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18 April 2026

Author: Nicky Phillips

Debra Kidd, author and former teacher

I meet Debra Kidd, outspoken author and former teacher, in a café off a bustling main road in Manchester’s West Didsbury. It is a far cry from when she lived here more than 20 years ago. “It’s changed so much . . . it has definitely gone up in the world and the schools in […]

FEATURED: the new regional schools commissioners

Primary schools that wish to apply for academy status will be encouraged to do so in groups says Dominic Herrington, the regional schools commissioner for south-east England and south London. Speaking to Schools Week, Mr Herrington said that the majority of schools applying to become academies, both nationally and in his region, were primary schools, […]

We make it simple: how the government’s new 16-19 league tables are calculated

The 16-19 accountability measures are changing. As the government releases its (very dense) guide setting out how the new measures will work, Schools Week’s Philip Nye, a former National Audit Office auditor, takes on the gruelling task of guiding you through the key features What’s changing? The new accountability measures will give a significant refresh […]

Local author helps to open library

Primary pupils at a Bristol academy welcomed a local author as the star guest at the launch of its new library. Author Jack Challoner, who has written more than 30 books on a variety of scientific and technological subjects, such as Hurricane and Tornado, was at last week’s opening of Begbrook Primary Academy’s library. The […]

How to raise confidence and aspirations in girls

Last week we reported that many fewer girls are studying vocational subjects than boys. Mentors benefit everyone, but maybe they can play a particularly important role in developing confidence in girls Don’t you think feminism is going too far? I mean, shouldn’t everybody have equal opportunities, regardless of who they are? What about the boys?” […]

Real language skills need to deal with the unexpected

Unlike in many other subjects, the new modern foreign languages GCSE is retaining a listening and speaking component. This will keep students interested and help develop these crucial language skills Ofqual says that the ability to speak the language is a key aspect of a modern foreign language GCSE. No one could argue with that […]

Cornwall’s geothermal warders on show

A group of South Korean students visited a Cornish academy last week as part of an international programme. Camborne Science and International Academy (CSIA) hosted guests from The Korea Science Academy of KAIST, based in Busan, who stayed with local families for 10 days. They participated in various cultural and scientific activities, such as excursions […]

‘We wanted to show it doesn’t matter what kind of person you are’

Students from a Nottinghamshire special school have been crowned winners of a national artwork competition judged by fashion consultant and TV presenter Gok Wan (pictured below). A class of Year 12 pupils from Dawn House School were announced as overall winners of the 2014 Arts and Minds competition, an annual UK-wide contest aimed at promoting […]

Practice makes perfect for Maltings

An Essex school is taking top honours in a range of sports as a result of its extra-curricular clubs. More than 100 students from Maltings Academy in Witham come in at 7.30am and stay after school every day to develop their skills. Ranging from rugby to athletics to badminton, the clubs are paying off with […]