Chasing Stars, Escaping Screens, and the Heat of the Summer

Hello, hello, hello! I honestly can’t quite believe it is August tomorrow. It feels like only yesterday we were wrapping up July, yet here I am, already a couple of weeks into the summer holidays. The time has absolutely flown by. So far, it’s been a lovely mix of catching up with friends, getting a bit of birdwatching in, and tackling those endless household chores.

As I’m writing this, I’m actually on my way to sort out the lockup under the stairs. It’s one of those spaces that inevitably becomes a dumping ground for odds and ends, and I’m desperately trying to make it more usable. Of course, in true DIY fashion, reorganising things that aren't properly categorised is just creating a brand-new job in its own right!

### Sorting Spaces and Digital Accessibility

Beyond the physical sorting, my mind has been quite occupied with the digital world. I’ve been building up some genuinely brilliant contacts in the realm of AI and tech lately, which got me thinking: wouldn't it be incredibly useful to put together a comprehensive accessibility guide for people using AI? It’s such a rapidly evolving space, and ensuring no one gets left behind is crucial. I think I might just reach out to my network this week and see what people think of the idea.

The Great Attention Economy

Speaking of the digital world, I had a rather eye-opening chat recently with a lovely lady at a reception desk who openly admitted to spending a vast amount of time on TikTok. It sparked a thought about just how heavily these platforms dominate our lives. We often forget that these social media apps are completely free to use, yet they rake in tens of billions of pounds every single year.

How do they do it? By keeping us endlessly engaged. The algorithms are masterfully designed to map our likes and interests, selling that precious data to third parties so we can be bombarded with highly targeted adverts. It echoes that famous Silicon Valley adage: if you aren’t paying for the product, you are the product.

Knowledge really is power here, and I don't think enough people are fully aware of the toll this vast consumption of short-form video is taking on them. We desperately need more education on the subject. That said, I’ll be the first to stick my hand up and admit my own guilt. I definitely consume too much screen time on my phone, and I’m trying to make a conscious effort to cut back. Sometimes that means literally leaving the device in a different room, just to sever that 24/7 connection.

Looking Up: Red Kites and Shooting Stars

When you do finally put the phone down and look up, the rewards are immense. I was recently reminded of this whilst visiting my parents. I looked up and saw red kites gliding remarkably close overhead. It instantly transported me back to when I lived in Wales, doing fieldwork and watching these beautiful birds with their characteristic forked tails soaring above.

Turning my gaze from the daytime sky to the night, I also managed to spot my first shooting star of the season! I did a little bit of digging, and we are currently entering the window for the Perseid meteor shower. If you catch it on a clear night—particularly when it peaks in about two weeks’ time—you can be treated to hundreds of shooting stars. It’s a spectacular reminder to look up from our screens every once in a while.

Sizzling Tarmac and Climate Scepticism

In exactly two weeks, we are flying out to Antalya, Turkey, for a holiday. I’ve been keeping a close eye on the weather forecast, and it is sitting at a sweltering 40°C. Knowing I’ll be in the heat, I’ve been trying to lose a bit of extra weight on a calorie-limited diet. As you can imagine, trying to stay "in the zone" whilst navigating summer gatherings, birthdays, and catching up with friends is incredibly challenging, but we will get there!

We won't need to go to Turkey to find extreme weather, though. Large portions of the UK—including Stoke-on-Trent—have officially been declared in a drought. Watching the online discourse around this has required me to bite my tongue on more than one occasion. We had a tiny bit of drizzle the other morning, and the social media comments immediately flooded in: "How is it a drought? It’s raining!" Or my absolute favourite: "If people stop using water, we won't be in a drought."

It takes a lot of restraint not to point out the absurdity. A drought is caused by a fundamental lack of rainfall, not simply by someone leaving the tap running while brushing their teeth. The reservoirs won't magically top themselves up. We have an intricate array of canal systems maintained by these reservoirs, and we are fast approaching the point where they will genuinely struggle to function.

What I find most infuriating is the lack of critical thinking, which sometimes seems to be encouraged by local leadership. It was incredibly frustrating to see our local council scrap their climate change crisis response, dismissing it as "virtue signalling." The bitter irony? This was proposed during a heatwave so severe that the tarmac was literally melting outside my house.

When you dig a little deeper, the cynicism is hard to ignore. It feels like more than a coincidence that politicians suddenly start downplaying environmental impacts and talking favourably about fossil fuels right around the time their parties receive massive donations—reportedly in the billions—from oil and gas interests. It’s pandering to those who choose not to question motives or think critically, prioritising profits over the very real environmental changes happening on our doorsteps.

It’s certainly a season of contrasts—from the quiet beauty of a meteor shower to the heated debates over climate policy, and the ongoing battle to balance our digital lives with the real world. How are you all finding the balance this summer? Are you managing to step away from the screens and enjoy the warmer weather, or are you feeling the heat in more ways than one?

“This text was conceived and directed by a human, using Voice-to-Text and AI assistance to overcome a dyslexia induced literacy barrier.”

From Classroom Chaos to Clarity: Lessons from a Year of Pragmatic Innovation

As the academic year draws to a close, I find myself doing something I rarely make time for: looking back. It’s been, without a doubt, one of the most rewarding and intellectually rigorous years of my career.

In the world of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) education, the temptation to jump on the latest tech trend is constant. But my philosophy has always been firmly pragmatic: if it doesn’t solve a concrete problem, it’s just noise. This year, my focus remained steadfast on that principle, whether I was navigating the mechanics of a student-led business or engineering new workflows for classroom evidence.

Beyond the Classroom: The Junction Printshop

A major highlight has been watching the Junction Printshop evolve into a thriving student-led enterprise. We started with very little formal infrastructure, relying instead on a cocktail of experimentation, grit, and genuine teamwork.

There is a distinct scientific beauty in watching a group of learners dismantle a problem—whether it’s a print run that isn't aligning or a deadline that’s looming—and finding their own solution. Seeing these students cultivate confidence, independence, and the kind of employability skills that don't appear on a standard curriculum has been incredibly fulfilling. The true measure of our success? Seeing several of these learners secure supported internship placements for next year in an increasingly tough job market. It’s a testament to the fact that when we provide meaningful, real-world experiences, our learners don't just participate; they thrive.

Engineering Accessibility: The Birth of CSST-AI

My background in scientific research often informs how I approach teaching. When I see an inefficiency, I don’t just want to patch it; I want to engineer a better system. This year, that drive led to the development of Contextualised Speech-to-Structured Text AI (CSST-AI).

Like many educators, I’ve long struggled with the sheer volume of administrative documentation required to track learner progress. CSST-AI began as a selfish workload solution: a workflow combining wireless microphones, speech-to-text transcription, and carefully engineered prompts to turn messy, spoken classroom observations into clean, structured learner evidence.

Yet, as is often the case with good tools, it evolved. It transformed from a teacher’s timesaver into an accessibility powerhouse. It’s now helping learners find their own voice, assisting in the creation of dynamic CVs, and opening doors for job applications. It’s a reminder that good tech doesn’t replace human connection; it provides the scaffolding necessary for that connection to flourish.

Sharing the Practice

It has been a privilege to share these developments nationally. Presenting at the Natspec Peer Exchange and delivering workshops on Assistive Technology has been a highlight, but I’ve also been heavily involved in the broader conversation around ethical AI policy within educational trusts.

Perhaps most rewarding, however, was having this work featured in Natspec Quality Times. There is something uniquely humbling about seeing an idea born in the grit of day-to-day classroom practice recognised on a national stage. It reinforces the idea that we, as educators, are the best researchers of our own practice.

Looking Ahead

Innovation is a hollow word if it isn't anchored in impact. Whether it’s the printshop floor or the digital architecture of our classroom evidence, the common thread this year has been removing barriers rather than creating them.

I am deeply grateful to the colleagues, learners, and organisations who have supported and challenged me these past few months. As I look toward the next term, I am more convinced than ever that innovation matters most when it creates better opportunities for our learners to live independent, successful lives. That, at the end of the day, is the only metric that truly counts.

"This text was conceived and directed by a human, using Voice-to-Text and AI assistance to overcome a dyslexia induced literacy barrier."

Treacle, Tacos, and Tactics: A Mid-Summer Update

It has been one of those weeks where life feels a little bit like a balancing act—partly because of the sheer volume of noise coming from our local community online, and partly because my own energy levels have decided to take a bit of a sabbatical.

We’ve all had those stretches where everything seems to collide at once: community discourse, personal health, and the sheer unpredictability of the sporting calendar. So, I thought I’d sit down, have a bit of a natter, and catch you all up on what’s been happening.

The Stoke Food Scene: A Digital Debate

If you’ve been scrolling through social media in the Stoke-on-Trent area lately, you’ve likely noticed that it’s absolutely saturated with food reviews. Everyone’s a critic these days, aren't they?

It seems to be a real bone of contention—you’ve got the reviewers trying to share their experiences, and then a whole cohort of people in the comments "moaning" about them. But if you ask me, we should be looking at this differently. Whether it's a glowing recommendation or a fair critique, anything that puts local businesses on the map and shines a spotlight on Stoke-on-Trent in a positive light has to be a good thing.

Let's not forget, creating engaging social media content—filming, editing, finding the right angle—is a genuine skill in 2026. It’s hard work. So, kudos to those putting themselves out there and celebrating the local food scene. We’re lucky to have such a vibrant variety of spots to grab a bite, and I’m all for supporting the high street.

Wading in Treacle

Speaking of local life, I’ve had to slow my own pace down this week. To be perfectly honest, I don't know what's come over me, but I’ve been feeling like I’m wading in treacle. Everything feels a little heavy, and my energy has just evaporated.

It’s completely out of character for me—I’m usually the last person you’d find lying down in between swimming lessons. But yesterday, I came home and was out for a couple of hours. That simply doesn't happen in the daytime. It’s a bit of a wake-up call to listen to my body when it’s feeling a bit achy and run down. I’m feeling a bit better now, and with a proper night’s rest, I’m hoping to be back on form before long. It’s a good reminder that we’re not machines; sometimes, a bit of downtime is the most productive thing we can do.

The World Cup Conundrum

Finally, we have to talk about the football. The World Cup is getting properly interesting now that we’re into the knockout rounds. There’s something special about watching these so-called "lesser" teams take the big guns to extra time; it reminds you that on any given day, anything can happen.

England have got a massive match coming up against Mexico. They are a decent side, and with the home advantage, it’s going to be a nail-biter. I’ve heard the Mexico fans are notorious for making plenty of noise around the hotels at unearthly hours to try and unsettle the players—classic tournament tactics!

The real struggle, however, is the kickoff time: 1:00 am. With work the next morning at 8:30, I’m facing a bit of a dilemma. Do I try to get a bit of sleep and wake up for the match, or do I just power through? The fear, of course, is that if it goes to extra time and penalties—which, let’s be honest, is a very England way to do things—I’ll be pulling an all-nighter. A very tired, very stressed all-nighter.

How are you all handling the late kickoffs? Are you planning to watch the England game, or are you prioritising your sleep? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re balancing the tournament excitement with the reality of a working week.

“This text was conceived and directed by a human, using Voice-to-Text and AI assistance to overcome a dyslexia induced literacy barrier.”