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24 June 2026

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Opinion

Why Morgan’s plan to fire heads of ‘coasting schools’ relies on imaginary people

So, what does the government’s new ‘coasting schools’ plan actually involve? Things we know: – As soon as a school is identified as ‘failing’ the Regional School Commissioner will intervene immediately. – If the school does not have a ‘credible plan or capacity’ for turnaround then the government will make more moves. – Headteachers, and […]

Thoughts from after the election

The Conservatives have a clear majority. So what is the reality for school leaders, governors and teachers? Many of us will remember the 1997 election and the glow of Tony Blair’s campaign mantra: education, education, education! We recall, too, the excellent, school-sympathetic secretaries of state for education under Labour – Blunkett, Morris, Johnson, even Balls […]

It’s a chance to hit the accelerator

There are the challenges of securing sufficient places, teachers and funding, but with a majority government and an experienced secretary of state, the government has an extraordinary opportunity to push through bold education reforms The election has given David Cameron and his government an enormous boost. Not only have they managed to secure a majority, […]

The system could be given the freedoms to be great

It looks like a busy five years for Nicky Morgan: 500 new free schools, an extra 17,500 maths and physics teachers needed, new headteachers for schools “requiring improvement”, and the academisation of failing and coasting secondary schools. The education secretary has a lot to do after wielding her “stick” during the election campaign: primary heads […]

Why we should focus on well-rounded young people – not exceptional grades

Earlier this week the headteacher of Lady Eleanor Holles School, Heather Hanbury, launched an attack at the state of the current education system and its focus on the attainment of high grade test results. For a headteacher, to say that a C grade is perfectly acceptable is not only brave, but something which has been […]

Small is not always beautiful

One governing body is challenging “statutory guidance” on governing body size. It wants to reflect its large and diverse community so, come September, there will be 12 co-opted governors on board . . . As governors of a community school proud of its status as a strategic resource for the local authority, we have just fulfilled our […]

All talk and lots of action

Supporting all pupils to develop their speech, language and communication skills is everybody’s responsibility and can be a part of every lesson Speech, language and communication needs, or SLCN, is the most common special educational need within state-funded primary schools. But, while the identification of SLCN has increased by about 70 per cent in recent […]

Would you trust a human to mark your work?

You might say no to a driverless car or a pilotless plane, but it is time to trust computers to do your marking Question: A boy climbs slowly to the top of a slide and then slides down. At which point will his kinetic energy be a maximum? One student wrote as his answer: When […]