Digging around in the undergrowth of schools reform in England Warwick Mansell's news and analysis site
The dishonesty of the schools white paper, and why it should be called out
Not-so-hidden agenda behind controversial forced academisations would be exposed in glare of greater transparency. No wonder decision-making happens in secret
Rolling news blog, week of October 7th
Rolling news blog, week of September 23rd
Is Labour moving in the right direction by replacing Ofsted with inspections triggered by parental, teacher and governor concerns?
Rolling news blog, week of September 16th
Rolling news blog, week of September 9th
Why is Ofsted using the term “cultural capital”, given that its definition seems to add so little meaning in the new inspection framework?
Five possible reasons why the number of schools choosing to become academies is slumping
Rolling news blog, week of June 17th
Rolling news blog, week of June 10th
Pupils being taken out of school to home educate during GCSE years? Ofsted should be interviewing their parents
Rolling news blog, week of April 29th
DfE presentation admits that “many schools are teaching to the test”
Is academisation privatisation? Just look at the control structures
Rolling news blog, April 4th
Rolling news blog, week of March 4th
Thoughts on recent curriculum developments
Rolling news blog, week of January 28th
Rolling news blog, week of January 21st
Rolling news blog, week of December 3rd
Rolling news blog, week of November 26th
Rolling news blog, week of November 19th
Rolling news blog, week of November 5th
Fresh questions in new analyses of shrinking GCSE cohorts
Rolling news blog, week of October 22nd
Rolling news blog, week of October 15th
Rolling news blog, week of October 8th
Statistical smoke and mirrors in education ministers’ recent pronouncements: part 1
Rolling news blog, week of October 1st
Rolling news blog, week of September 17th
Officials stamping their feet over not being involved in academy takeover discussions is no basis for deciding the future of our schools
Rolling news blog, week of September 3rd
Rolling news blog, week of July 23rd
England’s cobbled-together system for parcelling out our schools to incoming “sponsors” is a national disgrace
Rolling news blog, week of July 16th
Rolling news blog, week of July 9th
The fatal weakness in the government’s argument for “traditional academic” education
Rolling news blog, week of July 2nd
Rolling news blog, week of June 18th
Rolling news blog, week of June 11th
The gossip: week of June 4th
Why aren’t those running scandal-hit MATs being held to account by Parliament?
Rolling news blog, week of June 4th
Rolling news blog, week of May 21st
The Regional Schools Commissioner decision-making system gets ever more farcical
Rolling news blog, week of May 14th
Rolling news blog, week of May 8th
The Regional Schools Commissioner system for approving school takeovers is a disgrace
Rolling news blog, week of April 30th
Appoint a campaigning parent to replace Sir David Carter
Sir David Carter’s resignation underlines the flaws in his role
The gossip: week of April 23rd
Rolling news blog, week of April 23rd
The gossip: week of April 16th
Rolling news blog, week of April 16th
Free schools: the buck has to stop with the government
Rolling news blog, week of March 26th
Rolling news blog, week of March 19th
Rolling news blog, week of March 12th
Rolling news blog, week of March 5th
Rolling news blog, week of February 26th
Rolling news blog, week of February 19th
Rolling news blog, week of February 5th
Rolling news blog, week of January 29th
Rolling news blog, week of January 22nd
Time for full disclosure on academy pay
Rolling news blog, week of January 15th
Rolling news blog, week of January 8th
Rolling news blog, week of January 4th
Rolling news blog, week of December 18th
The academies policy’s defining weakness
Rolling news blog, week of December 11th
The DfE’s sidelining of the user perspective through the academies scheme
Rolling news blog, week of December 4th
Rolling news blog, week of November 27th
Rolling news blog, week of November 20th
Rolling news blog, week of 13
High academy CEO pay and some of its effects
Warm words but then there’s the reality…