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24 June 2026

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Opinion

Do the education manifesto pledges stand up?

It’s the election next week and all the parties have waved their education banners long and hard. But the evidence that any of their policies might work in raising attainment or participation is slight or non-existent With the general election looming, the three major political parties have all promised to protect the education budget for […]

If I were education secretary…

To deliver the best possible education for all children we need motivated, well-paid and respected teachers. School budgets must be sufficient to meet the needs of every pupil and our children deserve to be taught by qualified teachers. The current curriculum is not encouraging critical or creative thinking, particularly at primary level where the succession of tests […]

Vocational qualifications don’t need more ‘rigour’

Despite the many flaws, teachers must act with integrity when delivering and assessing the constantly changing BTECs The BTEC qualification causes many anxieties for many teachers. It is perpetually changing, not least because of the desire of consecutive education secretaries to “bring more rigour” to vocational education. There are some egregious faults as a result […]

If I were education secretary…

As the chief executive of a multi-academy trust, my team of three executives and myself spend nearly all of our time trying to make sure that the trust and the schools within in are following all the rules. But it is impossible to be 100 per cent compliant. Not only is there a ridiculous amount […]

The practicalities of making students study English to 18

More teachers will be needed to teach students who don’t really want to be there. . . and just as more budget cuts are about to hit further education. Why hasn’t someone thought this through? After teaching English in secondary schools for 12 or so years, I began working as an FE lecturer in Warwickshire; […]

While some children get Apple Watches – others go hungry

Half of my facebook timeline are excited about a £500 Apple Watch; the other half are despairing over news that teachers are spending their own cash to feed, wash and clothe increasingly poor children. What a world we live in. When first learning of today’s NAHT survey, and its finding that teachers are paying from their own […]

If you’re poor, you won’t turn up to school

School-Home Support can offer practical help to schools, families and pupils. Pupils like Dana, 7, who was missing 30 per cent of her lessons Department for Education absence statistics show a welcome reduction in the number of children who are persistently absent from school. About 67,000 fewer children missed 15 per cent or more of […]

Closing the science gender divide in schools

The latest statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that the school science gender divide in the UK is amongst the largest in the world, with boys outperforming girls by up to 13 per cent. However, for some career paths, notably those in health and well being, there has been a […]

To Google, or not to Google: that is the question

Exam time is looming. As the weeks of revision draw to an end, thousands of students will soon be sitting in rows in large exam rooms, ready to pick up their pens and to turn over their papers. “You may begin!” It’s 2015. How much longer can pen and paper exams be the only medium […]