Nick Gibb | Schools Week

Nick Gibb is wrong: PIRLS data does not support synthetic phonics

The schools minister is looking at the results of a major international reading test wrong, and his dogmatic insistence on teaching children to read with phonics is a sham, argues the NEU’s Kevin Courtney Overwhelmed by problems of teacher supply and faced with rising evidence of the effects of funding cuts, it’s understandable that Nick […]

All aboard the ‘Skills Revolution’! (Even you, Mr Gibb)

“The Conservative Party has got a major problem when its own secretary of state for education is on the stage announcing a ‘skills revolution’, but the schools minister won’t let civil servants write the word ‘skills’ in any of his correspondence.” Making this point while sat alongside a former Tory minister and in front of […]

Tighter legislation on private alternative provision ignored by Gibb

Politicians from across the political spectrum have called on the government to “implement in full” a piece of legislation concerning private alternative provision that was passed nearly a decade ago and totally ignored. In 2008, the Labour government passed tighter rules about part-time providers counting as “independent educational institutions” that must be regulated and inspected […]

Minister slams academics who won’t engage with researchED

Schools minister Nick Gibb has slammed academics refusing to engage with researchED, an international project that aims to make teachers research-literate. Speaking at researchED’s fifth annual national conference at Chobham Academy in Stratford, Gibb pulled no punches in criticising those who have shunned the project. “It’s a shame some would rather stay in their ivory […]

The four key trends in the 2017 KS2 primary test results

Provisional results of the primary school key stage 2 SATs tests broken down at local authority and regional level have been released by the Department for Education this morning. Here are the key points from today’s new data. 1. London scoops the top results again London dominates local authority areas in terms of pupils who […]

Gibb fails to resolve summer-born admissions despite promises

Schools minister Nick Gibb is under fire for “failing to act” nearly two years after promising to stop the “postcode lottery” of unfair admissions for summer-born children. Gibb (pictured) launched a review in July 2015 to investigate the admission rules for summer-born children, which he said was an issue “repeatedly raised on the doorstep” during […]

Nick Gibb ‘comfortable’ with schools’ approach to cost cutting

The schools minister Nick Gibb has said he is “comfortable” with the way schools are dealing with rising cost pressures. It comes despite headteachers recently revealing how they are having to cut back on textbooks, cleaning and maintenance to balance the books, on top of making teaching and support staff redundant. The Institute for Fiscal […]

Gibb urged to make arts EBacc commitment after £300m music hub pledge

Schools minister Nick Gibb has been urged to prove his commitment to the arts by introducing a “more creative EBacc” after announcing £300 million funding to secure the future of music education hubs. Gibb said the continued investment for the hubs, running since 2012, will help thousands of youngsters from all backgrounds to enjoy life-changing […]

Meet Nick Gibb’s new ‘teacher in residence’

If you’ve heard the schools minister Nick Gibb deliver a speech in the past few years, there’s a strong chance it was written by one of his “teachers in residence”. The scheme, which sees serving teachers employed as civil servants by the Department for Education (DfE) for periods of between eight and 12 months, has […]