Opinion | Schools Week

Opinion: Workforce

We must show that the grass is greenest in schools to build our workforce

Recruitment and retention woes aren’t unique to the sector. We just have to work harder to attract and hold…

JL Dutaut

Penny Swain

Opinion: Leadership

How good is school governance in 2024?

A new report assesses the quality of governance today and finds encouraging progress but also some areas for concern,…

JL Dutaut

Emma Knights

Manifesto 2024

Six policies to better link school funding with improvement

Funding schools properly isn’t all about the amount of money on offer; there’s plenty a government could do to…

JL Dutaut

Micon Metcalfe

Manifesto 2024

Three policies to put coastal schools on a course to success

Coastal schools continue to face very specific challenges that require a new approach – and the same approach would…

JL Dutaut

Seamus Murphy

The Knowledge

How are trusts doing at closing disadvantage gaps?

New research from the South West Social Mobility Commission reveals the major academy trusts still have a lot of…

JL Dutaut

Lee Elliot Major and Beth Brooks

Opinion: Policy

Move slow and build: Labour’s manifesto offers hope

Some will criticise its lack of radicalism, says Liz Robinson, but its policies are grounded in respect for the…

JL Dutaut

Liz Robinson

Opinion: Policy

The Conservatives’ manifesto is a blueprint for a collapsing house

These are policies for the managed decline of education rather than a charter for the renewal it so desperately…

JL Dutaut

Dan Morrow

Opinion: Policy

Building on historic successes: How do the manifestos stack up?

The main parties’ manifestos are pleasingly focused on building rather than tearing down, but they are storing tough decisions…

JL Dutaut

Iain Mansfield

Opinion: Leadership

How to ensure your GoaT is the GOAT

How to herd your tribe of volunteer governors and trustees to ensure the best response from them in any…

JL Dutaut

Ian Phillips

Must Read

Opinion: Accountability

Ofsted have wasted an opportunity for fundamental reform

The new framework is rushed and doesn’t deliver the change the sector needs. Bridget Phillipson must step in

JL Dutaut

Daniel Kebede

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

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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