A-level grades continue to rise
The number of A-level students receiving the top grade has increased for the 24th year in a row, official figures show. The proportion of A grades has increased from 22.8 per cent last year to 24.1 per cent – prompting the annual concern that the exams are being ‘dumbed down’. Data from the Department for […]
Johnson’s private school praise ‘opens debate’
Alan Johnson’s support for the private school system may be controversial but has brought to light a debate “that has to be had”, a teachers’ leader has admitted. The education secretary provoked controversy yesterday by saying state schools could learn from independent schools in the way they developed pupils’ social skills through teaching subjects such […]
Johnson: School reform does not end here
The controversial education bill agreed by MPs last night was “not the last word on reform”, Alan Johnson warned today. The new education secretary said the government would “push ahead with a refreshed and revitalised radicalism in our schools policy”, insisting that this constant drive was what had kept the political left together. “We’ll lose […]
Tories help fight off Labour schools rebellion
The government fought off a backbench rebellion of 69 MPs last night when the Conservatives helped them get through the report stage of the education bill. The Labour rebels broke the party line to support an amendment forcing schools who hoped to become self-governing trusts to first gain approval of parents through a ballot. However, […]
Education bill reaches final hurdles
The government is braced for another Labour backbench rebellion when MPs vote on the final stages of the controversial education bill today and tomorrow. More than 50 backbenchers voted against the second reading of the bill in March and reports suggest even more may rebel today, possibly including the 25 who abstained last time. The […]
Government aide quits over school reform
An aide to the schools minister has resigned after saying he could not support the government’s education reforms. Labour MP Martin Salter quit his job as parliamentary private secretary to Jacqui Smith last night, saying he could not promote the policies outlined in the schools white paper. “I cannot in all honesty be part of […]
