Nicky Phillips | Schools Week

Lord Storey CBE, Liberal Democrat Lords principal education spokesperson

Mike Storey is no stranger to power, or education. The Liberal Democrat peer has run two schools, led Liverpool City Council and now heads up his party’s efforts on education in the House of Lords. But after meeting for a coffee, I find myself wondering if he ever knew he wanted such influence before it […]

Conflict of interest warning over Regional Schools Commissioner advisors

Specialist contractors recruited by the government to help regional schools commissioners improve schools are facing questions over potential conflicts of interest. The Department for Education (DfE) has awarded contracts totalling £12 million to 93 contractors to support the academies and free schools programme. In total, regional schools commissioners (RSCs) can call on a pool of […]

Academy put on warning notice after asking for cash to balance budget

An academy has been given a financial notice to improve after asking for a cash advance from the government so it can balance its budget. Oldershaw Academy Trust, in Wirral, was issued with the notice for submitting a recovery plan that required “recoverable advances” from the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to achieve a balanced budget. […]

‘Talking down the job of a headteacher stops people doing it’

Being a headteacher is a tough job: but it is also a brilliant one. Let’s talk up the positives and encourage the best senior leaders to take on the challenge. It is true that being a headteacher is not an easy task, and that’s not surprising: you have hundreds of young people in your care, […]

Top tips for dealing with criticism as an education leader

Education leaders in the limelight often attract criticism and negative attention. How do they stand it? And what techniques can you use if facing the same problem? Former teacher turned PR specialist Janet Murray reveals all. If you are in the public eye – and most education organisations and leaders are – there is something […]

Nicky Morgan, Natasha Devon, Ken Robinson: Who made Debrett’s Top 500 as an education influencer?

Seven new education faces have been added to a list of the 500 most influential people in the country – but not a single current teacher is included. Included for the first time this year in the education section of the Debrett’s 500 list, published by the Times, is the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, the […]

X Files star becomes reading tsar

Gillian Anderson listened to reading demonstrations from pupils at the William Tyndale Primary School in Islington to launch this year’s Read Aloud campaign. The X-Files star was joined by the president and provost of UCL, Michael Arthur, and interim director of the Institute of Education Professor Andrew Brown. Read Aloud is a reading recovery programme […]

Schoolgirl to choir singer

A Gloucestershire pupil has been selected from more than 1,000 applicants to join the National Youth Girls’ Choir with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. Thirteen-year-old Carmen Lee (pictured) from Rendcomb College begins rehearsals with the choir at a residential training course in April. She will have the opportunity to perform at venues including […]

Quiz gives MPs and pupils food for thought

MPs put their knowledge of healthy eating to the test against primary school pupils in a House of Commons quiz to promote healthy eating, hydration and physical activity among young people. The MP competitors included Steve Pound, Carol Monaghan and Rupa Huq who joined teams from Berrymede Junior School, Horsenden Primary and Montpelier Primary, all […]