Opinion | Schools Week

Opinion

Schools can no longer close the gap for disadvantaged pupils

Over the past year, disadvantaged children have fallen even further behind their more affluent classmates in terms of GCSE…

Freddie Whittaker

JO HUTCHINSON

Opinion

Let teachers embrace a career that values lifelong learning

The Chartered College of Teaching is two-and-a-half years old. What does the future hold for the organisation? Dame Alison…

Freddie Whittaker

DAME ALISON PEACOCK

Opinion

Brexit could give schools space to get on with the job – we mustn’t waste this opportunity

Whoever is lucky enough to be education secretary under the new prime minister is going to have to perform…

John Dickens

MARK LEHAIN and JONATHAN SIMONS

Opinion

MATs should be inspected, but it isn’t going to happen any time soon

With more than half of all pupils now educated in academies it is only logical that multi academy trusts…

Freddie Whittaker

FRANK NORRIS

Opinion

Summer review: Research of the year 2018-19

To mark the end of the school year, this column highlights some of the most interesting studies published in…

John Dickens

HARRY FLETCHER-WOOD

Opinion

The negativity over MATs is damaging – trust leaders need to speak up

The academy sector is evolving, but it takes time to lead and build an entire system, writes Tiffany Beck….

Pippa Allen-Kinross

TIFFANY BECK

Opinion

What to do when an inspector calls

Leaders should keep a cool head and take practical steps to prepare for the phone call from Ofsted, writes…

Pippa Allen-Kinross

Ian Hartwright

Opinion

Scrapping the QTS skills tests just passes the problem onto providers

By scrapping the QTS skills tests, the DfE is getting rid of its own barometer for aspiration, writes Professor…

Freddie Whittaker

PROFESSOR DAVID SPENDLOVE

Opinion

Why new research on the cost of academies vs maintained schools does not stack up

New research into the relative costs of academies and LA-maintained schools is flawed because it offers only a loose…

Freddie Whittaker

LEORA CRUDDAS

Must Read

Opinion: Solutions

How to mitigate disadvantage in the classroom

We must get under the bonnet of disadvantage as it applies to individuals to have any chance of mitigating…

JL Dutaut

Finola Wilson

Opinion: Workforce

The sector has taken another big step in parent-teacher support

Developments at the National Education Union’s conference give hope that we may soon stem the flow of parents out…

JL Dutaut

Emma Sheppard

Opinion: Accountability

How Ofsted can ensure inclusion and equity go hand in hand

Ofsted must ensure its new framework for inclusion is applied consistently and fairly in every school

JL Dutaut

Lee Elliot Major

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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