:40 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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want

11.02.2026 20:03 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Christ Walking on Water, von Klever

11.02.2026 19:23 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I was referring to the colonisation point! Much more a cultural claim than financial - and I think it's that cultural claim that is most prominent (and incendiary tbf)

11.02.2026 18:24 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

You keep reverting motivated reasoning about money, but that is moot because it only holds so far as your explanation is accurate. The point is if people in radically different financial circumstances make similar (non-financial) claims, then attributing it financial-priors is unfalsifiable

11.02.2026 18:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I meant the view about immigration and your view that it is motivated reasoning of the rich

11.02.2026 17:47 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

But people with very little money often say the same thing - of course this logic might apply there too, but as a theory it becomes a bit unfalsifiable

11.02.2026 17:41 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Bookstall outside Ye Olde Rovers Return pub, Manchester, January 1954. The 14th century building was demolished in 1958 (Getty/Manchester Evening News).

10.02.2026 08:19 πŸ‘ 110 πŸ” 21 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 2

Love that book.

08.02.2026 18:43 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, 2023. It’s a dark and rainy day in Portland, Oregon, and I felt the need for some color in my life. I think this fits the bill. #Photography #Architecture #Interior #Paris #France πŸ“·

08.02.2026 00:59 πŸ‘ 6873 πŸ” 674 πŸ’¬ 193 πŸ“Œ 51

If this is the adults back in charge I'm at a loss for what we are supposed to do next

08.02.2026 15:17 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
Stylised art deco painting featuring a sitting white woman with blonde waved hair in a green dress, large white hat and white gloves

Stylised art deco painting featuring a sitting white woman with blonde waved hair in a green dress, large white hat and white gloves

Young Lady with Gloves, 1930 by Tamara de Lempicka, Polish Art deco painter #WomensArt

06.02.2026 05:46 πŸ‘ 609 πŸ” 84 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1

problem is there's never relegation

07.02.2026 15:00 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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When The West With Evening Glows, 1901, painting by Joseph Farquharson, Scottish artist. Painted Deeside landscape in various weathers.

07.02.2026 11:45 πŸ‘ 67 πŸ” 12 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1