Opinion | Schools Week

Opinion

Dear Gavin Williamson, it’s time to invest in teachers’ development

The new education secretary must prioritise targeted investment in teachers and school leaders, argues Melanie Renowden. At Ambition Institute,…

Freddie Whittaker

MELANIE RENOWDEN

Opinion

How a trust-wide knowledge-rich curriculum can drive improvements

Implementing a trust-wide curriculum for primary schools wasn’t easy, but two years on we’re reaping the benefits, writes Rowena…

Freddie Whittaker

Rowena Hackwood

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

Must Read

Opinion: Policy

Curriculum: Labour is on the right path – but it’s a tightrope

The government must find a way to re-engage young people without sacrificing what we’ve gained from the past decade’s…

JL Dutaut

Becks Boomer-Clark

Opinion: Solutions

Attendance: What to do now to prevent September no-shows

For some students, the summer break can create a chasm between home and school they can’t easily cross come…

JL Dutaut

17h

Mikaela Shalders

17h

Opinion: Legal

How Labour should (and shouldn’t) reform SEND tribunals

Holding local authorities to account for repeatedly abusing the tribunal process (and bad faith engagement in mediation) is key

JL Dutaut

17h

Qaisar Sheikh

17h

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

Have something to say?

We’re always keen to hear from new voices. If you’ve got an opinion you want to share with the education community why not job

Comment on articles and content

Get in touch

Send your pitch to our commissioning editor.