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18 April 2026

Author: Nicky Phillips

EBacc reforms fail to boost A-level languages

Increased uptake in languages at GCSE following the government’s English Baccalaureate reform is not boosting A-level take-up as expected. Instead, numbers are drastically falling. Speaking at a Westminster Education Forum event on the future of modern foreign languages, Teresa Tinley, author of the Language Trends Review, published annually by CfBT, said it was “very concerning” […]

MATs’ severance payments nudge £1m

Five of the biggest multi-academy trusts have made non-statutory severance payments to staff totalling £941,316 during the year to August 2014, their latest accounts reveal. The largest payments were made by United Learning, Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), Harris Federation, Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT) and Ark Schools. Non-statutory severance payments – outside normal statutory or contractual […]

Count on us and you shall go to the prom, says credit union

Schools that hold proms are being approached to advertise credit union loans for families facing the burden of buying formal wear. Harlowsave, a credit union in the Essex town of Harlow, has asked local secondary schools to advertise its services to parents in a bid to provide access to loans for prom suits and dresses, […]

We’re sticking with maths and English to 18, says Labour

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has reaffirmed Labour’s commitment to introduce compulsory English and maths for pupils up to the age of 18 after receiving the backing of a leading academic and a maths charity. Mr Hunt (pictured) was flanked by University of Oxford maths professor and BBC presenter Marcus du Sautoy when he delivered […]

Norwich primary searches for four unqualified teachers

A primary school run by Inspiration Trust is advertising for four unqualified teachers with no clear options of how those staff will be trained to get qualified status. Norwich Primary Academy (NPA) last week posted a job advertisement on the Inspiration Trust website for part-time/job sharing “unqualified teachers” to start this September. The posting said: […]

‘If I were education secretary…’

The education system must change so that knowledge gives way to wisdom, emphasising the application of knowledge as a source of power for living that leads to individual happiness and success. I would create a system that enables students to develop a questioning mind and put in place systems that produce a new generation of […]

Wanted: home-grown teachers of Mandarin

The Conservatives are promising more Mandarin teachers – and in an ideal world every young person should be able to learn it as a language of their choice. But is this a manifesto pledge that can be implemented? Tucked away in the Conservative manifesto is the pledge: “increase the number of teachers able to teach […]

‘If I were education secretary…’

Over the past few years, there has been a grassroots professional rejection of bogus ideas within education, coupled with a wellspring of enthusiasm for more credible alternatives. New ideas — such as direct instruction, spaced and massed practice, curriculum sequencing, and mastery learning — are gaining popularity amongst certain teachers and schools. However, the 65 […]