The New Education

March 2nd 2018 - Peter Tait

It has never been easier to opt out of formal schooling in the UK. What we need is a system that caters for a wider range of abilities using a wider range of providers.

Read the full post

What can parents do to help 3+ assessments?

March 2nd 2018 - Sabine Hook

Even as young as two, some parents are already embarking into the mad and unsettling world of 3+ assessments. Here are some things they can do to help prepare their children...

Read the full post

British Schools Abroad

February 26th 2018 - Peter Tait

The difference between schools run by GEMS, and those established by British public schools, is that independent schools are invariably charities, not businesses, which prompts the question – how is setting up franchise schools abroad discharging their charitable function?

Read the full post

The Social Mobility Challenge Facing Independent Schools

February 26th 2018 - Peter Tait

Despite efforts to widen the diversity of their entry, UK independent schools are never likely to make a significant difference to the social mix in society, according to Peter Tait

Read the full post

Turning the Tables

February 18th 2018 - Peter Tait

Some 290 schools are about to trial new on-screen tables tests for 7 and 8 year olds - another example of the State getting involved in areas where it doesn’t belong?

Read the full post

Too Much Choice in Education

February 13th 2018 - Peter Tait

Children thrive when life is simple and guidelines are clear - are we offering them too many options in our schools?

Read the full post

Cheating? Who wins?

February 13th 2018 - Peter Tait

Last year, the numbers caught cheating in GCSE and A-level exams in England was up by a quarter on the previous year, and the focus of blame has switched firmly onto the students...

Read the full post

What being an Alumni from one of the Clarendon Schools really means

January 29th 2018 - Peter Tait

The Clarendon schools are seen as the gold standard of independent education. Here's why news that the dominance of the Clarendon Schools has diminished in recent years needs to be taken with a pinch of salt...

Read the full post

Girls in Charge

January 29th 2018 - Peter Tait

In light of the row about gender-specific language, The Girls’ School Association has become the latest body under fire - but they have more pressing matters to contend with...

Read the full post

Where is our Moral Compass?

January 29th 2018 - Peter Tait

If we expect our children to grow up with a respect for the rule of law, then we need to teach them about making moral choices and having a value system. Peter Tait explains...

Read the full post

The Arms Race in Education

January 8th 2018 - Peter Tait

Increased spending on new and improved facilities by a number of elite schools allows them to cater for a more diverse student body, but for some families, independent education is more out of reach than ever.

Read the full post

Morals and Ethics in British Schools

January 8th 2018 - Peter Tait

As the Government continues its crusade to enforce the teaching of British values and character in British schools, there is a much more urgent issue that needs to be addressed.

Read the full post

Lessons in Education from China

December 8th 2017 - Peter Tait

Children may start school in China later than their counterparts in Britain, but they start with an appetite that is embedded in their cultural values and is not easily replicated in the West. What can UK education consultants learn?

Read the full post

Censorship and Personal Freedom in Education

December 8th 2017 - Peter Tait

Threats to personal freedom and thought are all around us in the modern age - including in schools and universities. Shouldn't pupils be encouraged to learn and speak their own minds?

Read the full post

What's so Special about Education in London?

November 30th 2017 - Peter Tait

Whether children are from wealthy or more deprived areas, London schools consistently achieve above the national average. What makes them so different?

Read the full post

Setting an Example: Positive Role Modelling in Schools

November 1st 2017 - Peter Tait

Children need strong and reliable role models as they grow up, and never more so than in the classroom. Here's why schools and parents should work together in setting a positive example...

Read the full post

Tackling the Mental Health Epidemic in UK Schools

November 1st 2017 - Peter Tait

Statistics on mental health, bullying, suicide, eating disorders, and unhappiness make damning reading. Peter Tait discusses the epidemic of mental health issues among young people in UK schools.

Read the full post

Growing Aspirations Alongside Education

October 6th 2017 - Peter Tait

Raising aspirations could be the key to raising academic standards in British schools. Time to encourage our children to be more ambitious?

Read the full post

Want to see what your kids are capable of? Stop giving them things

August 9th 2017 - Peter Tait

What happens when children have to spend time together and don’t have any toys at hand? They improvise. They imagine. They make up worlds...

Read the full post

Why we need a new History curriculum

August 8th 2017 - Peter Tait

There is much in our country’s story that can fascinate and entertain, but in the limited time we have allocated to teaching history, we have to make choices. Here's why we need a more outward-looking, contextual history curriculum in UK schools...

Read the full post