Released KS2 results re-ignite the debate over primary testing. However, the problem with Sats tests is their purpose, not testing itself: the Sats currently exist to prove pupils have reached the required level, rather than to gauge pupil understanding and ability.
Someone to share council tax bills and dinner with; must have an appetite for exotic holidays; GSOH (Good Salary, Own House) essential, writes Annaliese Briggs.
The coalition Government’s ‘free schools’ proposal hasn’t so much split religious believers from atheists, but more those who accept parent choice as a progressive reform, and those who reject it. Despite the fears from all sides, there is a good chance that all of Britain’s diverse belief systems will benefit if schools gain more independence.
Yesterday (27th July), EU foreign ministers agreed to open accession negotiations with Iceland, just a year after the country formerly applied for membership of the EU, writes Natalie Hamill. The move coincided with David Cameron’s first visit to Ankara, where he lamented the lack of progress on Turkey’s candidature and identified himself as the “strongest… [Read More]
The Coalition has dropped plans to grant anonymity to men accused of rape, following protest from female MPs and rape victim groups, writes Meike Beckford.
“O Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou Romeo?” laments Juliet from a shabbily built balcony, borrowed from the set of Evita. If the Treasury has anything to do with proceedings, Romeo may not turn up at all, writes Annaliese Briggs.
Geraint Davies MP wants to end the use of anonymous pre-paid credit cards on the grounds that they can be used to purchase child pornography. The problem with his suggestion is that it doesn’t take into account all the manifold legitimate uses of pre-paid credit cards. In fact, they might well be much more of… [Read More]
We are sending far too many offenders to prison: at least, that is the new meme round Westminster. Ken Clarke, in a speech last month, complained that ‘Just banging up more and more people [for longer] without actively seeking to change them is what you would expect of Victorian England.’ Today Crispin Blunt, Clarke’s parliamentary… [Read More]
“This is not a European Union competence … so as President of the EU Commission I will not take a position on this issue”. This is a phrase seldom used by President Barroso, but he chose his words wisely when asked to comment on recent campaigns to ban the burka, the full body veil worn… [Read More]
Part of an ongoing examination of academies’ curricula, the latest revelation from Parliamentary Questions tabled by Tristram Hunt MP is that there is a huge shortfall of academic entries in academies: