While the dance bands of the thirties were ubiquitous in the ballrooms of London’s swish hotels, their music catered overwhelmingly to working-class tastes. Indeed, as some have suggested, a good case can be made that the genre's music hall roots suggested specific ideas about 'what it meant to be British'

The cancellation of NAPLAN testing for this year came as […]

Experience tells us school achievement tends to 'run in families', but this does not explain if genes or nurture is the more potent factor. Within the world of science and psychology there is no longer any problem posing the question. With other disciplines — pedagogy in particular — any mention of genetics summons the mob for an immediate public burning

In another of his trademark touches, the PM has prompted a revolt by Catholic schools and those who should be his party's supporters. If Kazakhstan and Brazil can dramatically improve educational performance by rejecting the  approach he has specifically endorsed, what can he be thinking?

We have a good idea from international practice of what works in education and what does not, and more money is not the answer. The teacher as instructor of a content-based program, whole-class teaching, and direct instruction -- the traditional approach, in other words -- is a big part of any viable reform