Skip to content
24 June 2026

Become a member today for unlimited access to Schools Week

Enjoy expert journalism on schools policy with fewer ads and exclusive benefits
subscribe

Opinion

State boarding schools: What are they? How do they work?

State boarding schools are an unusual hybrid. They sound a bit like private schools (they’re not), they sound as if they’re free (also wrong), and they sound like something we don’t have in England. But we do. In fact, we have 38 of them. Unfortunately, most people only understand schools as local places that children […]

School funding changes: made simple

The way in which the Dedicated Schools Grant, one of the main components of school funding, is calculated is changing. The Department for Education says that, for the first time in a decade, funding will be based on pupil characteristics rather than historic levels of spending. With additional guidance recently brought out on this, Schools […]

SEN: schools can’t do it alone

Away from boarding schools and instead looking at SEN provision, Mark Baker discusses the challenges of budget cuts in schools attempting to meet new reforms Children and young people with special educational needs (SEN), their parents and schools are currently facing huge changes. Quite rightly, parents have wanted more of a say in SEN provision, […]

Developing enterprising skills can never be a quick-fix

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a good start, but it’s not enough to teach young people all the skills they need to be entrepreneurs Global Entrepreneurship Week is back; a mid-November flurry of enterprise and entrepreneurial activity. It will be a week in schools of competitions, challenge days and trade fairs. Enabling Enterprise will be busy too: […]

Is that apple for teacher an old custom or a bribe?

Schools must not ignore the Bribery Act but a few simple steps should make it easy to avoid running the risk of breaking the law There is a tradition that on the first day of term a bright-eyed and keen pupil will bring their teacher an apple. It’s a cute and harmless custom, isn’t it? […]

School Funding Changes: Made Simple

The way in which the Dedicated Schools Grant, one of the main components of school funding, is calculated is changing. The Department for Education says that, for the first time in a decade, funding will be based on pupil characteristics rather than historic levels of spending. With additional guidance recently brought out on this, Schools […]

Why the NGA is on a mission to improve human resources in schools

School governors often spend more time governing than trustees in many other charities. Are staffing issues to blame? This is Trustees’ Week, but I imagine almost all academy trustees will be blissfully unaware of it. That’s entirely understandable; as school improvement is prioritised for volunteers with limited time. It is a shame that school governance […]

Schools Week editorials

Edition eight editorial New DfE building to include gym and art collection When Nicky Morgan said spare money should be spent in schools, she was right. Given we have reported on schools with malfunctioning generators and temporary premises there are plenty of places that need it. Though the government may save money with the move, it […]