What the data says about the impact of class size
In 2010, Christine Blower, head of the National Union of Teachers, called for the government to reduce primary school class sizes to 20 (from the present 26) in order to give children ‘the best...
View ArticleSwedish free schools – segregation and division?
Swedish for-profit free schools have been accused of contributing to the increasing segregation of Swedish society. Critics of the policy approach the question of segregation – or more broadly...
View ArticleThe case for bona fide profit-making schools
Yesterday, in a panel discussion at Policy Exchange – coinciding with their release of a report advocating ‘social enterprise’ schools, which would be forced to reinvest 50% of surplus – I made the...
View ArticleA single exam board might seem a tidy solution, but further rationalisation...
As part of its on-going enquiry into the administration of 15-19 examinations in England, the Education Select Committee took evidence in January on the strengths and weaknesses of the English system...
View ArticleOfsted report shows state education is failing even by its own standards
People with differing views often speak past one another. We see that all the time when market liberals debate with those who believe in the efficacy of monopoly state services. We speak about freedom;...
View ArticleGame, set and match: new evidence from the Swedish voucher reform
I am now accustomed to the fact that British journalists resort to extensive confirmation bias when arguing that free schools – especially for-profit ones – are driving down education standards in...
View ArticleExam boards competing on standards?
Michael Gove has framed his proposals for franchising 14-16 exams provision on a one board per subject basis as part of a wider effort to address the problem of exam boards competing on standards....
View ArticleSigns of life in the debate about the role of the profit motive in education
In education, the words ‘for-profit schooling’ send many into a head-spin. In spite of the fact that in nursery education, SEN and alternative provision, and school improvement services, private and...
View ArticleIPPR report fails to provide persuasive arguments against profit-making schools
In a new IPPR report, Rick Muir argues that profit-making free schools should remain banned. He does so by providing three broad arguments: (1) competition does not improve pupil performance, (2)...
View ArticleA solution to the dilemma of Key Stage 4 exams reform
Michael Gove is one of those reforming politicians who galvanises support by polarising opinion. In the media frenzy surrounding the announcement of the government’s reforms to Key Stage 4 (KS4)...
View ArticleA new association for private school proprietors
There is a popular misconception that schools run as businesses, be they proprietorially or corporately governed, must necessarily compromise educational outcomes in pursuit of profit. On the face of...
View ArticleSchool choice and education quality
England’s education reforms will have little quantifiable impact on education quality unless government makes significant reforms to increase school autonomy and competition, and lifts the ban on...
View ArticleSecuring standards – the launch of The Tutors Association Consultation
The Centre for Market Reform of Education is launching a consultation on plans for a new national association for tutors to develop industry standards and improve the consistency of private tutoring...
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