Opinion

Education bill: Who will pay the bills as academies are passed around between trusts?

With the late inclusion of academies and free schools in new coasting schools legislation, schools could be passed around...

Phil Reynolds
Phil Reynolds
Opinion

Primary assessments a mess? Unions should propose a radical alternative

The schools sector is up in arms about primary assessments – both baseline and the standardised tests. I deliberately...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

Morgan’s primary assessment video misses the point

Education secretary Nicky Morgan has released a video to explain the government’s plans for primary assessments. Brian Lightman has watched it,...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
Opinion

Is having a go at northern schools part of Michael Wilshaw’s job description?

Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw yesterday criticised schools in the north west – but was he within his remit...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
Opinion

Key Stage 1 changes take writing back to the 19th Century

I attended a briefing by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) on February 5 for local authority leaders of...

John Dickens
John Dickens
Opinion

Segregation is holding our children back

Next month a report on segregation will be published for the prime minister. Hopefully it will mark the point...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

Teachers must learn to tame technology

There are powerful tools already available in schools. Staff must realise they don’t need to upgrade, they need to...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

Factory-farmed teachers will fail our children

The new-look training courses are trying to turn out fully-formed teachers in a matter of weeks, when what they...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

EBacc and primary testing pushing arts out of the curriculum

New findings from The National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD) Survey Report 2015-16 published this week...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips