Category Archives: Conservatives
Gove’s discipline plan fails to excite
There are few things more appealing to the right of the Tory Party than a bit of good old-fashioned discipline. Nothing whets the appetite like a bit of comprehensive school chaos, children running riot and feckless public servants losing control. … Continue reading
Filed under Conservatives, Michael Gove, Politics - general, Schools
Animal Farm and Brave New World should be on Gove’s reading list
There is something particularly odd about Michael Gove’s remark that children should be reading 50 books a year. It’s not that he says this in the midst of a spending round so austere that libraries are being closed (one presumes … Continue reading
Filed under Conservatives, Michael Gove, Nick Gibb, Policy, Politics - general, Uncategorized
It’s the teaching, stupid
Why – I ask myself at infuriatingly regular intervals – in our chastened economic times, is Michael Gove spending money (and so much time) on such a speculative, long-odds, hit and hope punt as free schools? Let us assume the … Continue reading
Filed under Conservatives, Free Schools, Michael Gove, Policy, Politics - general, Schools, Uncategorized
Cameron’s privatisation plan is big society by coercion
For those of us who think this Government’s direction of travel on public services is the political equivalent of going for a midnight drive the wrong way down a dual carriageway with car lights turned off and eyes scrunched firmly … Continue reading
Filed under Cameron, Conservatives, Policy, Politics - general, Schools
Cameron should embrace his inner socialist
Wandering around The People’s Supermarket the other day, in (yet another) attempt to make it clear what he means by the Big Society, the Prime Minister, with cameras whirring and microphones in range, let something slip. It happened when he … Continue reading
Filed under Cameron, Conservatives, Policy, Politics - general
Jabbed on the nose by Katharine Birbalsingh
Every now and then, you happen upon an argument so ridiculous that it resembles a jab on the nose – head spins, mind jars, words fail. This week, an article this week by Katharine Birbalsingh had just this effect. In … Continue reading
Filed under Conservatives, Michael Gove, Schools
Gibb v Hattie: The Verdict
After Nick Gibb’s pounding at the hands of Professor John Hattie in Round 1 of the ‘Improving Schools Challenge’, its time for a more sober analysis of the other strands of the School Minister’s ‘vision’ for schools. In an interview … Continue reading
Filed under Conservatives, Curriculum, Nick Gibb, Policy, Schools
Only business will profit from free schools
When it comes to ‘free schools’, there seems to be a pretty significant difference of opinion between the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, and his boss, Education Secretary, Michael Gove. Between them they can’t seem to decide whether schools should be … Continue reading
Filed under Conservatives, Funding, Lib Dems, Nick Gibb, Policy, Politics - general, Schools
Should an accountant be in charge of schools?
Ministerial appointments are a mysterious process. There’s no job advertisement; no person specification; no interview panel ticking boxes and rating each candidate’s suitability; no expectant wait for a letter in the post. As a result, they can turn up some … Continue reading
Filed under Conservatives, Lib Dems, Nick Gibb, Policy, Politics - general, Schools
Nick Gibb adds confusion to uncertainty
Poor Jim Rose. After months of consultations on a new curriculum for primary schools, the writing of a lengthy report and the adoption of his proposals by the last Government, his plan to enliven and simplify the curriculum have been … Continue reading
Filed under Cameron, Conservatives, Curriculum, Policy, Schools
