andy mellor's Page

I've been intrigued by the language of "catch up" which has come from government ministers and even the Children's Commissioner. The idea that lockdown has resulted in lost learning and a widening of the gap can't be disputed but it is the solutions put forward by government which has revealed the reductive nature of the government's attitude to learning and to young people. To reduce education and learning to an accumulation of facts devoid from any contextual influence is just simply…

For some time now I have believed very strongly that the profession should help to regulate and support itself.

On Friday Dame Alison Peacock from the Chartered College, Sir Kevan Collins from EEF and I presented to 50+ school leaders in the North West on a vision for more autonomy for schools and more self regulation.

I covered the outcome of the NAHT Accountability Commission which talks about school leaders stepping up and taking responsibility for themselves and their peers…

Horror show of a budget for schools!

I genuinely believe in the democratic processes we have in this country but the Chancellor’s failure to respond to lobbying from parents and school leaders whilst clearly responding to the lobbying of his peer party MP’s makes you wonder how fair the system is.

This was clearly a budget primed to prepare the road for a journey to the next general election. Stay with me whilst I extend the road metaphor although I know you probably know what…

Giving pupils the green light!

Improving outcomes for all pupils through independent learning.

As we returned to school this September and undertook the latest exciting chapter on our journey into pupil focused independent learning, I was left wondering why more schools aren’t engaging with this agenda.

At a time when Government and OFSTED are telling…