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29 April 2026

Author: Jessica Hill

Nick Brook, chief executive, Speakers for Schools

There are moments as Nick Brook talks about narrowing the opportunity gap for disadvantaged youngsters when he becomes so animated it’s as though he’s delivering a rousing speech to union delegates. This infectious passion served him well as deputy general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) – a role he held for […]

The story of PiXL: how the pursuit of excellence found new meaning

The moment when Rachel Johnson announced that she was taking over as school and college leadership network PiXL’s new chief executive was one that still gives her shivers. It was January 2020, and little did any of the 1,200 headteachers present at PiXL’s conference realise that, over in China, a new virus was taking hold […]

‘Out of sight, out of mind’: The rise of unregistered alternative provision

Thousands of children are being educated in unregistered alternative provision where teachers require neither qualifications nor criminal record checks. A Schools Week investigation has found children as young as five are increasingly sent to these unregulated institutions, which are not inspected by Ofsted or properly overseen by local authorities. Provision ranges from online tutoring to […]

The two Emmas of the National Governance Association

Emma Knights has been championing the work of school governors and trustees as the National Governance Association’s resident knight in shining armour for the past 13 years. But now she’s handed over the reins (well, one of them) to another Emma. Emma Balchin, previously the association’s director of training and consultancy, stepped in as joint […]

RAAC: Why have we tolerated this ‘ticking timebomb’ for so long?

While the dangers of reinforced aerated autoclaved concrete (RAAC) have only recently been on the public’s radar, it has been on my mind for the last ten months since, as Schools Weeks’ investigations reporter, I revealed to the world that RAAC was leaving schools ‘liable to collapse’. Now, I find myself the parent of two […]

How a school’s new clubs are lifting attendance and wellbeing

In an education world dominated by academic results, a West Sussex school is bucking the trend and focusing on well-being and inclusivity. That includes sport – but not always of the traditional kind. Jessica Hill discovers how the approach has lifted attendance and improved pupils’ mental health Imagine three teams of secondary pupils, all frantically […]

Who’s supporting school leaders to stop them hitting crisis point?

Executive head Sara-Jane Baker has had a rough week. After a gruelling three-hour child protection review the day before we speak, she was straight into other meetings while also dealing with parent complaints and providing emotional support to her staff, without getting a chance to catch her breath. The myriad of responsibilities in leading a […]