To join in, first register with us, then share your views here
Fantastic story this. I would love to know the details as to how the governors came to this decision. read more and comment →
Latest comment by rosalyn: "I understand this is a parent promoted school in partnership with LB Lambeth. Surely must make it more interesting that it doesn't seek academy status!..."
Comment + Debate
I am a teacher and parent in the North of England. I live in a town with an under-performing secondary - there is currently no other viable choice for children, although the existing provision is under-subscribed. The school is working hard to turn itself around and has made progress in recent years. There is an application, due to be ... read more and comment →
Latest comment by Guest: "Jane, Fascinating. Where is the report? Could you share. Why are parents deserting the school you mention? When did they all leave ? How many left? Or is this all made up conjecture?..."
Comment + Debate
East Reading is being removed from the Designated Area ( catchment areas) of an outstanding comprehensive, Maiden Erlegh, their nearest, local school, which is situated just across the border in Wokingham borough. They are to be forced to walk considerably farther to a school judged only "satisfactory" and which has a poor reputation locally. At the same time, ... read more and comment →
Latest comment by Fiona Lane: "Highdown, JMA and Blessed Hugh Farringdon are all over-subscribed, as was Bulmershe this year, none of them being local schools for those who live in East Reading. I am not suggesting ending selection, just pointing out that East Reading ......"
Comment + Debate
The latest free school to promise small class sizes is the former New Labour advisor's free school in Newham, Newham School 21. What I don't understand is how so many free schools can promise smaller class sizes unless they've been promised better funding than your average state school -- or are paying their staff less money, in which case how ... read more and comment →
Latest comment by Francis Gilbert: "Good idea, do you have his number?..."
Comment + Debate
I am not that surprised that Gove is encouraging independent schools to stick their oar into Academies and state schools. It is further proof, if more is needed, that the ideology behind them is not really a coherent policy to improve education across the board for everyone (but particularly for the most disadvantaged) but to favour those in much less ... read more and comment →
Latest comment by georgina: "Interesting! In our area parents wanting a free school in our small Suffolk town have teamed up with a charity who just happen to run an exclusive fee paying school nearby...."
Comment + Debate Fiona asked this question in another post, and since this affects me I thought I would investigate. The first place to start is the Treasury website, which has a FAQ section. I found this approach useful. Here are the FAQs relevant to teachers, which can be accessed in full here. The Treasury is claiming that some teachers will not necessarily be ... read more and comment →
Just to keep those interested in the Louth saga updated. This has been a really key week for our campaign. The schools held a series of meetings for parents to explain the drivers for changing the schools set up in Louth. I am delighted with some of the principles behind the ideas, a) a broad comprehensive education will be promised on each ... read more and comment →
Latest comment by Allan Beavis: "Thanks for sharing this Sarah and it really underlines the importance of constructive and inclusive discussion so that all options are fully explored. Well done !..."
Comment + Debate
I've just read the DfE press release from Michael Gove : Michael Gove welcomes independent schools' contribution to academies I'm not especially ideologically opposed to academies as such - As a teacher I've worked with the policies of several governments over the years, and most have had some redeeming features, and some failures. Academies can I feel, offer an environment ... read more and comment →
Latest comment by Stephen Smith: "Thanks for your kind comments. One thing I find baffling about Michael Gove is his inability to sell his policies to the public well, or should that be : his determination to sell his policies to the public badly. If MG ......"
Comment + Debate The government has just published its spending data on amounts over £25,000, which can be accessed here. For example, this March, it appears that £8.5 million was spent on the Academies agenda by the Department (see Table 1 below). I am not clear exactly what on because I thought Partnership for Schools was disseminating all the money to academies. Another puzzle. ... read more and comment →
Latest comment by Tracy Hannigan: "There is data going back a bit but this is the first set that actually identifies an individual free school project. It is very hard to figure out how much is likely spent on a given project - it requires ......"
Comment + Debate I couldn't believe it, my fellow teacher, a long-standing Conservative (and a rather wonderful 'old school' teacher too) was furious. He said: "This government seems to have no morals, no backbone. I phoned my union today and found out that if the changes to the pensions go through, I'll have to work until I'm 95 just to survive in retirement." ... read more and comment →
Latest comment by Fiona Millar: "I may be missing something here but who is going to pay for the contributions to private health schemes?..."
Comment + Debate