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14 November 2026

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Opinion

Without a foundation in fact, oracy isn’t sufficient

Of course pupils need to learn to express themselves, says John Blake, but the fact is that without a firm basis in knowledge, their rhetoric will fall flat There are not many people who think literacy and numeracy are inessential objectives of our children’s education, even if there is far less agreement about how best […]

You don’t need facts to win a debate, you need confidence

Knowledge isn’t enough to navigate the world: children need to be taught the power of their own voice, argues Anthony David It’s not often that Parliament is silenced by a 15-year-old who is struggling not to cry as they try to convey the importance of being able to speak out, but that is what happened […]

Sex education reforms: can someone in the DfE give us a straight answer?

In Blackadder: Back and forth, our eponymous antihero runs into Shakespeare after an experiment with a time machine goes awry. “This is for every schoolboy and schoolgirl for the next four hundred years!” Blackadder cries, as he punches the Bard in the face. If I had a time machine, I should like to go back […]

Teachers shouldn’t have to be careers advisers

While teachers have an important role to play in inspiring pupils’ future careers, it’s wrongheaded to claim they should replace trained careers advisers, argues Denise Bertuchi In a column last week, Schools Week’s contributing editor Laura McInerney argued that teachers are the best careers advisers. While it’s true that many pupils find teachers a good […]

The apprenticeship levy: How to make the best of bad policy

The apprenticeship levy is badly designed and implemented even worse, but schools are stuck with it for now, says Jon Coles Although the government is keen that the apprenticeship levy is not seen as a tax, it is very clearly a payroll tax. It drives up the costs of employment and – especially in a […]

Artificial intelligence will NOT make knowledge redundant

Without knowledge there can be no meaningful analysis, argues Carl Hendrick, who isn’t that worried about the immediate future of AI I read with interest the recent comments from Professor Rose Luckin and others, that advances in artificial intelligence will render the knowledge-based curriculum redundant, as students will be able to look up facts and information […]

Extracurricular doesn’t count as ‘broad and balanced’

There have been two recent government announcements on funding for arts activities in schools. But their extracurricular nature leaves some students out in the cold, argues Anita Kerwin-Nye Alexander is 11. He has autism and is in a special unit at a mainstream school. He is an exceptionally talented musician and this year he led […]

A simple guide to the next wave of free school applications

Wave 13 of the free schools applications opened today. Mark Lehain explains how it differs from previous rounds The next wave of free school applications announced today will be quite different to the ones that have gone before – so if you are remotely interested in the policy or maybe even bidding yourself, it’s worth […]

The government must not allow segregated faith schools in through the back door

The cap on religious selection at faith schools may not have been lifted but the war isn’t over, writes Andrew Copson; the new voluntary-aided faith schools will still be harmful The government’s U-turn on removing the 50-per-cent cap on religious selection at new faith schools, is a victory for fairness and inclusion in our state education […]