Nick Linford | Schools Week

‘Coasting schools’ are not defined by their Ofsted grade, and 6 other things we learned from Nicky Morgan

In the first ever Schools Week webinar, education secretary Nicky Morgan told us more about her future plans. Anyone who ever took over a class or headship half-way through a school year will tell you that picking up where someone else unexpectedly left off is rubbish. Sanity is only maintained by dreaming of ways […]

Schools Week editor interviews education secretary, Nicky Morgan – audio recording

On Monday, May 18, Schools Week editor Laura McInerney interviewed the education secretary, Nicky Morgan (audio recording available below). The interview was broadcast live during a Schools Week webinar titled ‘what does a Conservative government mean for education?’. The webinar, lasting for one hour, also included interviews with Joanthan Simons, head of education at Policy […]

Nicky Morgan: Academies are a ‘better kind’ of school than local authority ones

Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, education secretary Nicky Morgan agreed that academies are a ‘better kind’ of school than those overseen by local authorities. Ms Morgan appeared on the show to reval planned government powers for firing headteachers and forcing ‘coasting’ schools – described as those with poor levels of progress – […]

Why Morgan’s plan to fire heads of ‘coasting schools’ relies on imaginary people

So, what does the government’s new ‘coasting schools’ plan actually involve? Things we know: – As soon as a school is identified as ‘failing’ the Regional School Commissioner will intervene immediately. – If the school does not have a ‘credible plan or capacity’ for turnaround then the government will make more moves. – Headteachers, and […]

Webinar SW

New DfE minister u-turns over teachers being ‘forced’ to teach same-sex marriage

A Conservative MP who once expressed concerns that same-sex marriage legislation would force teachers to teach against their “religious belief” now claims she supports equal marriage after being appointed as equalities minister at the Department for Education. Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, was appointed to the equalities position on Tuesday, causing an uproar on social […]

Familiar faces head up the DfE as reshuffle leaves department relatively untouched

David Cameron’s ministerial reshuffle has left the top team at the Department for Education relatively untouched. Nicky Morgan, Nick Gibb, Edward Timpson, Nick Boles, Sam Gyimah and Lord Nash have all been re-appointed to roles in the department. Ms Morgan’s re-appointment as education secretary was confirmed at the weekend. While Nick Gibb and Nick B0les […]

Far more new MPs went to comprehensive schools than those re-elected

Newly elected MPs were far more likely to have attended a comprehensive school than those that were re-elected, new research has shown. Research by the Sutton Trust showed that almost two thirds (64 per cent) of the new intake following Thursday’s General Election went through the comprehensive system, compared to 44 per cent of those […]

Nicky Morgan to stay on as education secretary as Gove moves to justice

Nicky Morgan will continue to serve as education secretary under the new Conservative majority government, David Cameron is expected to announce tomorrow. Ms Morgan, who replaced Michael Gove in the job last July, was re-elected as MP for Loughborough on Thursday with an increased majority as the Conservatives stormed back to power with 331 seats. […]