Schools
The Tories have one real success in government – and they’re scared to talk about it
Schools are the one area where this government has made a real, positive difference – but it’s scared stiff of saying so
Children’s radio was once at the core of the BBC - now it’s all but disappeared
It was a bit of a surprise to hear Jarvis Cocker, the embodiment of cool and former frontman of Pulp,…
Nicky Morgan vs Socrates
After the Philae space-lab’s triumph, one can see why Education Secretary Nicky Morgan should have hymned the ‘Stem’ subjects (science, technology, engineering…
If you want an argument against state-school-only Oxbridge colleges, just look at me
I read with some interest the proposal for Oxford and Cambridge to set up state-school-only colleges in the Guardian this…
Richard Madeley’s diary: Forgetting Tom Conti’s name, and other harrowing experiences
Oh God, it’s happened again. Another evening where I’m surrounded by people I know personally or have interviewed, and I…
Why there’s no such thing as an Etonian
Finally, just in the last few years I’d say, we’ve all begun to accept the role of nature in the…
I believe in animal research. But it’s time to draw a line
I believe in animal research. But is there really a justification for using animals in biology lessons?
How Wales was betrayed by its (Labour) government.
Devolution has left my country with catastrophic misgovernment
Let's face it – Ray Honeyford got it right on Islam and education
The Bradford head teacher was dismissed for emphasising nationality over religion. He should have been applauded
The Birmingham ‘Trojan Horse plot’ is — like WMD — a neocon fantasy
I can remember where I was when Colin Powell presented to the United Nations his evidence for the existence of…
Sugata Mitra interview: ‘A reduction in resources can cause something nice to happen’
Children can teach each other, believes Sugata Mitra — if you give them the internet, a big screen and a helpful granny on Skype
Knowing things isn’t ‘20th century’, Justin Webb. It’s the foundation of a successful life
It’s scarcely possible to open a newspaper or magazine these days without reading an article about how the latest technological…
Dear Mary: How can I escape the tyranny of teacher presents?
Q. It’s only April and yet I am being emailed by parents who have already taken charge and are drumming…
Why I won’t let my children learn French
Why I won’t let my children be taught French
When did we stop ‘tossing’ coins?
What kind of scientists do school inspectors not need to be? ‘Inspectors don’t need to be rocket scientists.’ For what…
Dyslexia is meaningless. But don't worry – so is ADHD
There is a beautiful symmetry to all things, I think, and probably related somehow to the concept of karma. Only…
I always defended Michael Gove. Then I met him
Michael Gove inspires irrational hatred among my fellow children’s authors. After interviewing him, I can finally see why
Teacher training’s war on science
There’s an increasing amount of evidence about how we learn. But you won’t hear about it at teacher training college
Schools need freeing from the right as well as the left
How politicians wreck education
Warning: upspeak can wreck your career
Upspeak can damage your career prospects
Super-heads are a super-huge mistake
The system of parachuting top teachers into failing schools seems to have been a recipe for corruption
Why I want my schools to ban the burka (and the miniskirt)
For most people, the question of whether to ban the burka is a purely theoretical one. Not for me. As…
Dear Mary: How can I stop this bore reading his novel aloud?
Q. Is there a polite way of halting a wannabe novelist from reading his oeuvre aloud to an unwilling audience?…
Mind your language: Who says there's a 'correct name' for the penis?
In a very rum letter to the Daily Telegraph, the Mother’s Union of all people joined with some other bodies…
Leader: Ring-fencing the NHS is only making matters worse
According to popular wisdom on the left — and even among some in the Conservative party — this ought to have been…
