Schools reform depends on staff knowledge and confidence Translating white paper aspirations into improved pupil outcomes will depend on whether teachers and leaders have the knowledge, capacity and confidence to enact them
Replicating Blair-era improvement is an out-of-London challenge We need to keep the ambition, for sure, but we also need to build something new, led by the communities themselves
It demands a team effort to keep pupils like Z in the game Despite the structural barriers, many trusts, headteachers, local authorities and third-sector organisations are already beating the odds to embed inclusion and build belonging
Inclusion bases must remove students’ barriers to learning We must move beyond the idea that simply designating a space will solve deep-rooted challenges
We all must do more to prevent AI coursework cheating I have written to exam boards, asking them to strengthen their approach to preventing AI misuse in non-exam assessments.
Small maternity wins are welcome, but we should strive for more Weeks at full salary are doubled but with cuts elsewhere the 7.5% increase is hardly the gift the DfE would suggest, says Emma Sheppard
SEND reforms are a chance to change what we mean by ‘standards’ Let’s be clear about what ‘exceptional’ means now. Exceptional is a school where disadvantaged pupils thrive, not just attend
Ofqual must be bolder on digital exams The proposal to limit digital exams to only two subjects per exam board is unduly restrictive
DfE should support struggling private schools to become academies A targeted approach could help provide a high-quality state-funded education to pupils from a wide range of backgrounds