At the chalkface: Capitalism in the classroom 27 October 2020 No good teacher ever preaches, especially English teachers. We deal in ambiguity, complexity, beauty, not brute certainty – in some kind of truth. But these days, as Gramsci said, “to tell the truth is revolutionary”...
What costs the pursuit of personal statement experiences? 26 October 2020 Are young people’s teenage years being lost because of the pressure to experience a range of ‘personal-statement-worthy’ activities for their CVs? Paolo Canonica is worried
Covid-19: Increasing problems of poor pupil behaviour 20 October 2020 The NASUWT is receiving increasing reports of pupils using Covid-19 as part of poor behaviour, including coughing at school staff and deliberately flouting safety rules. Dr Patrick Roach says concerted action – from schools and government – is needed 1 comment
Teacher bias: We are all guilty 13 October 2020 PP, SEN, EAL – when we awarded our teacher-assessed grades this summer, did we award them to statistics and acronyms, or to individual learners? Chloe Testa looks at teacher bias and how we can finally begin to close the gaps
Supporting our teachers: Ministers must do better 5 October 2020 As the pandemic continues, teachers are reaching breaking point. Ministers must do better, and that begins with making guidance clearer and giving schools the time and resources required. Sophie Howells explains
Covid-19: Where is the plan for schools? 28 September 2020 Chaotic, blame-shifting, ineffective, incompetent – the government’s handling of education during the pandemic has hindered the recovery efforts of schools. An exasperated Paul Whiteman implores ministers to give us the support we need
Test & trace: A catalogue of broken promises 22 September 2020 The full re-opening of schools is reliant on an effective Covid-19 testing system. And yet we are still waiting. Jon Richards despairs at the bombast of this government and its grandiose broken promises
Employability skills will become even more crucial post-Covid 22 September 2020 With youth unemployment rates rising dramatically, employability skills must be at the heart of education in our post-Covid world, says school leader Neil Miller
Where now after Covid’s ‘Great Pause’? 16 September 2020 Why do we educate? What is important? The Covid experience must change how we think about education. In a new book, chair of the Headteachers’ Roundtable Stephen Tierney, says that clarity about the content that needs to be taught must be matched by clarity about the reason for teaching it...
The case for a national open school 14 September 2020 Has the coronavirus crisis and the reliance on remote learning during lockdown made the case for a national open school? Ros Morpeth and Anne Nicholls believe it has
Flawed assumptions plague our exams system 7 September 2020 The ‘mutant algorithm’ made a series of flawed assumptions about students’ exam results. But our exam system has always had at its heart several flawed assumptions, says Dr Mary Bousted
At the chalkface: Poetry is not an option 2 September 2020 This initiative is bone-stupid, philistine, condescending, insulting. Who are these “respondents”, these blockheads, who wouldn’t know a poem if it bit them in the bum? Ian Whitwham on Ofqual's plan to shelve poetry...
We must face up to inequality and unfairness in our exams system 24 August 2020 After the u-turn over the awarding of this year’s examination grades, Dr Patrick Roach says there are important longer term questions to ask about entrenched inequality and unfairness in our exams system 1 comment
Covid recovery: A broad curriculum for all 13 July 2020 Schools must heed the government’s call to teach an ‘ambitious and broad curriculum’ from September. We cannot constrict our focus to core subjects or knowledge, says Deborah Lawson
Youth services & Covid recovery: A missed opportunity 13 July 2020 Youth services could form a crucial part of the effort to fully re-open schools from September and, in the longer term, could help pupils to recover from the impact of lockdown – but the government is failing to recognise this potential, says Leigh Middleton
Culture: Do you know what you believe in? 6 July 2020 If you cannot decide what your beliefs are, you should give up trying to create a culture in your school. Katharine Birbalsingh explains how they went about creating the culture of Michaela Community School
How GCSEs must change after Covid-19 3 July 2020 The GCSE examination system has been plunged into chaos. When the pandemic is under control, we cannot simply return to the status quo. Chloe Testa proposes a new approach
It is time to be braver and bolder with careers education 30 June 2020 Research shows that students' careers aspirations do not match the jobs that are available. Ruth Gilbert says it is time for a braver approach to careers education...
#CelebrateEd: Five days of inspiration from the North East 29 June 2020 The second annual #CelebrateEd conference took place recently as teachers from across the North East shared best practice and inspiration. Sean Harris was there (virtually)
The way forward post-lockdown: Some simple suggestions 24 June 2020 The government’s handling of education during the coronavirus crisis has lacked a coherent strategy. Geoff Barton puts forward a number of simple, logical solutions for the challenges facing schools in the coming months 1 comment
LGBT: Shut out of education 22 June 2020 LGBT-inclusive education can change a young person’s life. We need to get it right from the start, says Stonewall’s Sidonie Bertrand-Shelton
Coronavirus: Chaotic guidance has exhausted schools 22 June 2020 The chaotic nature of the DfE’s guidance around coronavirus is exhausting schools and must be addressed if school’s are to re-open more fully in September, says Kevin Courtney
At the chalkface: It’s what teachers do 15 June 2020 'There was a ship!!!' – I’d shriek in a borderline psychotic voice, somewhere between full tilt Johnny Rotten and Laurence Olivier’s Richard III. I scared the tinies witless. Ian Whitwham on teaching in the time of corona
Back to school: One NQT's hopes and fears ahead of June 15 10 June 2020 An asthma sufferer, our NQT diarist has been working from home since March 23. He is now preparing to head back into the classroom from June 15. He discusses both his anxiety and his hopes...
Why schools need to put staff first 8 June 2020 A new education book offers a ‘2030 blueprint’ to revitalise our schools by unashamedly putting our staff first. Co-author John Tomsett – a school leader and the co-founder of the Headteachers' Roundtable – explains why it is staff, and not students, who must come first…
13 October 2020