Following Mr O’Keefe’s time in the armed forces, a ‘fast-track’ conversion to primary headship gave him the chance to re-launch his career in one of the country’s most vibrant cities. His interview at Brookside Primary School went swimmingly; governors were hugely impressed with his views on uniform standards and school discipline in particular. Mr O’Keefe… Read More The Headmaster’s New Job

If you are reading this from outside the Narnian land of education, you would be staggered just how much we use the word ‘disadvantaged’. It peppers policy documents, development plans and inspection reports. I have tried searching through the Internet and social media for some semblance of criticism of its use. I can find none.… Read More The Language of Social Mobility.

We spent our final day in China in the district of Beibei, outside the main city of Chongqing, where we saw what happens when you combine the private equity of a real estate company with excellent architecture and educational rigour. The new Chongqing Hechan Bashu Primary School, completed last year, is immense and has facilities… Read More Chinese Reflections: Tao Xingzhi.

Day 1 of the Bashu Summit, which brought together educationalists from all over China. Some of my scribbles:- Now I know what it feels like to have a translator chatting away to you through an earpiece, rather like I’d seen on the news. I have massive respect for the translators – though it made me… Read More Bashu Summit, Chongqing.

Last weekend, Mr Gove was in the news again for clumsy attempts at humour during an interview on Radio 4’s Today programme. He apologised straight away and clearly had not meant to cause any offence. He labelled it ‘ill-judged’. I’ve just finished the Tim Shipman book, ‘All Out War: The True Story of Brexit’, which… Read More Gove v Shankly