The Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Janus v. AFSCME 31 will hurt public employee unions in both membership and funding. More...
Teachers’ activism will survive the Janus Supreme Court ruling
State takeovers of schools are about political power, not school improvement
When states take over local school districts – like they’ve done or are trying to do in Kentucky, Georgia and Mississippi – school improvement is typically the stated objective. More...
Considering race in college admissions – 3 questions answered
On July 3, the Trump administration announced it will reverse several policy memos outlining how colleges and universities can use race as a factor in admissions. More...
When race triggers a call to campus police
On a beautiful spring afternoon on a picturesque college campus, two campus police officers responded to a black professor’s “good afternoon” with a request to see his identification. More...
Six ways that tablets really can transform teaching
Hinds is right to see the potential that technology has to transform teaching and learning. High quality educational apps available on smart phones and tablets really can help raise attainment, and provide a unique learning experience. More...
University rankings: how do they compare and what do they mean for students?
The UK’s elite institutions, Oxford and Cambridge, continue to occupy the top two posts in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings And many other UK universities also appear in the annual list of “world class” universities. More...
Free school meal funds help pay for school trips too – but self-imposed stigma stops parents claiming
For our recently published study, we looked at how poverty and educational attainment are linked in rural Wales. We spoke to children, teachers and other key stakeholders to explore the problems that they experience and perceive. We also looked at national, regional and local plans and policies for combating poverty and increasing educational attainment in pupils. More...
Teaching worldviews could enhance Religious Education in schools
The new report of the independent Commission on Religious Education in England and Wales provides a clear answer: the rise of “no religion” doesn’t mean that religion isn’t important. Rather, the report makes a strong case that it is more important than ever that young people in Britain understand and engage effectively with diverse religions and worldviews. More...
Survey: state school teachers say much of their work is meaningless
It is no secret that teaching is facing a crisis. Recent figures show that the number of full-time, qualified teachers starting work in state schools has fallen since 2015 – from 45,450 to 42,430 in 2017. Meanwhile, 42,830 teachers left the classroom for good last year. More...
What it’s like growing up as a girl in the north of England
Girls today are frequently depicted as depressed, prematurely sexualised and victims of social media. But our research has found them to be eloquent, critical and supportive, loving friends within their peer groups. More...