Much excitement over the comments by the former Children's Minister Tim Loughton evidence to the Education Select Committee. I rather sensed that Mr Loughton's criticisms of his former Department were intended to be general ones about the culture and procedure rather than personal ones about Michael Gove as the Secretary of State. There was then […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter I like and respect both Michael Gove and Tim Loughton. So I can scarcely believe what's happened between them – whether before the last reshuffle or after it. Earlier this week, Loughton compared Gove, the Education Secretary, to "Young Mr Grace", the store owner in Are You Being Served? "Most […]
Usually we talk about schools being state schools or fee-paying schools. However St Mary's Church of England primary school in Dilwyn has been operating, since September 2011, as an independent school which charges no fees and is run by volunteers. It only has 22 pupils but still achieved a favourable Oftsed verdict and has now […]
Where there are bad state schools those who can afford to (even if they are Labour voters, even if it means missing a holiday abroad) are likely to pay fees to send their children to independent schools. Where the state schools are good they are less likely to do so. Academy status for schools and […]
John Bald on breaking down class barriers to educational advance Interviewed in The Spectator just before Christmas , Michael Gove mentioned his "new favourite book", "The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes", by Jonathan Rose, which has just run to a second edition. It sheds light on his thinking, which can at times be […]
Beccles Free School, a new school in Suffolk founded by an excellent local charity called the Seckford Foundation, now has over a hundred pupils. The Foundation also runs the well-regarded and successful Woodbridge School (independent) and wants to replicate its approach in the state sector. However, Beccles Free School had a difficult opening in September […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter For the second year the Education Secretary Michael Gove wins the highest honour in ConHome's end-of-year awards as voted for by Tory members; 36.1% voted for the Education Secretary – "for his continuing education reforms"; 29.1% voted for IDS – "for his continuing welfare reforms"; 8.9% for Theresa May […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter The Telegraph describes David Cameron's Christmas message "as the most Christian of its kind from an incumbent prime minister". The Daily Mail concludes that Mr Cameron "went further than ever last night when he quoted from the Bible, referring to Jesus as ‘the light of all mankind’ and the […]
John Bald says primary schools teach the Tudors and the Second World War – but nothing in between I promised history this week, but could not find the report from the all-party committee that had been covered by the BBC. All routes led back to its website, and it has clearly acted in haste. The […]
An interesting paper from Policy Exchange calls for a big increase in the number of children in care attending boarding school. At present only 1% of "Looked After Children" attend boarding school. Most of those are with a disability in a specialist school (560 out of the 970 children.) There are 14 local authorities that […]
Alastair Campbell blogs in delight that he and Camilla Batmanghelidh got more applause for opposing the idea of performance related teachers pay, before an Any Questions audience, than Tim Montgomerie and Mark Littlewood for backing the idea. Mr Campbell feels that the views of this BBC audience are representative of public opinion. Confusingly, he adds: […]
Some very encouraging figures today in primary school results showing a dramatic improvement in a single year. The measure of if a school is failing is where fewer than 60% of its pupils achieve at least the expected level (Level 4) in English and maths combined. In 2011, 1,310 primary schools were below that "floor." […]
John Bald on the way to teach grammar As promised last week, these are the key elements of grammar that we need to know, understand and be able to apply as we write. This is not the only way to teach these points, but it has worked well with people aged from nine upwards, is […]
By Peter HoskinFollow Peter on Twitter Two bits of evidence, today, to suggest that Michael Gove is escalating his fight against the opponents of schools reform, and particularly the teaching unions… EXHIBIT A is the letter that he has sent out to schools about the industrial action currently being undertaken by two teaching unions, the NUT […]
I am very sorry to report the death of Nick Seaton, a contributor to Conservative Home, and for 25 years, the Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education. While less well known than the Campaign for Real Ale, which inspired its title, the CRE has quietly proved to be as effective. As the CRE says: […]