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21 August 2026

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Opinion

Free schools are a cost-effective option

Amid reports that plans to expand free schools could be scrapped to fund the manifesto promise of an additional £4 billion for education, Barnaby Lenon argues that free schools are actually a cost-effective option I am chairman of governors of a free school with 420 pupils. The school is in a converted office block rented […]

Multi-academy trusts are great for career progression

Ignore the headlines: multi-academy trusts are showing great potential for maximising the talents of teachers, leaders and others, says Michael Pain There’s no doubt the academy system has received a pretty harsh press of late. If we’re not seeing headlines comparing trust leaders to the bankers who crashed the financial system, we’re being told of […]

What can school leaders do to improve career prospects for Muslim girls?

Schools can be instrumental in addressing the discrepancy in the number of Muslim girls in the world of work, says Mehwash Kauser A report published in 2015 by the Muslim Council of Britain concluded that only 29 per cent of Muslim women aged between 16 and 24 are in employment, compared with 50 per cent […]

Teaching isn’t about being on the right team

Don’t be too sure that your view of education is the only right one, says Phil Beadle. You will miss the usefulness of what other people have to say and “become blind to the truth of things” In early February 2006, I wrote an article that concluded “cod” psychological inventories such as learning styles were […]

Should pupils have to wear school ties?

Following the news that MPs will no longer have to wear ties to work, Adam McNicholas considers the case for schools “Do I think it essential that a Member [of Parliament] has to wear a tie? No.” So said the speaker of the House of Commons last week. Admitting that opinions on his own sartorial […]

Final exam results are becoming less valid

The evidence base for exam results is becoming less valid as the system moves back to wholly end-of-course testing, says Harry Torrance There are good reasons, rooted in traditional assessment concerns for validity and reliability, to involve teachers in setting and marking national test work in their own schools (coursework, project work and so forth). […]

Streaming dampens the aspirations of white working-class boys

Many white working-class boys say ability-based grouping dampened their aspirations, says Mary-Claire Travers White working-class boys in England are the lowest academic achievers at 16 for any socio-economic class grouping, according to Sutton Trust data, with only 24 per cent achieving five or more A*-C GCSEs, compared with a national average of 69 per cent. […]

New Ofsted chief sets out her battle plans

Amanda Spielman is starting to warm up in her role at Ofsted and it is exciting, if slightly alarming, to watch. Her inspector’s focus on curriculum is correct and difficult. Correct because schools have started to concentrate too much on exams. Primary pupils spend most of their final year learning the contrived version of English […]

Setting the record straight on the Edexcel A-level exam ‘leaks’

It is a matter of profound regret to me that examinations for two of this year’s A-levels, economics and maths, have been overshadowed by concerns about whether or not content from the papers was made available before the exams were sat. This situation has caused anxiety for schools, teachers, students and their parents. Many will […]