Jonathan Gullis: Our reforms to teacher training put us on the side of trainees, pupils and taxpayers

The same unions that opposed our successful schools reforms are gearing up for battle once again.

Iain Dale: Teaching unions are loud but wrong on vaccines. Besides, what about those without powerful public advocates?

Plus: Have you got your popcorn ready for Salmond’s appearance before a committee of the Scottish Parliament this lunchtime?

John Bald: Teachers must be free to explain grammar in terms that children can understand

To our opponents, the term “fronted adverbial” is the gift that keeps on giving. No-one without a degree in linguistics knows what it means.

WATCH: Hunt – There is a “very compelling case” for vaccinating teachers

But the former Health Secretary cautions that “critical care beds are full of people between 60 and 75.”

WATCH: Halfon presses Williamson on the Government’s pandemic support for teachers and pupils

The Chair of the Education Select Committee presses the Secretary of State on access to technology, assessment, and vaccination for school staff.

Why is Williamson fighting so hard to prevent schools breaking up early for Christmas?

The last week of term is scarcely critical. Is he trying to avoid letting Greenwich set a precedent – or just squaring off with the unions?

Patrick Timms: Blame the unions, not teachers themselves, if our schools don’t re-open

With a ten-year background working in the education sector, I know that teachers are some of the most dedicated people you will ever meet.

Daniel Hannan: Politicians can’t win. When they don’t give us what we want, we protest. And when they then do, we carry on.

These are the same elected representatives the whom we insisted should “step back and trust the professionals”.

As a leading epidemiologist says school closures may have been a “mistake”, did the decision lack adequate debate?

Mark Woolhouse, who is a member of SAGE, has suggested that children do not transmit the virus in the same way as adults.

The Government toughens up on school reopenings

This week Gavin Williamson said that parents would be fined if they do not send their children back to school. But Labour is not happy.

The big speech Johnson makes next week should be about education

Parents need to be persuaded to send their children back to school – and until that happens life chances will be blighted and economic growth lessened.

Robert Halfon: The Government was wise to give way to Rashford. Now let him head up the Social Mobility Commission.

Plus: vision from the top for left-behind pupils, a National Education Broadcasting Service, and Alan Turing summer schools.

Tim Clark: Ministers must take the time to find a safe way to reopen schools

Not only would doing otherwise expose teachers and pupils to unacceptable risk, but the political backlash could be immense.

Stephen James: As a state school teacher, I want to spell it out. The teaching unions don’t speak for me.

Instead of finding solutions to problems, the NEU finds problems in solutions – for example, telling its members not to engage with lessons via the internet.

Mark Lehain: The rivalries and Corbynism that are driving the biggest education union’s extremist stance on school reopenings

I’m a former union rep myself – and am finding that schools, empowered by the Gove reforms, are quietly getting on with preparations,