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26 April 2026

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Opinion

Brexit: We need to proceed to the exit responsibly

Not all the advice that schools are giving and receiving about Brexit is correct. Worse, some of it is potentially harmful, says Tomas Thurogood-Hyde The political machinations over Brexit – or the lack of them, depending on your politics – have caused uncertainty in many sectors, and education is no different. This is especially true […]

There’s more to free schools than just warm-strict discipline

The recent GCSE results have vindicated free schools for their tireless efforts, says Unity Howard. But there’s more to the movement than warm-strict discipline The much-anticipated GCSE results of the first cohort of students at Michaela Community School in north London showed the power of their headteacher’s vision of a highly academic curriculum and warm-strict […]

The ‘Forgotten Third’ deserve the dignity of a new type of qualification

In spite of decades of curriculum and qualifications reform, a third of 16-year-olds  in England are not awarded a ‘standard pass’ at their English Language GCSE. It’s high time the qualification was scrapped, argues Roy Blatchford, Chair of the Forgotten Third commission, and replaced with one we can all be proud of. It is a […]

Gavin Williamson’s AP free schools promise won’t work unless…

The news that alternative provision (AP) will be a major focus of the free schools programme under the new government is most welcome and overdue. While there are excellent APs all over the country, there are also too many cold spots, where vulnerable children are left without any access to quality education. Setting up new […]

Does the government’s school funding pledge actually stack up?

Back to school week often signals new beginnings and a renewed optimism for the year ahead. Seemingly, in the spirit of that optimism, the government made a series of education funding pledges in the run up to the start of term. The luxury of a three-year budget settlement for schools, plus a significant funding increase […]

What does Gavin Williamson’s leaked education plan mean for schools?

A leaked government document offers a glimpse at what the new education secretary wants for schools, but there’s no guarantee he’ll get it, writes Freddie Whittaker. Yesterday, the Guardian published a story based on a leaked document outlining the new government’s proposals for the school system, including plans for a funding boost, a renewed push […]

Can statistics tell us if a school is inclusive?

Provision for SEND pupils is in the news again, but the story isn’t as simple as it seems, warns Karen Wespieser. Recently, a number of newspapers have reported a decline in inclusive mainstream schools. The story seems to have started in Leeds, where the regional press reported how special educational needs children “forced out of […]

GCSE results 2019: Centre Variability – How Normal Are Your GCSE Scores?

GCSE results are out. Each year Ofqual produce boring-sounding variability charts.  They sound boring, but they show how many centres, (schools or colleges), dropped or increased their results compared with the previous year. For example, if your school dropped 25 per cent in one subject, you can see how many other schools also had the […]