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13 April 2026

Author: Expert Contributor

What are the big decisions Justine Greening must make as education secretary?

A new education secretary, Justine Greening, has been appointed. So, what now? Natalie Perera describes what awaits at the department for education. History suggests that a new Education Secretary will almost certainly want to make her mark on the Department, the sector, and the profession. Each has come with their own unique agenda for reform; […]

South Asian – or ‘Shanghai’ – mastery maths, explained

This week the government announced £41 million of funding over the next four years to support the introduction of South Asian mastery mathematics into 8000 primary schools. Dr Mark Boylan explains the differences between the Shanghai method and schools in England South Asian mastery has attracted attention from government because of the relative success of Singapore […]

Educators should allow students to feel working-class pride

Tony Sewell gets some things right, but his rhetoric on social mobility should be approached with suspicion, says Garth Stahl Last week at the Festival of Education, Tony Sewell, chief executive of Generating Genius, made some interesting assertions regarding working-class youth, social mobility and the role of education. Sewell discussed his aggressive zero-tolerance approach to […]

The education of Muslim students in turbulent times

What have you been researching? I am looking at the education of Muslim students and in particular, Muslims’ expectations from education and educational leaders in contemporary societies, and Islamic faith schools. What are the main issues? In the wake of 9/11 and George Bush’s reaction, many young people were suddenly made aware that being Muslim […]

PFI must not be put into the ‘too difficult’ drawer

PFI contracts can work, says Julia Harnden, but they also can have a negative impact on school finances PFI is an acronym that has caused huge controversy. The private finance initiative has transformed the social infrastructure of the UK, enabling arguably the biggest investment in schools, hospitals and other public projects since the Victorian era. […]

Why the new D&T curriculum was so badly needed

The new D&T GCSE specification became available this term to allow teachers to prepare for the changes that will be implemented from September next year. Steven Parkinson explains why it represents a real opportunity. Design and technology (D&T) is at a crossroads. One road leads off a cliff. At the bottom of the ravine lies […]

How useful are the KS2 maths SATs test results?

The key stage 2 SATs results are out, but how useful are the results? asks Anne Watson, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Oxford The aim of the new key stage 2 curriculum was to raise the standard of mathematics and make sure pupils were ready for secondary mathematics, and the test had to adhere to […]

Where are we now with special needs?

Schools in England are half way through the implementation of the biggest special educational needs and disability (SEND) reforms in a generation. The start of the process saw every school implement three immediate reforms to the way SEND is addressed: SEN information reports, SEN support, and education, health and care plans (EHCPs). Malcolm Reeve looks […]

What is the NUT strike about and will it make a difference?

NUT members in England will take national strike action on Tuesday. Any strike by teachers grabs news headlines and often divides opinion, within and beyond the profession. So why are NUT members going on strike and will it make any difference? asks Howard Stevenson Any industrial action in the UK must be based on a legal ‘trade […]