There’s been a sweeping change of the guard at the top of our political establishment, with a grammar school educated Prime Minster now at the helm and the first-ever Education Secretary to have attended a comprehensive secondary school. Since Theresa May and Justine Greening, the new Education Secretary, took hold of the reins of power,…
It’s been a difficult time for some parents and teachers of year 6 children who have been the first to feel the effect of tougher SATs. But I would urge them all to not be disheartened – more rigorous testing will put each child on the path to a successful secondary school education. My biggest…
Many of us with a passion for literature have fond memories of the school library as a place that nurtured our love of the written word. This is why I read with disappointment the findings from a recent survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) about library provision in UK schools. Although 94%…
On Tuesday the news bulletins were filled with scenes of happy children stomping through woods and playing among nature. But this wasn’t because the bank holiday had been extended – no, these children should have been at school. It was the first ‘kids strike’ when thousands of parents deliberately kept their children away from school…
I’m a huge advocate of driving up standards in our education system but when it comes to academies I wish the government would put on the brakes. In his 2016 Budget, the Chancellor announced that all schools will become academies by 2022. Don’t get me wrong, there are many advantages to schools having more autonomy…