Was great to be back today.
A 🧵about swimming and menopause. 1/13
Peri-menopause is hugely misunderstood & appallingly poorly managed by most health services, not usually because of a lack of will, but because of a complete lack of comprehensive, appropriately designed care.
13/13
I wake up very early, hot and anxious every day. And I swim.
So my (potentially smug seeming) posts about my morning swims are in fact a big fat win for me in my ongoing management of symptoms and being more in control of this crazy phase of life.
I swim 💪🏼🏊♀️🔥
4/13
This creeps up when women are at the peak of managing careers, caring responsibilities, aging parents… it certainly did for me.
It’s really horrible. And really scary. Often women say it feels like they are ‘unravelling’ ‘not themselves’ ‘unable to get a grip’.
12/13
Anyway.
It’s a complete and utter disgrace and a huge feminist issue. I don’t have the energy or time to pioneer the campaign that’s needed. I just need to feel better and less like I’m losing my mind.
And so….
I swim!
3/13
Often the first symptoms are related to the drop in progesterone - AKA the ‘calm down’ hormone.
So - symptoms - delightful selection -
🎉anxiety
🎉sleep interruption
🎉brain fog
🎉loss of confidence
Lovely!
8/13
ALL women (excluding those who have experienced medical menopause) will have the menopause. All of us. And there is NO standard way of evaluating where we are at. It’s nuts.
5/13
And often not knowing what on earth is happening. (Menopause is about hot flushes, right..)
And then there is the lottery that is getting medical advice and support with all this…. This really does make me very angry.
9/13
So as a result - we all try and navigate the crazy system. We have quiet conversations with trusted friends. If we are brave enough, we tell our colleagues.
We go private if we can afford it, try the herbs and the vitamins and worry about the side effects of HRT.
7/13
There are no standard blood tests to understand where an individual is ‘at’ and what might be helpful for them.
We have a national screening programme for cervical cancer (rightly) to identify the risk for the less than 3% of women who will be affected.
10/13
We can’t get testosterone when we need it (unless we convince the fed we have ‘lost our libido’) and then the doses dispensed by the NHS (designed for men) are often too large to be safely used by women anyway.
6/13
Menopause happens to c45% of the population (excluding women who have had medical menopause or other challenges).
Yet navigating the system is widely accepted by the women I speak to as being pot luck - about how you’re treated, the medication and support you’re offered.
2/13
The most well know symptoms (hot flushes) are a result of a drop in Oestrogen. That was about all I knew about it for most of my adult life.
In fact, that very often comes in a later phase of peri-menopause.
A (rather long) very personal reflective thread.... Today is the very last day of our school
@ingreenwich
which will close formally at the end term. I have been involved with the school since it was a mere idea - over 10 years ago.
🌟🌟 Big moment 🌟🌟
We are starting the recruitment process for our next head(s)
@school21_uk
This is an incredible opportunity to be part of our journey
@_bigeducation
- as we seek to
#changethestory
Do you have the head, heart and hand for it? 💪🏼🤞🏼
A bit of cheer - it’s our anniversary- 5 years ago today
@RSAEvents
we had a wonderful day!
@PriceDanboy
(Managing 2 under 5 made me realise why most ppl get married before the kids come...!)
So special to celebrate the amazing work
@SurreySqSchool
Rightly recognised at the
@TeachingAwards
- primary school of the year - making a difference.
Well done to an exceptional group of people
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
So today is all about the students, their families and the amazing staff team. A day to celebrate their huge achievements, enjoy being together and saying farewell. Well done to each and every one of you; real leadership in action 🙏👏
I’ve had a rough few years.
Many aspect to that.
The most disturbing part for me was the impact it had on my confidence.
So good to see this pop out of my box of cards, something I made on a retreat years ago.
Thank you my old friend. It’s great to have you back.
“Perhaps now there’s a feeling we’ve been putting up with things for too long. To accept a system which is so publicly humiliating is wrong, the shaming is something we should never as a profession have put up with.”
@HeadsRoundtable
@nick_brook
Emotional moment as I come to the end of my second and final term as trustee
@Literacy_Trust
under the consummate chairing of
@Julia_Cleverdon
and extraordinary leadership of
@JDLiteracyTrust
amazing organisation which I will always proudly support
Feeling so grateful and proud of our amazing teams
@_bigeducation
@school21_uk
@SurreySqSchool
@ingreenwich
Truly exceptional from you all - thank you 🙏🏼 Am horribly unwell with Covid and so wish you all a safe Christmas - it is not to be mucked about with. Here’s to 2021 🧡💙
Share this widely! All primary schools should have their eyes on this, to celebrate what doing well and really think about how to develop. We’ve always known this stuff matters in primary schools and so good
@EducEndowFoundn
research spelling out how to do it brilliantly...
We've produced an audit and discussion tool to accompany our 'Improving Social and Emotional Learning in Primary Schools' guidance report.
Download the audit tool here:
For the guidance report: .
Great moment!
@PeterHyman21
starting off the grand opening of
@School360_
- a momentous moment for us
@_bigeducation
- a new school embodying our belief in an expansive education for everyone child 🥳
9 years ago. I was a coach and trainer at the
#futureleaders
summer camp. I brought baby A along (8 months) with my fab mum to baby sit for the fortnight. It was an incredibly powerful moment for me but also influenced + impacted so many for what it represented.
#workingmum
My girls have swimming lessons
@PlacesLeisure
in Balham - their teacher is deaf and non verbal and watching him teach them is such a joy - his communication and their focus is on another level. It’s a wonderful experience of
@DiverseEd2020
in action!
#rolemodel
#diversity
Picked up my beloved mum after 4 weeks
@UHSFT
very poorly with covid on same day my dad starts 4th (and final 🙏🏼) round of chemo
@GSTTnhs
unbelievably brilliant care and treatment for both of them. Exceptionally grateful.
#nhs
#thankyou
Starting a new school from scratch is a unique opportunity... Come along and help us shape our thinking as we do exactly that! We
@_bigeducation
@PeterHyman21
want to draw on a wide range of ideas and leaders. Come and be part of
#changingthestory
Please RT and share.
#innovate
A VERY rare night out with long suffering hubby
@PriceDanboy
and sending out gratitude to all the partners, friends and family who prop up the education system through their listening, wise counsel.... and doing the washing...
#thankthesupport
When a former student (
@CDPS_Southwark
) shows up 20 years later as a parent and thinks you’re their best ever teacher ❤️❤️❤️ made my day.
@SurreySqSchool
Very excited to be starting with our new cohort on big leadership adventure programme tomorrow - a group of
#leaders
committed to real transformation in the sector. Serious change needs leaders serious about making it happen.
I’ve had so many incredible conversations IRL since posting this. Mostly with other women, but not exclusively. I’ve been really touched and amazed at how this has impacted on others and loved opening up those conversations. A reminder that this platform can do good stuff too.
Was great to be back today.
A 🧵about swimming and menopause. 1/13
Peri-menopause is hugely misunderstood & appallingly poorly managed by most health services, not usually because of a lack of will, but because of a complete lack of comprehensive, appropriately designed care.
Just what you have been waiting for! Well done
@SurreySqSchool
There are so many more wonderful things we could add about the work at the school. We're glad
@Ofstednews
saw some of them and managed to cram them into the report.
@_bigeducation
in action🤩
I love sweet peas.
I vowed 4 years ago (when my mental health was really bad) to grow them each year in my little London garden, to bring more
#joy
as I anticipate and then enjoy their incredible scent.
Simple pleasures.
So good to be
@HouseofCommons
at launch of
#appg
on learning schools and assessment. Lots of voices sharing need for change. MPs and Lords coming together with school leaders, think tanks and unions.
And we’re off! Our first
@_bigeducation
all staff conference! So exciting and positive to all be together. The one and only
@andisilvain
leading the way….
It’s ten past 9 on the Tuesday of half term so OBVIOUSLY we’ve already done drawing, dressing up, face painting and breakfast and are on to slime making and sticking.
@EmmaWilliams101
would be proud! And I am a rainbow unicorn 🌈🦄
#halfterm
Exam systems which bakes in failure for the bottom third, soaring levels of mental health issues, a mismatch with what employers and society (and the planet) needs. That's why we keep on pushing for change, responsibly and boldly.
We are looking for our new chair! A wonderful role to help support our work for the next chapter. We would love someone from within the education community who can bring insight and integrity to the role. Get in touch and please share! =
@_bigeducation
I am delighted to be involved in this review and can confirm all submissions are being read with great intent to help shape some powerful new thinking and policy…
Sir David Bell has been asked by Labour Party to undertake a review of early years. He is keen to draw on a wide range of views. To that end, contributions can be sent to education_policy
@labour
.org.uk
@JuneOSullivan
@IPalaiologou
It’s
#InternationalWomensDay2022
My thought for today - take up space.
Own what you are and what you do. Talk about it. Share it. Be it.
There is still a lot to do in the work for equality.
It takes all of us, every day.
Am so delighted and proud for the amazing team and community
@SurreySqSchool
This is so well deserved and completely authentic dedication to working with our community.
Well done to you all you brilliant people!!!
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
@_bigeducation
in action
Today we
@_bigeducation
are celebrating
@SurreySqSchool
🥳🥳
We are celebrating the fact that the school goes above and beyond in extraordinary ways to support children and their families
For our new report with
@ECISchools
, we visited 11 schools in the UK, USA, Italy, & Israel who are committed to community partnerships. Here are the ways these inspiring schools are making an impact by working together with external partners. [Thread]
@jonathansimons
*love* that as exec lead of a Trust with school in Greenwich I have to come to Twitter to figure out what is going on - awful way to treat professionals leaving us in middle of national and local political wrangling. And I have COVID and it’s horrible.
And now the awesome
@sarahseleznyov
talking through the powerful pedagogical approaches that underpin the practice
@School360_
feeling so proud to be part of
@_bigeducation
this evening 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you so much Twitter friends for all your good wishes. Thank goodness beginning to feel human again. Been so horrible! Massive thanks to my lovely hubby
@PriceDanboy
for looking after me! He is well worth a follow for cutting and scientifically informed Covid analysis ☺️☺️
Missed
#tootinglido
this summer (closed for refurbs) big time but
@Brockwell_Lido
has been great. Lovely atmosphere and feel lucky to have 2 amazing lidos within 15 mins of home.
#southlondon
win ☺️
6am September swim
Little cooler but still magical
Grateful for the encouragement of edu-swim buddy
@thereseandrews
for the encouragement. Another km done!
#tootinglido
Funny how data tells a story. Really sick with Covid in Jan and long Covid since. Backwards in March (over did it) and steady improvement since. Hope can sustain my September energy beyond this week!!!
#longcovid
#nearlythere
A really strong argument here - we
@_bigeducation
@PeterHyman21
agree with the emphasis on ‘teacher meta-cognition’ - having a repertoire of skills/approaches/pedagogies and being able to make informed choices about what they are doing and why’- not blindly applying one approach
'Research-informed' practice: Teachers need to recognise that there are many things they need to make decisions about where there is no research evidence, says
@dylanwiliam
Every child deserves to get the best start in life. Honoured to be joining
@bphillipsonMP
’s Ministerial team
@educationgovuk
to deliver better childcare and early education. I can’t wait to get started
So good to hear from
@LyftaEd
as always showcasing their commitment to diversity and challenging stereotypes and the role of media in this. We ❤️ You and your work
@_bigeducation
Quite extraordinary gathering to celebrate the life of Sir Tim Brighouse.
Generosity.
Positivity.
Moral purpose.
Hope.
Optimism.
Inspiring to reflect on what one person can achieve.
What a way to receive a parcel! So grateful to my amazing buddy
@drkarenedge
for putting an almighty smile on my face today - so authentically powering the women in your orbit Karen. True
#shero
and amazing friend
#lucky
😘
I was delighted to share the work of
@_bigeducation
in developing approaches to supporting leaders to develop in broader ways - with rigour and an evidence base. Plus great to share work of
@rethinkinglsh
Looking forward to working with
@Ambition_SL
NPQH women only cohort tomorrow, talking all things people management, HR and talent.
@WomenEd
@LeadingWomenHT
such a great initiative!
This is such incredible news. Huge congratulations to all involved. So incredibly proud of the tireless work with the community to address real issues head on with such courage - 💪🏼💪🏼👏🏼👏🏼
@SurreySqSchool
@nicoladnoble
@mattjmorden
@_bigeducation
in action 🙏🏼🙏🏼