Opinion | Schools Week

Opinion

Every child can read – don’t write them off

We must stop rating reading skills on a bell curve – it lets us leave struggling pupils behind, says…

Expert Contributor

ITT, SEND

Why a SEND initial teacher training pathway is a bad idea

Inclusive pedagogy should be built into the fabric of every initial teacher training programme, rather than bolted on as…

Expert Contributor

Opinion

Schools No One Wants are in limbo – here’s what needs to change

The system for rebrokering schools needs reforming to better support vulnerable schools and pupils during the transition to a…

Expert Contributor

Opinion

Is it time to bring back the EdTech quango Becta?

England has fallen behind as an international EdTEch player, so is it time to bring back a centralised body…

Expert Contributor

Opinion

Governors! Here’s how to tell if your turnaround head is effective

Heads with the best long-term school improvement plans are often nearly fired two years into the job simply because…

Expert Contributor

Opinion

Animal dissection must be cut from the curriculum

The modern curriculum is no place for cutting up dead animals, argues PETA’s Dr Julia Baines As a teacher,…

Tom Mendelsohn

Opinion

What’s the law on confiscating a pupil’s mobile phone?

Confiscation has been a hot topic on social media this week. Ramona Derbyshire clarifies schools’ and teachers’ legal rights…

Tom Mendelsohn

Opinion

How to improve academy trust governance

Too many multi-academy trusts are struggling under poor governance at trust level, says Michael Pain, but Forum Education has…

Tom Mendelsohn

Opinion

Folks, we need to talk about exam re-marks

We need to talk about exam re-marks – and quickly, says editor Laura McInerney It’s the first week of…

Laura McInerney

Must Read

Labour’s first year

Six priorities for Bridget Phillipson’s second year at the helm

Labour has broadened the definition of success for schools. Here’s how it can now ensure everyone works towards this…

JL Dutaut

Liz Robinson

Letters to the editor

Letters to the editor, 5 September 2025

Schools Week’s legendary cartoonist hangs up his pen, perceptions of behaviour diverge, and a data disaster looms

JL Dutaut

Opinion: Accountability

How we’ll go further to ensure the consistency of our inspections

Roll-out of the new framework will be complemented by measures to ensure inspection outcomes are valid and reliable,

JL Dutaut

Rory Gribbell and Dr Verena Braehler

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

Sam Sykes

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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