Whether it's grammar school education, Classics and Latin, O-levels , 'Gove levels' or EBaccs, basic grammar, or uniforms and discipline, the coalition government's ideas about education are always variations of one simple idea, which is...

The formal gathering of evidence by the Leveson Inquiry came to an end on 24 July, and we are promised a speedy report. In the meantime, it is worthwhile to remind ourselves that this inquiry belongs to a historical tradition. To that tradition belong the Stalinist show trials...

The fear of litigation appears to dominate the minds of university bureaucrats. Telephone directories of regulations covering all aspects of educational life are the result. What is rarely understood is that the real and the hypothetical legal challenges to the authority of universities and lecturers are a symptom, a direct...

'Strikes benefit no-one' said Nick Gibb, the education minister, referring to today's public sector strike. He is wrong. Traditionally when strikes occurred, they made a point. There was always a clear reason for them, and it was only because the employer ceased to talk that withdrawing labour was resorted to...

Michael Gove, the UK education secretary, recently announced a cull of over 3,000 British 'vocational' qualifications. From 2014, these 'Mickey Mouse' qualifications will no longer count towards the league tables and compliant schools will not teach what won't make them look good.

This 'bonfire of vocational qualifications' is another...

The email began, 'It's outrageous the way you flirt in class!' and listed, in great detail, my looks, smiles, body language, and the witticisms, comments and the 'lingering' attention I had given to various members of a largely female group of post-graduate students. I expected to receive a further email...

Remember Tony Blair's three priorities for government? They were 'education, education and education'. Talking to prospective free school principal David Perks, I became convinced that his 'three priorities for education' would be 'science, science and science'.

Perks is an Oxbridge physics graduate who has taught physics in state schools...

Without a hint of irony, Dennis Hayes explores the damage that education can do to you.

Ever since that famous speech in 1996 when Tony Blair declared that his three priorities for government were "education, education, and education" and John Major replied that he had the same priorities "but...

Children are now settling back at school after their holidays. Teachers are back from weeks in France, Tuscany, Crete, or wherever. Holidays will be on everyone's minds as they sit - unwillingly - at their desks.

Teachers can easily be tempted to use holiday experiences as part of a...

Over the past few weeks it has been difficult to move in Asda, Sainsbury's, M&S, TESCO, or any other store or shop that displays banners proclaiming 'Back to School!' Offers on clothes, trainers, pens, pencils, and backpacks filled them to overflowing with families arguing about what to buy.

After...