education policy | Schools Week

Three days of stalking David Laws: Lib Dem Conference round-up

In politics there’s a thin line between ‘boring’ and ‘professional’. Over the four days of Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow, however, the Schools Minister – David Laws – somehow managed to be both. I knew entering his final session – a Ministerial Q&A – that there would likely be little of note for teachers. A […]

Can ‘apps’ help schools communicate better?

There are encouraging signs that the new education secretary is interested in the potential of technology to improve learning outcomes. The use of technology to improve learning has been a hot topic for governments past and present. Almost four years after taking office Michael Gove opened the inaugural meeting of the Education Technology Action Group […]

Liberal Democrat Party conference preview

Each week during the political conference season we will be inviting a commentator to give their views on what education policies they wish to see announced. Party conferences are odd occasions. Remnants of a previous age, in which political mass-engagement was the norm, they are now attended by a fraction of the population and for […]

“Nicky Morgan & The Narrative of Success (If Few Policies)”: Day Two Conservative Conference Round-Up

Labelling new education secretary, Nicky Morgan, as ‘continuity Gove’, initially seemed a smart move by Labour. But her Conservative Party Conference speech distinctly shifted the rhetoric and left the audience in no doubt that she’s now running her own show. Gone was the labelling of lefty teachers and union leaders as “the blob”. In came […]

Morgan’s Priorities & No-Thunder Boles: Day One Round-Up of Conservative Conference

The prevailing view among political commentators is that education isn’t a major issue for this election. If that’s true, the Conservative ministerial team aren’t letting it show. They have a battle narrative and are willing to use it. In an event jointly hosted by teaching unions NUT and ATL, junior edu-minister Sam Gyimah showed how […]

Conservative Party Conference preview

Each week during the political conference season we will be inviting a commentator to give their views on what education policies they wish to see announced. Will Bickford Smith gives his view ahead of Nick Morgan’s first conference speech as Education Secretary. There is no government department more greatly applauded, or reviled, than the Department for […]

Hunt’s Fight Back : Day 2 Roundup of Labour Conference

Where yesterday’s conference speeches from shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt felt like an imbalanced half of a football game; today felt like his comeback tour. In a speech and question session at the NASUWT union fringe Tristram Hunt came out fighting – defending Labour’s record on sponsored academies and outing problems with Ofsted. But let’s […]

Is it illegal to run a vegetarian school?

The introduction of universal free school meals for infants this month means questions are being asked about their nutritional and monetary value. However solicitor, Jade Kent, asks a different thorny question about their content. It’s an unusual question, but one that needs to be posed in an education system which now opens the door to […]

Tristram Hunt & the Speech of No Big Dreams: Day 1 Roundup of Labour Conference

Teachers returning to their classrooms after a mild September weekend would today be forgiven for believing two Tristram Hunts are roving Labour conference this year. The first attended Saturday’s “PolicyMeet” – a Labour Teachers and Education Foundation event, organised by John Blake – with different speakers from across the education sector giving their ideas about […]