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22 May 2026

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Opinion

How schools can be the happiest places to work

While the headlines can sometimes be alarmist, Henry Stewart explains how schools can be one of the happiest places to work. Could schools be great places to work in, where teachers feel trusted and valued? That was the question posed at a recent conference on ‘happy productive schoolsl. A survey carried out in advance of […]

The complicated ‘truths’ of the SAT resit debate

The Conservatives will force year 7 pupils to resit their SAT exams if they don’t achieve a level 4 while at primary school. Is it a good idea? The answer isn’t as black and white as we may initially believe.   Things that are true – Children who don’t get a level 4 in English […]

What would be the benefits (and problems) of a teacher union merger?

Steve Williams, reader in employment relations at the University of Portsmouth, gives his thoughts on what a teacher union merger might mean for members – plus the potential benefits and pitfalls. News that the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has reportedly made progress on ‘joint working’ with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), once […]

Should lessons in snoozing be part of the school curriculum?

Lack of sleep among teenagers could be causing serious problems for their health and academic progression. But are schools part of their insomnia problems? Sleep problems among teenagers commonly arise due to physical, mental and social changes taking place in their life. The pressures of homework, exams, relationships with friends, social activities, part-time jobs and […]

“If I were education secretary I would…”

I would first recognise the excellence in state schools throughout the country. I would do this by indicating what I meant by “high-impact” schools that develop the whole child, and identifying at least six high-impact teachers/principals and installing them in my office as “first reactors” to all initiatives. I would then: 1. Fund an independent group […]

Key questions for multi-academy trust boards

About one in five state funded schools in England is now an academy, and more than half of those are governed by one board of trustees in a multi-academy trust (MAT). The number – and proportion – of academies within a formal group is growing as governing boards realise the risks of remaining isolated, particularly […]

“If I were education secretary I would…”

The first thing I would do is drastically limit my own powers, and those of my successors, by irreversibly vesting a major chunk of them in a non-political National Institute of Education (NIE). Politicians are condemned by the nature of the political process and by their own lack of experience to — or at least […]

“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 and teachers alike. How exciting can it be to spend the year preparing for a test? In my country, the United States, boys are falling further and further behind in school and I believe the high-stakes […]

“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 the treasure trove of information on the national pupil database. And I would fund education statisticians to run workshops around the country for interested teachers and parents who want to understand how they can use this […]