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The article assesses the performance of women politicians who have been appointed British education secretary. Topics discussed include the reasons education secretary is the most popular Cabinet position for women, the reasons Shirley Williams is considered the most notable female politician who has occupied the education secretary position and the characteristics and skills necessary to become a successful education secretary in Great Britain.

The article looks at education in Great Britain as of 2014, focusing on private schools and inequality of educational opportunity. The author expresses the view that neither the Conservative Party nor the Labour Party has been willing to address the country's educational inequality and suggests a cross-party commission on the issue. He offers proposals including requiring private schools as well as top-performing public schools to reserve some places for low-income children.

The author offers opinions on education in Great Britain. It is argued that schools and universities are failing in their primary mission of facilitating academic achievement by students because of a paradoxical overemphasis on the tests and examinations which it is said have mistakenly been seen as an indication of a student's actual knowledge.

The author comments on Great Britain's Secretary of Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, about whom he has changed his opinion during Balls' first six months in office. He states that he did not believe balls would share his educational goals, but he finds that they agree on topics including teaching emotional literacy, improving home and school relations, and furthering teachers' educational opportunities.

The author comments on the factors supporting quality education worldwide and the status of education in Great Britain. He refers to research pointing to effective teaching and teachers' professional status as being highly important to educational success. He questions Great Britain's spending on education and on the National Health Service (NHS) and he notes increases in mental health problems, alienated youth, and anti-social behavior. He questions the government's intentions for education.

The author comments on Secretary for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls announcement that the social and emotional aspects of learning (Seal) program will be introduced in Great Britain's secondary schools based on its success in primaries. He supports the move as adding to quality education and student nurturing. He responds to critics' claims that education is for learning facts, school is not the place for well-being classes, and teachers are not equipped to support the program.

A letter to Ed Balls, Great Britain's Secretary to the Department for Children, Schools and Families, is presented. The author praises Balls for the work he has completed early in his term and his alignment with Prime Minister Gordon Brown's thoughts on education. He describes several successful international programs for emotional and physical well being and asks the secretary to include similar effective teaching in the curriculum in order to protect the nation's children.

The author comments on cooperation between state and independent schools in Great Britain, noting differences of opinion and his experience with an educational exchange. He describes visits between Ninestiles, a state school in England, and Wellington College, an English independent school of which he is headmaster. The author believes that all independent schools should participate in academies, and he states that wealthy parents should contribute to their children's state education.

The article informs that the lack of dialogue and real relationship between the independent and state sectors is the biggest wastage opportunity currently in the British education system. Tony Blair, prime minister of Great Britain, had promised to build a world class education system. Blair's dream was that state schooling would improve so much that independent sector would wither on the vine. Some of the best state schools are better than some independents and the quality of teaching is also very good in state schools.

Argues that means-testing parents for education fees would bring state schools back from the brink in Great Britain. Government's efforts to address the quality of the nation's education; Lack of funding in state education.