Opinion | Schools Week

Most viewed this week

1

Leadership can mean knowing when to let go

Previously member early access content

1w | Opinion

We are transferring two schools. It is the right decision in the interests of the schools – and their pupils

Previously member early access content

1w | Opinion
2

Voters back Burnham on education. The challenge is delivery

Previously member early access content

7d | Opinion

The public agrees education is failing to serve its purpose. That's both a risk and an opportunity

Previously member early access content

7d | Opinion
3

There is no single blueprint for inclusion bases

Previously member early access content

2d | Opinion

Start by being clear about who the base is intended to support – and the needs it is there to meet

Previously member early access content

2d | Opinion
4

Why Ofsted’s deferral system needs an overhaul

Previously member early access content

2d | Opinion

The welfare of staff and pupils should have a higher priority when a school requests an inspection deferral

Previously member early access content

2d | Opinion
5

The ‘wicked problem’ of SEND provision

Previously member early access content

1w | Opinion

Schools won’t be able to bear the costs when the broader system does not reward inclusive practice

Previously member early access content

1w | Opinion

A new sense of perspective is carrying the profession through Covid

Teachers felt more positive about their schools during than before the pandemic and understanding why is important for the future, writes Ben Aldridge As 2020 comes to a close, it would be easy to focus our reflections on the challenges we’ve faced as a profession. However, a little-discussed Pearson survey from earlier this year may […]

Ministers chose confrontation over collaboration when our communities needed them most

When the government issued Royal Greenwich with the threat of legal action on Monday night, I was completely shocked. At no point in the previous 24 hours did I genuinely think that trying to do the right thing for my local schools, in the face of surging infections and almost 4,000 pupils in self-isolation, could […]

How can we make school improvement sustainable?

Driving school improvement is first and foremost a question of capacity, writes Carole Willis I was delighted to be part of the NAHT’s School Improvement Commission (SIC) and to see NFER’s research play such an important role in informing its conclusions. Too often, school improvement is thought of as something for schools deemed ‘inadequate’ or […]

Supporting the most vulnerable is a family affair

Engagement with families is crucial to providing a safety net – and agencies must work together as a family to support the most vulnerable, writes Jon Yates During this pandemic, many young people have been left without the support they need. They’ve lost time at school and they’ve struggled to access support from the adults […]

The year in school business: When crisis came, we ran towards it

From staff rotas to test and trace, school business leaders have shown how vital their contributions are, says Micon Metcalfe It seems like it must have been a different decade or another life altogether, but 2020 started with a new prime minister. There were big promises on education. Teachers were to be backed on discipline […]

On assessment, teachers are wrong by design

Stop blaming teachers for questionable assessments and start fixing the broken system that means they can’t be right, writes Dennis Sherwood Teachers’ predicted grades are much criticised for being “optimistic”, and teachers are pilloried as a result. But exam grades are unreliable, and so teachers are denied the opportunity to learn. Imagine a primary school […]

What does the latest attendance data tell us about the scale of the Covid problem?

The government must make better data available and provide more catch-up funding to stop pupils falling further behind, writes Natalie Perera. The question over how we support recovery of the education system post-Covid looms large for policy-makers, researchers and those on the front line. The reality is that we are all trying to find solutions […]

Current guidance is failing clinically vulnerable families

Ministers appear to either not understand or not care about the plight of clinically vulnerable parents and guidance only add to their woes, writes Margaret Greenwood For many of the children who live in homes where someone is clinically extremely vulnerable, this year has been especially challenging. It can be hard enough to cope when […]

Research: How can we foster effective teacher collaboration?

Offline or on, effective collaboration shares some common traits. Cat Scutt explores the evidence about making the most of bringing people together Research suggests that opportunities for teacher collaboration are a key feature of school environments where teachers have higher job satisfaction and continue to develop their effectiveness over time. Not only that, but Matthew […]

Become a member today for unlimited access to Schools Week