Opinion | Schools Week

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

Opinion

Children affected by trauma must be allowed to thrive, rather than just survive

All schools need to be aware of children affected by trauma and have practical measures in place to help…

Expert Contributor

LYNN MILES

Opinion

I was a grizzled, senior lawyer. Now I teach history in south London

Chris Forsyth reflects on his move to the classroom with Now Teach My metamorphosis from a grizzled, senior business…

Expert Contributor

CHRIS FORSYTH

Opinion

Mobile phones in the classroom: to ban, or not to ban?

Love them or loathe them, mobile phones are high in any popularity poll. Children often seem to have them…

Expert Contributor

EVE DEBBAGE

Opinion

What happened when teachers stopped marking?

As part of the Department for Education (DfE) Workload Challenge, I was commissioned by Tarporley High School and Sixth…

Expert Contributor

STUART KIME

Must Read

Opinion

Why digital transformation must be a priority for schools in 2026

AI tools to improve teaching, workloads, admin and pupil results are all here – the challenge is to implement…

Freddie Whittaker

Chris Thackray

Opinion

First 16-year-old voters are already political, but they need schools’ support

Teenagers who will vote in 2029 are forming views without the structure or understanding schools should provide

Freddie Whittaker

Katie Carr

Opinion

Forget the buzzword bingo, here’s how schools can get belonging right

Children show us belonging is simple. If we see them, hear them, know them and accept them for who…

Freddie Whittaker

Anthony Benedict

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

University clearing: How teachers can support students

All the important details school staff need to help youngsters through clearing this year

John Dickens

5mo

Sam Sykes

5mo

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

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