Opinion

Let’s give Ofsted’s short inspections two cheers (for now)

The lighter-touch regime is a welcome move, but why is the chief inspector still obsessing over pupils being well...

Colin Richards
Colin Richards
Opinion

‘Talking down the job of a headteacher stops people doing it’

Being a headteacher is a tough job: but it is also a brilliant one. Let’s talk up the positives...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

‘Health care asks patients to design its services, why don’t we ask pupils?’

Disengaged pupils can be reconnected to their learning by teachers will to take innovative approaches already seen in the...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

You don’t need to be paid to do a professional job

Sir Michael Wilshaw is right: governors need professional development. But he’s wrong about the money. It would be a...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

Governors might be in danger of getting too much attention

As a chair of governors I agree with Michael Wilshaw’s commentary that “Governance is an issue that does not...

Colin Richards
Colin Richards
Opinion

Ofsted’s Michael Wilshaw praised primaries – but missed some important points

Ofsted’s Chief Inspector had positive words for primary schools in his first monthly address – but was it as...

Colin Richards
Colin Richards
Opinion

Getting maximum pupil opportunity at 14

Sir Michael Wilshaw’s CBI speech wasn’t about academic selection but about a move to high-quality vocational education being an...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips
Opinion

Should we care about no notice inspections?

In 2009, Ofsted trialled no notice inspections. This week they announced a second attempt. Liam Collins explains some unexpected...

Nicky Phillips
Nicky Phillips