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Success Against the Odds: Five lessons in How to Achieve the Impossible; The Story of Teach First by Brett Wigdortz Short Books, 8.99 [pounds sterling], pp. 272, ISBN 9781780721309 This [...]

Sir: The Spectator deserves great credit for having so long trumpeted and encouraged the free schools agenda, which finally came to fruition this week. British education is a mess, and [...]

The increase in the numbers of top grades and pass grades awarded to students at the GCSE examination is discussed. Attributing this achievement to the setting of easier papers is an insult to the hard work put in by the teachers and students, rather the method of targeted teaching on the requirements needed to achieve better grades should be praised.

The author describes the health benefits of physical training (PT) and urges the reintroduction of the subject in U.K. schools to address the lack of physical fitness and inculcate a sense of discipline in students.

The author emphasizes the need to accept the growing global impact and influence that China is exercising. He speaks about the shift in the educational balance that appears to be tilting towards the Orient.

The faults in the education system need to be corrected by not through strikes, which only lower the respect for teachers as professionals.

The author believes the Independent/State School Partnership, which encourages inter-sector collaboration between teachers, should be extended to students interchanges in order to promote student and teacher wellbeing.

It's half-term and I am taking 15 colleagues from Wellington College to learn from great American schools. No sooner have we landed in New York than the texts and emails […]

The need for better curricular and extra-curricular planning in schools so as to enable children lead a better and enjoyable life is presented.

There have recently been incidences of death and injury of pupils on school trips, as a result of which an increasing number of teachers are refusing to take children on trips. However, school trips are becoming ever more valuable in an age where education in the cdlassroom is being narrowed down.

The Prime Minister's white paper intended to encourage state schools to become more independent has attracted anger and ridicule, with Labour MPs, teaching unions and local government opposed to the move. All those opposed to Tony Blair's proposal have vested interests for challenging the move and fear losing some of their empire.

The lack of money is the main problem stopping state schools in the UK offering children the same education as that offered by independent schools. The answer lies in means-tested fees at state schools.

The author argues for the importance of promoting character development in students versus focusing on academic achievement, and describes the curriculum of his schools Wellington College and Wellington Academy in England. Resilience, decision making, and student psychology are mentioned, as well as programs at schools such as Kings Science Academy, Kings Langley, and West Kidlington Primary School in England.

The article features the No. 10 black door in Downing Street, which is considered as the most renowned portal in Great Britain. This building is the office of Gordon Brown, Great Britain's prime minister. It offers information on what can be seen inside the building such as the view building's most impressive vista. Further, the two most sought-after offices in No. 10 is the office of Gavin Kelly, Gordon Brown's deputy chief of executive staff, and Jeremy Heywood, a civil servant.

The article analyzes the 10-year term of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. His first term between 1997-2001 was his weakest, his second term 2001-2005 was somewhat improved while his third 2005-2007 was by far his most successful. His successive election victories guarantee that he will be remembered as Labour's most accomplished electoral leader. The Iraq war remains the most controversial aspect of his premiership because he still believes that it was right to support the Americans and remove a brutal dictator.

The article argues that an overemphasis on numerical, logical and linguistical aptitudes has turned children into exam-taking commodities in Great Britain. The author calls for a "bottom-up" approach to education, taking into account students' well-being and happiness. The article discusses the "bottom-up" approach's goal of developing students as fully rounded human beings.

Television history has become the most popular medium for disseminating information about the recent past. Yet the programmes seldom merit serious attention from academics. In this interview, Anthony Seldon talks to Denys Blakeway, writer and producer of the four-part BBC series on the Thatcher years.

In an earlier interview (Contemporary Record, Volume 1: Number 2) Anthony Seldon questioned John Campbell about his biographies of Lloyd George, F.E. Smith, Roy Jenkins and Aneurin Bevan. Here the subject of the interview is Campbell's latest biography on Ted Heath.