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15 July 2026

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Opinion

Schools in the north need more resources – but not because they’re less effective

It’s undoubtedly true that schools in disadvantaged areas of the country need additional help, but we need to be better informed as to why, explains Mike Treadaway Educating the north, a report published by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, hit the headlines recently. Comments like “poor pupils in the north are a GCSE grade behind” typified […]

Tips for improving staff wellbeing in schools

Amid the retention crisis and ever-increasing levels of teacher stress, it has never been more important to look after staff wellbeing. Sonia Mainstone-Cotton has some suggestions Staff wellbeing is a significant challenge for managers and school leaders, who are in an excellent position to make a difference to the lives of their staff. If your […]

The new times-tables tests will get no love from teachers

Times-tables are important but the government’s latest test is a complete waste of time for schools, argues Nick Brook. Children should learn their times-tables. They are a useful thing to know as pupils launch themselves into the secondary stage of their school career. That’s why they are already part of the curriculum: every primary school […]

The essential school guide to GDPR

The general data protection regulations (GDPR) aren’t just for schools; they apply to every European organisation that handles personal data. The aim of the new law is to return control to individuals by allowing them to request deletion or disclosure of their data: and the onus is on organisations to provide evidence of their data […]

Times-tables tests: What do schools need to know?

The government is keen to reassure heads that its new times-tables test won’t become just another stick to beat schools with, but heads aren’t convinced, explains Freddie Whittaker. It’s official. Nick Gibb has spoken: times-tables tests are here. From next month, almost 300 schools will take part in a trial of the government’s new on-screen multiplication […]

Five ways the DfE has damaged teacher recruitment

Teacher training has always been too important to dabble with, as the implications of not getting the very best teachers in front of children in schools will affect the future of our country and society, explains Professor David Spendlove We should all be seriously concerned about the Department for Education’s two recent communications on initial […]

Multi-academy trusts are driving EdTech innovation

Multi-academy trusts used to be an afterthought for software developers, but no longer, explains Joshua Perry School software has been around for a long time. The market has blossomed and evolved over more than three decades, with the release of the ever-popular SIMS Management Information System (MIS) in 1984 a particularly pivotal moment. Software for […]

How much should MAT CEOs be paid?

MAT CEO pay is in the public eye again and, given how high it is, it’s right that trustees should think hard about how they work it out, writes Gillian Allcroft It is the season to scrutinise academy trusts’ accounts and, as ever, the hot topics are related-party transactions and executive pay. There are no […]

Five solutions for teacher retention and development

The numbers quitting teaching are becoming a full-blown crisis. David Weston presents five solutions that might stem the tide As a basis for a strategy to attract and keep teachers in our schools, Professor Dylan Wiliam’s approach, “love the ones you’re with”, is bang on. We certainly need some overarching strategy to deal with, what […]