Opinion

Figures published today show the Department for Education (DfE) has missed its secondary teacher training target for a seventh year running. Jack Worth looks at what the three main political parties are proposing to solve it… Despite the number of secondary trainees increasing again this year compared to last, the latest teacher training data shows […]

The mistaken belief that money doesn’t matter to teachers has consequences. For too long, policymakers have relied on the altruism of the profession, and retention has suffered, writes Dr Sam Sims Next month, around 30 remarkable individuals will be recognised in the New Year’s Honours list for the contributions they have they made to schools […]

There is still a gap between talk and the education sector’s response to our changing climate, writes Felicity Liggins. But the Met Office’s new resources could help build STEM knowledge and global citizenship Globally, we are already seeing unprecedented shifts in the education landscape to support educators to engage young people with climate science, including […]

Until such time as politicians put the environment at the heart of policy, school climate strikes will continue to grow, writes Fiona Carnie. But schools, like their students, don’t have to wait to take action How should schools respond to the climate crisis? It is crucial that this issue is confronted, yet teachers lag far behind […]

I’m fairly sure my school had a motto, but I can’t remember what it was. What I can remember however, in encyclopedic detail, are the mottos of the great houses in Game of Thrones. For those with slightly less nerdy proclivities, the great houses in Game of Thrones are a pastiche of the noble houses […]

Thousands of pupils with complex needs are guaranteed a negative P8 score and are at increased risk of exclusion as a result, writes Steve Preston. They and their schools deserve better When you visit the performance table for secondary schools, the Department for Education makes it clear that Progress 8 (P8) is its key accountability […]

Ofsted has been downgrading schools that “off-roll” students. But what does it actually mean? Cath Murray explains… The whole area of alternative provision (AP), off-rolling, exclusions and managed moves can be confusing. In a recent inspection, Ofsted said the school’s pupils educated in AP were “well cared for” and achieved good results. But the inspectors […]

As an election looms, funding promises abound, but Thomas Moore is pretty sure that small schools will continue to miss out Earlier this month the Department for Education released a spreadsheet and simultaneously announced a funding boost for schools for 2020-21, following “the prime minister’s pledge to level up education funding and give all young […]

The Headteachers’ Roundtable’s “Big 5” election manifesto gives a new vision of professionalism and trust, restoring confidence in education, writes Ros McMullen The education system is in crisis. Recruitment and retention, funding, special needs provision, accountability and ethical leadership are all at breaking point, but it won’t do to look at these five factors individually. […]