In 2011, David Willetts issued a White Paper with the title "Students at the Heart of the System". In 2011 the headlines were, inevitably, about the new tuition fee regime which, it was hoped, would change the thinking of university leaders so that they focussed less on research excellence and more on the needs and aspirations of…

This article provides the transcript of Dr. Rupert Higham (University College London, Institute of Education) in conversation with Dr. James Biddulph (Headteacher of the University of Cambridge Primary School). Among the topics discussed are: What the University of Cambridge Primary School (UCPS) motto, "Releasing the Imagination: Celebrating…

That all young children should have the best possible start in life is a statement that tends to be met with universal agreement. This article, however, argues there are very many different kinds of ideologies that shape the kinds of "best starts" early years teachers should strive for at a time when childhood poverty is rising and when…

This article is based on an interview conducted with Mark Olssen in October 2014, and the subsequent discussions. These conversations invited Olssen to reflect on his experiences of neoliberalism as a practising academic who has worked in the UK for some 14 years, and also to comment as a researcher and writer who is well known for his work on…

All the countries of the United Kingdom have something to learn from nations facing comparable challenges elsewhere in Europe. Seeing these challenges through a European lens can help these countries understand them and their selves better. The author thinks they need to join in solidarity with adult educators across Europe and, indeed, further…

While the last 10 years have seen a significant increase in research published on early intervention and autism, there is a persistent disconnect between educational research and practice. Governments have invested significant funds in autism education, and a range of approaches have been implemented in schools, but there is limited research…

The call to be strategic--and with it the concept of strategic management--can bring to mind a wide range of definitions, and there is now a huge array of academic literature supporting the different schools of thought. At a basic level, however, strategic thinking is probably most simply about focusing on the whole, rather than the part. In…

The last decade has seen significant changes in the interaction between publicly funded higher education institutions and the private sector. This has led not only to collaborations between the public and the private sectors but also to the public higher education sector seeking to learn from and, in some instances, to replicate the private…

The concept of City Academies owes much to the plan for a network of City Technology Colleges announced by Conservative Education Secretary Kenneth Baker in 1986. This article argues that all this can be viewed as part of the inroad of business into state education, with private sponsorship seen by government as the magical solution to the…

"Higher Ambitions: The future of universities in a knowledge economy" has its own higher ambitions. It is a broad-ranging document, covering access to HE; research and innovation; student expectations and experience; university-business links; and community engagement. It is billed as a framework document, one which should structure…

The Digital Britain White Paper outlines the Government's vision for the digital future of the country. In this article a number of industry experts, stakeholders, politicians and commentators tell how they viewed the report and its likely repercussions.

Mansell & Beadle-Brown (2004) raise a number of concerns about the possible impact of the systematic introduction of person-centred planning (PCP) across services for people with intellectual disabilities in the UK. We too foresee a danger that system-wide adoption of PCP will be characterised over zealous "selling" of the purported…

This paper examines legislation concerning language policy and language choice in the UK and South Africa. In particular an account of the pressures and imperatives to which such policy development must respond is provided. The paper suggests that the comparison between South Africa and the UK is relevant and compelling, not least because both…

Educational leaders must work to establish organizational structures that help schools achieve and sustain their vision. The intent of this article is to briefly examine how closed systems stifle innovation, collaboration and flexibility in schooling. Innovation, collaboration and flexibility are key ingredients for creating successful…

Urban environmental education has a vital role to play in the promotion of active citizenship. Education can produce informed understanding of the power structure and vested interests, develop effective ways to influence policy and planning decisions, and promote the concept of sustainability. (SK)