Opinion

Governing bodies have discovered new – and sometimes better – ways of working, but more importantly they have seen their school communities in a new light, writes Ruby Bhatti Like other governors everywhere, when the pandemic struck I initially felt helpless in the face of the challenges my schools were facing. The whole world of […]

Colleagues were sceptical but my shift into alternative provision is now a source of learning for all, says Hammad Ali For many teachers and school leaders, 2020 will be remembered for the prolonged disruption that came with bubbles, blended learning and school closures. My own professional upheaval began, not during the first lockdown of March, […]

During the darkest days of the pandemic, teaching staff dug deep and came up with innovative and creative solutions, writes Madelaine Caplin It is said that something good comes out of every crisis. In the midst of it, that can be hard to see and even harder to say; but as we take our annual opportunity […]

The pandemic has brought out the best and the worst in people. In the spirit of Christmas, Kate Owbridge presents the best Stressful. Unexpected. Extraordinary. And not even the worst year I have ever had as a school leader. Why not? In my worst year as a head, the thing that nearly destroyed me was […]

U-turns, broken promises, gaslighting, deceit and good old-fashioned cock-ups  ̶  our government’s response to education in the pandemic has been jaw-dropping, says Laura McInerney In last year’s political review, I complained that truth was on the floor weeping and hoped that things might be better in 2020. Oh how the gods laugh. Standing amid the […]

Headteachers wouldn’t be forgiven this lack of foresight yet schools ministers continue to issue policy on the hoof, writes Robin Bevan With only eight days of term remaining, the Department for Education issued an email with ‘End of Term – Advice for Schools’. At about the same time yesterday, Nick Gibb announced what is supposed […]

Regulations are about to be introduced that represent a substantial change to schools’ employment practices, write Jenny Arrowsmith and Joanne Moseley The Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payment Regulations 2020 are now in force. These impose a £95,000 cap on the amount public sector bodies can pay to an employee when their employment comes to an end. […]

African and Caribbean history and culture are woven across all subjects at one Birmingham primary. Nigel Oram and Philip Hynan explain why In October 1963, Oxford history professor, Hugh Trevor-Roper delivered several lectures – broadcast on BBC radio – that concluded with these words: “Perhaps in the future there will be some African history to […]