Opinion | Schools Week

Opinion

Can a school decide to leave an academy trust?

As one regional schools commissioner ponders whether a school can voluntarily quit its multi-academy trust, education consultant Simon Foulkes…

Tom Mendelsohn

Opinion

Amanda Spielman is right: our schools are too risk averse

Risk-aversion in schools has gone too far, argues Andy Phippen. We need to empower our pupils to manage and…

Tom Mendelsohn

Opinion

We know how to close the attainment gap – but government and schools must commit to it

The answer to closing the attainment gap begins at home, and in helping poverty-stricken parents as much as their…

Expert Contributor

Opinion

50 years before we have an equitable school system

We’re making slow progress in closing the attainment gap, claims the Education Policy Institute’s Jo Hutchinson, because the picture…

Tom Mendelsohn

Opinion

Is extending school hours a good idea? Here’s what the new government research says…

New government research reveals pupil and teacher attitudes towards a longer school day. Did they say what you expected?…

Laura McInerney

Opinion

Tougher words on academy pay are welcome, but we need action

The Department for Education’s move to toughen up rules over academy trust executive pay and good governance is welcome,…

John Dickens

Opinion

We need a Bacc for the future, not a curriculum from 1904

The English Baccalaueate is driving pupils – especially those from poorer backgrounds – away from creative subjects. This cannot…

Tom Mendelsohn

Opinion

The NFF is saved – but major issues still remain for schools funding

The government has rescued the National Funding Formula by the skin of its teeth. The Education Policy Institute was…

Expert Contributor

Opinion

Corbyn and Rayner have the wrong ideas for schools

Tory education policies in the 2017 election didn’t hit home with voters, but Jeremy Corbyn has the wrong ideas…

Expert Contributor

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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