Where’s Wally?
Sitting in a cafe in North Devon this summer, my 11 year old daughter, on spotting a passing stranger in a stripey jumper, suddenly shouted, ‘Look, it’s wally!’. When I… Find out more
Sitting in a cafe in North Devon this summer, my 11 year old daughter, on spotting a passing stranger in a stripey jumper, suddenly shouted, ‘Look, it’s wally!’. When I… Find out more
In recent years, universities have had to walk a difficult line. On the one hand they are, or should be, upholders of academic standards and virtues – ethical, philosophical and… Find out more
The claim by leading geneticist Robert Plomin that academic success is largely fixed by genes has prompted newspaper headlines such as ‘Top schools add nothing to grades’. In fact, Professor… Find out more
The issue of universities offering unconditional offers is not going to go away anytime soon, especially in light of the latest research from UCAS which shows that some institutions are… Find out more
This blog by Mike Buchanan, HMC Executive Director, provides further information about the qualifications available to schools in England. International GCSEs and GCSEs in England are different qualifications. So too… Find out more
In a recent article by Haroon Siddique in The Guardian (30/12/18), Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner expressed concern that Tory education reforms are putting state school pupils at a disadvantage… Find out more
Why is it socially acceptable to be ‘bad at maths’? The recent publicity given to the Schools Minister’s unwillingness to demonstrate his knowledge of times tables on national radio left… Find out more
In a blog 10.04.16, HMC member Kevin Fear, headmaster of leading independent Nottingham High School writes about how parents can support pupils to cope with exam pressure. As we move into the… Find out more
We bought a fridge from a well-known High Street retailer over the summer (yes, it’s a glamorous life). Our story is replicated up and down the country I’m sure, and… Find out more
The sun is out; buds are opening and a customary crop of spring articles on exam preparation sprout in time for the Easter holidays: Top Tips for Revision season; Easter… Find out more
The publication of the annual school performance tables invariably provokes a media frenzy and this year was no exception. Reforms to the way in which the performance tables are compiled… Find out more
As the first lay Head Master of a Benedictine School that is over 400 years old but is now celebrating its bicentenary in its current location, you can’t help but… Find out more
On Friday 31 October, the Sutton Trust published its report What Makes Great Teaching, authored by Professor Rob Coe and colleagues at Durham University. Drawing on over 200 pieces of… Find out more
There are a number of reasons why I was disappointed and disheartened to read Dr Sewell’s letter entitled ‘Cambridge’s Position On The New AS Levels’, but I shan’t bore anyone… Find out more
I was interested to read the HMC Tweet linked to the Telegraph’s story about the Ofqual review of ‘soft’ subject A levels and GCSEs. Isn’t it funny how soft always… Find out more
As employment becomes an ever greater priority we need to ask: “What will best equip our pupils to enter the labour market? It strikes me that schools are faced with… Find out more
As we embark on our annual open day for potential Sixth Formers and the first 6.1 (lower sixth) Review meeting when we assess individuals’ progress, I reflect on what lies… Find out more
Perhaps it is just the nervousness caused by the news that a Head recently lost his job after poor exam results, but I for one am delighted to see HMC… Find out more
The young human brain is a limber and wonderful thing, adept at flipping from one task to another: thank goodness this is the case, I ponder, as our GCSE students… Find out more
On April 1st the BBC published its top ten list of ‘stories that look like pranks but aren’t’. At the same time NUT members were gathering for their annual conference… Find out more