League tables are flawed and should be ignored

New research by a leading educationalist warns that until flaws in schools performance measurements are solved, league tables and school report cards should be ignored.

His findings suggest that it does not matter what type of school a pupil attends – academy, grammar, specialist or faith school – as the institution itself will have little impact on student attainment.

Enterprising people are flocking back to the classroom

Teacher training course providers in Yorkshire have seen increases in the numbers of people making the leap from their long term job to apply to become teachers.

Professional Learning

More families to benefit from Assistive Technology

Families with children who have complex educational needs can now apply for a Home Access package tailored specifically to their needs as part of the Government’s Home Access programme.

Learning Outside the Classroom

New initiative to recruit physics teachers

New initiatives are being developed by the University of East Anglia in a bid to increase recruitment of physics teachers for the 2010/11 academic year and beyond.

Professional Learning

latest articles

Deaf children and social care provision

Deaf children are more likely to be abused, suffer mental health problems, struggle learning to read and become unemployed. Alys Young, Ros Hunt, Rosemary Oram and Carole Smith describe their Social Research with Deaf People research programme (SORD) – which investigated how local authorities help deaf children and adults.

Education Supervision Orders

Current dogma insists on prosecuting parents when their children play truant. But Jacqui Newvell insists that Education Supervision Orders – where a social worker is assigned to help a family over a year – are far more productive.

SEN: Are we getting value for money?

Early support for children struggling with SEN can save thousands of pounds helping them at secondary school – so why aren’t more schools investing in specialist tutors, asks Jean Gross?

A beginner’s guide to music therapy

On the 50th anniversary of Nordoff Robbins pioneering work in music therapy, Donald Wetherick explains music therapy and its benefts for children.

Enhancing Healthy Schools

Healthier children do better in learning and in life. By supporting children and young people to make positive changes to their behaviour regarding health and well-being, we can help them reach their full potential in terms of achievement and fulflment, as well as encouraging good habits which will beneft them now and in the future.

Latest features

Masters in Teaching and Learning: the journey continues

In the ever-evolving world of education, there are few new initiatives with as much potential to revolutionise teachers’ professional development as the new Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL). Here, Graham Holley, Chief Executive of the Training and Development Agency for Schools, explains.

Finding what works in education

After diagnosing a patient with a heart condition, a good doctor may turn to clinical research to determine the best treatment that is likely to work for that patient. But where does a teacher, school administrator, or policymaker go to find out what might work to help a struggling primary school reader or maths student?