Schools Week Reporter | Schools Week

The end of average: How to succeed in a world that values sameness

I resisted this book because it oozed something of the self-help manual. But at the same time, I was drawn to it, precisely because its dust-jacket made a big, compelling promise – to help me to become the best me I possibly could. (Yes, I see the irony…) “The End of Average,” it pronounced. “How to succeed […]

Amanda Spielman named as new Ofsted chief inspector

Ofqual chair Amanda Spielman has been approved by the government as the next Ofsted chief inspector. A Department for Education (DfE) source confirmed that Number 10 had cleared her appointment. Ministers will now wait on agreement from the Commons education select committee before final appointment. In a press release Nicky Morgan said that Spielman was “the right […]

Do careers talks in schools improve pupils’ life chances?

What have you been working on? The impact of school-based careers talks, with people from outside school, on earnings at age 26. We analysed data from the British cohort study of 1970 – which covers 17,000 people – to work out whether they had an impact, and, if so, what type of interventions and at […]

My change of heart about coaching

After joining Schools Week as deputy editor, Cath Murray was sent to mingle with readers at a training event – and bring back her observations. I approached the “coaching” day for education professionals with trepidation. Faye Kilgour, our trainer and lead coach for Graydin, a professional development organisation, had signed her preliminary email, “With heart”. […]

The Life Project – book review

Cohort studies have taught us everything we know. Well, not quite, but working my way through Helen Pearson’s The Life Project, it started to feel that way. The relationship between smoking and low birth weight, between smoking and cancer, or even that pollutants you’re exposed to during childhood can cause serious diseases in later life […]

Academy conversion advice

Welcome to Schools Week’s agony aunt* column, for all your academisation woes. Whether you’ve already boarded the academisation train, are just browsing the brochure, or remain resolutely sceptical about the safety of high-speed rail, ping us your question and we’ll select our favourites to be answered by a specialist lawyer. Email agonyaunt@schoolsweek.co.uk, including the words ‘agony aunt’ […]

Why some children with language needs are being missed

What have you been working on? A study on language impairment at school entry age, and how we can better identify, diagnose and treat language disorders. Using a sample of 7,267 state school children in Surrey, we assessed language, non-verbal IQ (NVIQ), social, emotional, and behavioural problems among 529 pupils aged 5 to 6. The […]

Do “prison academies” make sense?

In light of Michael Gove’s plan for the prison sector to learn from schools, Peter Dawson of the Prison Reform trust explains why a move towards academy-style autonomy is welcome. Professional leaders enjoy telling others about the uniqueness of their personal challenge. One is often reminded of Ron Manager’s bleat that football management is “the ’ardest job in the […]

Speed read: Coates review of education in prison – the schools bits

Dame Sally Coates published her review of education in prisons today. Michael Gove, as justice secretary, commissioned the review last September from the former headteacher and director of academies south for United Learning. Schools Week has scoured the report for the parts that list what prisons can learn – and take – from schools. What prisons can learn […]