Opinion

“If I were education secretary I would…”

I would face the facts. Since the advent of high-stakes testing, many schools have become depressing places for students...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

“If I were education secretary I would…”

I would publish more data and set fewer targets. I would make it easier for research organisations to access...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

Why be a headteacher?

The next generation of school leaders should look to the National Standards of Excellence for Headteachers for inspiration The...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

What education questions to ask political canvassers

Forget 24-hour news, the internet and Twitter: parliamentary candidates will still go canvassing before May 7. Be prepared and...

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor
Opinion

Lib Dem Conference: Round-up of education policy offers

If this weekend’s Liberal Democrat spring conference taught us anything, it’s that education rises up the agenda when the...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Opinion

Ofsted should only ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ schools

Ofsted has become too pervasive. It is time now for it to become a regulator, rather than a school...

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor
Opinion

The myth busters

Education bursts with myths: such as teachers don’t need qualifications, local authorities control schools and academies raise standards. But...

Janet Downs
Janet Downs
Opinion

Scrapping levels was great says Nick Gibb – but he forgets the impact on workload

Last week, members of the government’s ‘assessment without levels’ commission were announced. Much was made of the fact that...

Laura McInerney
Laura McInerney
Opinion

Land sharing: it’s going to be difficult to resist

The DfE cannot compel academies to share their land, but changes to funding agreements will make it difficult to...

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor