Skip to content
6 May 2026

Become a member today for unlimited access to Schools Week

Enjoy expert journalism on schools policy with fewer ads and exclusive benefits
subscribe

Opinion

£1.3bn more for school funding is not nearly enough

English schools need much more than a paltry £1.3 billion in extra funding taken from elsewhere, says Gillian Allcroft Sorry to be churlish, but £1.3 billion more for school funding is not nearly enough. Yes, I know, there are lots of other deserving causes, but our children are our future and if we cannot provide […]

Is Al-Hijrah ruling the death knell for single-sex schools?

The recent judgement against segregation in schools suggests that ideology-based segregation in education is harmful. Where does this leave single-sex schools? On Friday 13 October, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Al-Hijrah school’s policy of segregating boys and girls was unlawful discrimination by sex. The decision gives Ofsted considerably greater powers and could mark […]

Why is the good CPD always on the weekend?

We need to bring the buzz of weekend conferences to continuing professional development delivered during working hours, says Karen Wespieser As we reach the first half term of the new academic year, there have already been a series of high-profile education conferences. Nick Gibb and Justine Greening have given keynote speeches, and many hours of […]

Science capital can be built!

Researchers have identified “science capital” as a major factor they believe influences pupils’ decisions to study science at higher levels, writes Louise Archer Although many school students find science lessons interesting, the majority do not see science as being relevant to their lives or “for me”. In the UK and abroad, there is a widespread concern […]

From courtroom to classroom…

Early last year, Joanne Crossley hung up her wig and joined Teach First at 46. It was a shock to the system, but not a bad one It was a dog that finally pushed me over the edge. A family that cares more about its pets than its kids doesn’t deserve my help – no […]

How schools should be preparing for GDPR

New data laws come into force next May; Theresa Kerr explains how to comply A lot of schools are aware that the law on data protection is changing but are not sure what it will mean for them in practice. A school business manager recently asked even asked me if he should be losing sleep […]

Greening’s taking education back to the 80s

This time last year, education was going back to the 1950s with grammar schools as the idea in vogue. This week, Justine Greening is taking us back to the 1980s, with her Youth Training Scheme for teachers (okay, apprenticeships), and back to the 2000s with her “social opportunity” areas. Let’s time-travel a little: it’s summer […]

Katie Hopkins is not a suitable speaker for schools

The ASCL recommendation that Katie Hopkins be allowed to speak in schools, as long as alternative views are presented, is dangerous and potentially misleading, says Bill Bolloten Last month the journalist Katie Hopkins announced a series of school talks for 14 to 16-year-olds, which she has branded the “Stand Strong School Tour”. Hopkins has a […]

Ofsted is right about the knowledge-rich curriculum

The inspectorate doesn’t always get things right, says Mark Lehain, but its latest review is important Ofsted gets a lot of hate from teachers. It’s just so easy to blame it, and wish it wasn’t there, especially when school leaders cry “it’s what Ofsted wants” when introducing a new initiative. (Spoiler alert: it isn’t.) While I […]