Opinion | Schools Week

Opinion

“No, Minister.” Why Ofqual’s independence is no joking matter

There is room for improvement of Ofqual, but its independence is crucial to a functioning system, writes this member…

JL Dutaut

Professor Jo-Anne Baird

Exams

Delaying 2021 exams is a good idea – here’s why

Pushing exams back a few weeks next summer is the best option. Arguments for more major exam reform fall…

JL Dutaut

JON COLES

Opinion

Government must act to support and protect supply teachers

Supply teaching is precarious – and costly – at the best of times. These teachers need solutions to see…

JL Dutaut

PATRICK ROACH

Opinion: SEND

An Ofsted report found gaps in SEND support in mainstream schools.

I’ve had to tell 17 SEND pupils they can’t come to school – and I’m furious

Reading a recent report by ASK Research with the NFER about children at special education schools and colleges, I…

Jess Staufenberg

DOMINIC WALL

Exams

Ministers can’t muddle their way through to summer 2021 exams

Schools needed a plan for next summer’s exams weeks ago. Without it, we are already risking another fiasco, writes…

JL Dutaut

SARAH HANNAFIN

Opinion

Suspensions among pupils back up during second year of pandemic

Heightened risks mean more should be done to prevent exclusions now

The reality for excluded children is already dismaying and Covid could make it worse. It’s time for concerted action,…

JL Dutaut

CLAIRE HEALD

Opinion

We’d planned the first day back at school perfectly. Then it rained

It would be no exaggeration to say the last few months rank up there with the toughest of my…

Jess Staufenberg

ALASTAIR O’CONNOR

Opinion

Refusing to fund Covid costs will plunge schools like mine back into the red

Yesterday felt like the final straw for many school leaders up and down the country. Schools minister Nick Gibb…

Jess Staufenberg

PAUL GOSLING

Opinion

While schools leaders continue to deliver, Westminster continues to fail them

Schools will do their job as they have throughout this crisis – now it’s time politicians do theirs, writes…

JL Dutaut

PAUL WHITEMAN

Must Read

Opinion: Policy

How we’ve boosted social mobility in our deprived area

Here’s how we went from persistently low outcomes to the most improved school in the country for disadvantaged students

JL Dutaut

23h

Steve Rogers

23h

Opinion: Governance

Local governance is key to community cohesion

This volunteers’ week, let’s pledge to better support our governors as the community champions they are in these times…

JL Dutaut

Emma Balchin

Opinion: Governance

How we’re bucking the trend and recruiting great governors

Amid a national shortage of governors, here’s how our group has had success in recruiting and retaining professionals who…

JL Dutaut

Jenny Pharo

ITT

Degree apprenticeships are key to increasing and diversifying recruitment

Work to deliver the new qualification should continue at pace to meet recruitment challenges by making teaching more accessible,…

JL Dutaut

Melanie Renowden

ITT

ITT: Which is the odd one out?

The deeply flawed ITT reforms are a threat to sustainable teacher supply for purely ideological purposes, writes David Spendlove

JL Dutaut

David Spendlove

EXAMS

Exams

How sitting an exam re-affirmed my respect for our students

I still believe exams to be the best way of testing academic knowledge and understanding but they’re no bagatelle,…

JL Dutaut

James Handscombe

Exams

The number of penalties handed out to students caught cheating has risen for a second year

The stereotype that could be feeding exam anxiety

The ‘snowflake’ stereotype is damaging and unjustified, but a more pervasive idea may be perpetuating exam anxiety, says Stephen…

JL Dutaut

Stephen Caldwell

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