Reports about the goings on in Oasis Academy school in Sheerness, Kent have recently drawn the attention of the press for all the wrong reasons. Apparently, teachers have been subjected to racial slurs, threats of sexual violence and even death threats. Staff have been physically assaulted and have had to avoid chairs being thrown at…
The advance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already causing headaches for teachers, with students able to utilise the tech to complete homework and assignments. While AI could bring astonishing benefits to society, we must be aware of the problems it can cause. I have long advocated the importance of tests and exams for students so…
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has U-turned on taking away the charitable status of private schools because the effect would be devastating. Its removal would also have had the effect of schools abolishing assisted places, bursaries and scholarships for poorer students. Starmer would have been criticised for harming the education of poor children, so he…
I have just returned in mid-September from a week-long foreign holiday, and I was surprised to see so many English families with children. According to a recent report from consultancy Public First there has been a ‘seismic shift’ in parents’ attitudes to school attendance. My anecdotal evidence supports the report’s findings that absenteeism is growing,…
Despite the grumbling from certain quarters it is good to see school exam results return to pre-pandemic grading. These year groups have had it tough with reduced teaching due to the closure of schools during the pandemic and teacher strikes. Nevertheless, the grades had to return to 2019 levels at some point because otherwise, the…