Knocking on fifty and too expensive……where are all our talented, experienced teachers? For me………it’s back to the classroom. So finally the government in its recent new launch has finally admitted that there is both a teacher retention and recruitment problem.  Their solution is not going to help. Focusing on recruitment at the expense of retention Read more about Knocking on fifty and too expensive……where are all our talented, experienced teachers?[…]

I find it difficult to find words for the perilous condition of State education at the moment and the levels of   ‘relative’ and indeed ‘absolute’ poverty children endure in 2018.  The government proclaims that its major priority is to defend its people. For me that’s not simply about warfare but its about defending  dignity, disease, Read more about Many pupils in England are hungry and badly clothed , say teachers. Why do teachers provide an ’emergency service’ to children ?[…]

The Guardian’s headline today makes for further depressing reading with respect to school standards. We are in unprecedented times with respect to staff recruitment and retention in our schools. Poor behaviour is inevitably going to increase workload, stress and anxiety in what is already acknowledged as  a very difficult job. So why are some schools Read more about According to the Guardian today, two thirds of teachers are thinking about leaving due to poor behaviour. A crisis in our schools?[…]

I always have a wry smile when school leaders tell me about how inclusive their school is  and how they personalise the learning for all.  I’m even more amused when they go on to tell me how wonderful the alternative provision is in the local area for those children who ‘struggle’.  I become hysterical when Read more about Is your school really inclusive? You should be worried if it is not ![…]

I have been thinking for some time about writing a blog about Ofsted.  Ofsted is a highly emotive subject in education circles with often binary perspectives: Those who believe Ofsted is a great thing (mostly Ofsted) and those who despise the organisation (mainly teachers). The binary debate about Ofsted is not helpful in analysing its Read more about Why I believe Ofsted can be a force for good if it dares to reform and has additional funding.[…]

I am always concerned when I read high profile  ‘World class’ (self-proclaimed) educational leaders spout out rhetoric about how wonderful the multi-academy trust system is for our education system and remind us  how did we ever thrive without such a model in the past?  It is dangerous when people are deluded and wedded to the Read more about Is the MAT model fatally flawed? The evidence is mounting up that the system is not really fit for purpose.[…]

Why are school leaders exploiting vulnerable students and their families to game the league tables? I am delighted that Amanda Spielman will be condemning the practice of  ‘off-rolling’ later today in her presentation. Nearly 10,000 students per year have disappeared from school rolls and many are year 11 students who disappear just before the January census where Read more about Student off-rolling: Tactical game playing by unscrupulous school leaders[…]

At the moment Ofsted are currently surveying teacher well-being. They’ve sampled a selection of schools; though certainly from responses on social media, many teachers are not aware of the actual survey.  So what is the current state of teacher well-being with respect to Ofsted? Some will say its dire, others will say its pretty benign Read more about Impact of Ofsted on teacher well-being – Is this executive agent of the State contributing to mental health problems? Is it time for a new Ofsted paradigm?[…]

#School: Does the documentary series paint a biased picture of gloom and doom or is it the raw reality of  today’s state education system? Episode 3  was the game-changer for me. If I am honest, I did not enjoy episodes 1 & 2 of #school. I found myself as a school leader shouting at the Read more about #School: Does the documentary series paint a biased picture of gloom and doom or is it the raw reality of today’s state education system? Episode 3 changed my view.[…]

  So, at the moment a school can be judged  Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate and be further categorised as special measures or serious weaknesses.  The stakes are very high for education  leaders and for many a poor judgement can mean a school is forced to be academised, gains a poor reputation and enters a Read more about 100 Second Blog: Former NSC Sir David Carter has suggested that Ofsted should consider having three grades – Requires Support, Good and Outstanding.  There is real merit in this idea. Colin Cattanach tells us why he would support new Ofsted grades.[…]