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6 June 2026

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Opinion

Research: How long actually is the school day?

After repeated calls to extend the school day, Gavin Williamson has admitted knowing little about it. Teacher Tapp has the data, says Laura McInerney, but it may not help his cause How many schools finish before 3.30pm? That feels like the sort of question that an education secretary intent on criticising schools for the length […]

The ITT review poses a catastrophic risk to teacher supply

Rather than build on the strong foundations of the ITT market we have, this expert group’s review risks destabilising it, writes Emma Hollis Taken together, the recommendations of the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) market review final report, published today, represent an immediate and catastrophic risk to the teacher supply chain and the quality and availability […]

Eton reaches out. So who benefits?

The public school’s elitist reputation will be softened and some young people will benefit, but for Eton to invest in sixth forms for disadvantaged pupils is risky, writes Francis Green News that Eton is partnering with Star Academies to sponsor three new, academically selective sixth-forms in the midlands and the north of England have been […]

TAG you’re it! Preventing grade inflation in extra time

The DfE can’t rely on schools not to play up TAGs when it has created the perfect conditions for grade inflation, writes Jagjit Chadha, but an extra-time game-changer is still possible We have known since early this year that because of Covid-19 and lockdowns, public examinations would not go ahead this summer. Accordingly, the government […]

Diversifying literature is a collective responsibility – and it works

The lack of diversity in the English literature curriculum is less pervasive than it was, but a new report shows how far we still have to go, writes Caren Onanda I have always loved discovering the world through reading. It’s one of the reasons why I became a teacher. However, there was always something missing […]

Three better ideas than extending the school day

If the DfE keep floating the idea of lengthening the school day for lack of better ones, we’ve got three more promising prospects for them, say two Chartered College researchers The idea of extending the school day to help students ‘catch up’ on ‘lost’ learning seems to be endlessly teased by the government in the […]

Research: Who has lost most from the pupil premium change?

Newly eligible pupils may need less support than the long-term disadvantaged, but it’s the poorest schools who have lost out most, writes Dawson McLean The Department for Education’s newest statistics show 1.74 million pupils were eligible for free school meals in January 2021. That’s an increase of nearly 300,000 pupils since January of last year, […]

The SEND system needs urgent and substantive reform

The SEND system has been waiting two years for promised reform and it can’t afford to wait any longer, writes Whitney Crenna-Jennings It’s been two years since the publication of Edward Timpson’s review of exclusions, the launch of a review of special educational needs and disabilities provision, and proposed legislation to track children who are […]

TAG appeals are Ofqual’s mess. Let them own it

Disgruntled parents won’t like hearing they can’t easily appeal their children’s grades, writes Dennis Sherwood, but there’s an easy answer to that It’s August 10. A-level results have just been announced and a stressed-out parent is making a more-than-considerable fuss about a grade they think is unfair.   What to do? Naturally, you feel exposed […]