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24 July 2026

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Opinion

Nick Gibb is wrong about modern foreign languages

Boosting foreign language GCSE entries is not the way to improve our country’s language skills – but there is a better way, insists David Harbourne The Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, wants 90% of 16-year-olds to take a foreign language GCSE. In a recent House of Commons debate on the EBacc, he said this is necessary […]

What to make of ‘British values’ in the aftermath of Brexit?

More than 37 headteachers and representatives of professional associations have signed an open letter to Justine Greening calling for a renewed commitment to the teaching of PSHE, Citizenship and Religion in post-Brexit Britain. The letter to the Secretary of State for Education, dated Wednesday 27th July, points out that values education such as PSHE, Citizenship and Religion […]

Academy trust expenses claims: The dos and don’ts

It was hard not to be shocked by the Dispatches/Observer investigation into academy trust expenses and perks. The Department for Education (DfE) states that academy trusts are independent charitable companies. They are also classified by the Office for National Statistics as central government public sector bodies. While academies are responsible for their own financial management, they […]

How to secure the right business partner for your school

Schools and businesses are increasingly being encouraged to establish partnerships.  Yet with so many different organisations to work with, it can be difficult for school leaders to know where to start. Philip Avery shares his insights and advice on what works – and just as importantly what doesn’t. I have spoken to many school leaders […]

A more balanced curriculum could lead us to a less poisonous class divide

The curriculum reforms of the current government are based on the idea that academic qualifications are a prerequisite for success. Ed Cadwallader argues that this places middle-class students at an advantage, proposing curriculum diversification to help fix the class divide. Whether or not you agree that the vote to leave the European Union was a […]

Teaching myths, debunked

A new IPPR report, Beyond the Plateau, blames poor quality CPD for the fact that many teachers are not progressing to become the excellent teachers it claims they could be. The report’s author, Matt Hood, has today put forward proposals for an Institute of Advanced Education to help reverse the trend. Here he takes a closer look at what can be done. […]

The Progress 8 measure explained

If you are not changing your exam entry policy, and results are the same, it is likely your EBacc3 score will drop, explains David Blow June 2016 will be the first year that Progress 8 takes effect for school accountability, along with other headline measures. This is a major step forward as it means that the […]

When setting up a multi academy trust, what appointments do you have to make?

If you are setting up a multi academy trust, what are the minimum number of executive appointments you need to make and what roles do they do? Jessica says: In answering this question, I have focused on the appointment of the board of trustees (also known as the directors) of the multi academy trust (MAT). […]