Secondary opinion
Time education stopped being a political football, continually kicked in all directions
Published 22 November 2008
I have heard people say that it doesn’t matter which political party gets in at the next election – it will mainly be more of the same. David Cameron is another version of Tony Blair. Probably our next Prime Minister will be elected on sound bites and personality (if the economy improves).
Corridors are so passe - it's time to dump Victorian school ideals
Published 24 October 2008
A couple of months ago I visited several new academies with colleagues to develop ideas around the design of new school buildings.
Sats marking was a shambles, but it’s the tests themselves that are the real issue
Published 23 September 2008
One of the most original and entertaining excuses for missing homework that I ever heard went something like this: “Well, I was doing my homework at a table near an open window.The price we pay for this is worried children, some of whom take failure very hard, especially when it is made so public, and “teaching to the test”. No one would pretend that this does not happen.
There was a way to handle this, Mr Balls, but political grandstanding wasn’t it...
Published 22 July 2008
There are 638 schools across the country that have to improve or close.
I’m confident our modern education system isn’t like my old car – a rusty Talbot Horizon
Published 25 June 2008
Our first car was a white Talbot Horizon 1.3 LS, I bought it when it was four years old and was extremely proud of it.
More focus on pupil development
Published 26 May 2008
Since the advent of the Every Child Matters agenda there has been a new concentration on pupil’s personal development.
If we want respect from young people we have to earn it – not try to humiliate them
Published 26 May 2008
I got in trouble after my last column in Learning. It seems my wife didn’t like my revelations about our early relationship – consequently I was made to sit in the far corner of the room and not spoken to for a couple of hours.
Here’s your chance to make your choices about your education. Grab it with both hands
Published 26 May 2008
My wife and I are childhood sweethearts; we met whilst we were still at school.
We have a great chance to ensure every young person can attend a good school
Published 26 May 2008
In some parts of the country, notably London and the South East, parents have been planning how to get their child into a ‘good’ secondary school ever since it was born.
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