Leadership

This open letter calls on the incoming Prime Minister to reset the relationship between government and schools. It argues that the timing of recent DfE guidance and consultations has placed unnecessary pressure on school leaders, undermining workload, wellbeing and trust at a time of unprecedented challenge.

This article explores why apprenticeship education is distinctive, not because apprentices are fundamentally different from other students, but because learning is intentionally integrated with professional practice. It examines how universities, employers and apprentices work together to create a powerful model of higher education.

As another academic year draws to a close, this blog reflects on the challenges schools have faced and looks ahead to what lies on the horizon. From funding and inclusion to accountability, curriculum reform and political change, what should school leaders be preparing for next?

The DfE's new Inclusion Bases guidance sets out an ambitious vision for more inclusive mainstream education. But can schools deliver it without sufficient funding, specialist expertise and SEND capacity? I explore the opportunities, challenges and leadership implications for schools and trusts.

With speculation growing about a potential Andy Burnham premiership, what could this mean for schools and the government's education reforms? This article explores the possible implications for the White Paper, SEND, academies, devolution and the key ministerial appointments school leaders should watch.

The new DfE Enrichment Framework places enrichment at the heart of education. This blog explores the opportunities, challenges and leadership implications for schools.

As Pride Month begins, new Childline data highlights the fears many LGBTQ+ young people still face. Why belonging, acceptance and mental wellbeing matter in every school.

The recently published report from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) should make uncomfortable reading for anyone involved in school leadership. Its central finding is both striking and concerning: pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are not evenly distributed across England's mainstream schools. Instead, they're becoming increasingly concentrated within a subset of schools. Some schools are carrying significantly higher levels

Partnership oversight in higher education has become increasingly complex. As universities work across larger and more diverse partnership portfolios, the challenge is no longer simply one of compliance or operational management. It’s about how institutions secure continuous improvement, respond proportionately to risk and, ultimately, safeguard students’ educational entitlement across a wide range of contexts. Yet historically, whilst universities have often had partnership

Based on early apprenticeship inspection reports under the revised framework, this blog explores key themes shaping provision. From curriculum coherence to inclusion and stretch, it highlights what inspectors are focusing on and what this means for leaders preparing for inspection.

Improvement planning should be a dynamic, disciplined process, not a static document. Rooted in self-evaluation, focused on root causes and delivered through 100-day cycles, this approach sharpens priorities, strengthens impact and drives sustained improvement.

A practical guide to writing evaluatively, helping leaders move beyond description to precise judgement. Introduces the Funnelling Approach and Janus lens to sharpen self-evaluation, strengthen evidence use and drive more effective improvement planning.