1. We’re not an especially happy bunch here in the UK at present. Here’s the latest Ipsos survey of UK public opinion, taken following last week’s budget https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/britons-more-pessimistic-about-economy-post-budget-though-some-individual-measures-supported
56% say they are ‘more concerned’ about the economy post budget and 77% expect it to be in a poor state in a year’s time.
55% think Rachel Reeves doing a bad job as Chancellor – her worst rating in the role.
Freezing prescription charges, cutting energy bills and increases to minimum wage most supported measures.
Lifting the two-child benefit cap the measure the public have heard of most (along with minimum wage increases) but public divided on whether they support this.
50% think the government is increasing taxes too much – but no party leads on being most trusted on the economy.
2. John Kampfner visited the Czech Republic recently https://johnkampfner.substack.com/p/another-european-domino-set-to-fall
The country, which (as Czechoslovakia) first tasted independence under the inspired inter-war leadership of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and which shook off Communism in 1989 thanks to Vaclav Havel, is on the verge of inaugurating a local oligarch propped up by motorists, assorted far-right weirdos and Putin sympathisers. The Czech Republic of recent times has been a poster-boy for constructive engagement in the European Union and NATO and one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine. And yet could imminently join several of its neighbours on the dark side. I say “could” because, while it’s likely, it’s not yet certain.
3. If you’re going to be in Manchester next Wednesday, 10th December, you could join this NATESOL networking and CPD event, Why Extensive Reading (Still) Matters: a journey into the digital implementation of ER with Donna Cottrell, in person: register here https://tinyurl.com/483bsepp If, as is quite likely, you’re not going to be in Manchester, there’s also an online option, for which you can register here https://tinyurl.com/9bfy252z More details in the PDF below.
4. If you’re on LinkedIn, they’re currently offering a good four-and-a-half hour free course on AI Trends https://www.linkedin.com/learning/ai-trends/welcome-to-ai-trends Broken up into manageable short bits.
5. Two recent posts from the UKFIET blog:
Anudeep Lehal on Learning together: How a simple idea is transforming classrooms in India and Malawi https://www.ukfiet.org/2025/learning-together-how-a-simple-idea-is-transforming-classrooms-in-india-and-malawi/
When I first stepped into the classroom that morning, the noise caught me by surprise. Dozens of children were talking at once — not in chaos, but in conversation. Groups of three huddled over shared notebooks, whispering, debating, laughing, and scribbling answers on the blackboard. Despite the worn desks and faded walls, the energy in that room was unmistakable. These children were not just learning; they were learning together. I was there to observe a peer learning model that has been quietly reshaping how we think about teaching and learning — the TRIO approach.
Mike Douse on The teacher as AI manager – across all levels of education https://www.ukfiet.org/2025/the-teacher-as-ai-manager-across-all-levels-of-education/
Very few teachers, worldwide, are effectively applying Artificial Intelligence in their classrooms, gymnasia, studios and laboratories, although the proportion doing so in some countries is rapidly increasing. In this blogpost, Mike Douse suggests that, not only should all who teach become familiar and confident with contemporary technology, but also that every teacher should be enabled to become an effective AI Education Manager.
6. And, finally, The Beguiling, Misunderstood Theremin https://tinyurl.com/3e4umddh
Roy Cross's Blog 