BBC Breakfast

  • Why I don’t believe in Academies anymore!

    When I sent my son to a private school, I used to think the whole concept of academies was a good idea. Back then, I felt that “freeing” schools from state control would yield fantastic results because it would mean schools would be “free” to do what they wanted, to admit more pupils if they […]

  • Should teachers use force to break up pupils who are fighting?

    The question is a tricky one. As a young teacher, I got into trouble for pulling two pupils apart while they were scrapping on the floor. One of the pupils claimed I’d manhandled him and complained to a senior member of staff. Luckily, my manager knew what the child was like and didn’t believe his […]

  • Child Neglect — Is the problem getting worse?

    A new report suggests that child neglect is a growing problem. A new report from Action for Children suggests that we’ve got a worsening situation on our hands. Health professionals, nursery teachers, midwives, doctors, primary teachers and social workers are reporting a rise in child neglect. But what precisely are the indications that a child is […]

  • Should parents take their children out of school during school time?

    I argued on BBC Breakfast that they should not. I cited the example of ‘Katie’ (not the pupils’ real name) who had missed weeks of school because her parents were taking her out regularly of school during term time, going on cheap holidays. They lied to the school and said that she was ill. There […]

  • Should parents be banned from sports’s days?

    This is a tricky one. Sports’ days are about children doing their best on track and field and not about parents soaking up reflected glory. One headteacher has done exactly this though: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1197284/Schools-bar-parents-sports-day–paedophiles.html?ITO=1490 I appeared on BBC Breakfast explaining why the head had good reasons to do this, given the horrific climate that the internet […]