James Whiting, SEA Secretary, interviews Gaia Gervais-Lambony, a Paris teacher, about the disturbances. It appears students in more prosperous areas are showing solidarity with those in the suburbs.

Dr Jane Coles, SEA Co-Chair reports from Labour Conference 2026, on contradictions between Andy Burnham’s stated aims and the drive to a wholly trust based service. Also information about two events.

Martin Allen, blog writer at education economy and society.com tracks the decline in graduate jobs and those for young people generally. You can subscribe by visiting the blog page below.

Blog 79 James Whiting , SEA Secretary , interviews Cherry Casey, parent and children’s rights journalist about her up and coming book to be published next month. Watch this space for a review.

Instead of recognising the strengths of all students, GCSE is being used to select students for the next phase of academic education. James Whiting (SEA Secretary) argues they should be replaced.

James Whiting on behalf of SEA NEC

Blog 74. Andy Burnham has indicated he wants to radically reform education and bring parity between technical/vocational courses and academic ones. What are the issues?

Blog 73 Pam Tatlow, SEA Co-Chair and HE policy expert, sets out some priorities for Lucy Powell in the HE sector as some universities struggle to stay afloat.

Blog 72. James Whiting, SEA Secretary, tells Andy Burnham to look beyond this superficial report to more fundamental reforms if the disadvantaged working class are to benefit more from education.

Blog 70. During the Makerfield campaign, Andy Burnham said education was in need of massive radical change. In a new series we set out changes he should consider. The first piece is around academies.

.James Whiting SEA Secretary and ex drama teacher considers whether 'Every Child Can' is the way forward as a means to improving Arts Education in mainstream schools.

Blog 67 We welcome an urgent call for action that is the report by Peter Hyman and Shuab Gamote called 'Inside the Mind of a young NEET'. Ian Duckett, educator working with NEET young people, reviews.

The government is keen for more young people to take up apprenticeships when costs for university students are rising. Blog 63 considers whether they are the best way forward for young people.

Blog 62. The third post on the new White Paper looks at the last chapter, where buried under the SEND proposals, is Labour's new policy to create an all trust system including LA MATs.

Blog 61 In a second post on the new White Paper we look at how school structures get in the way of it delivering. There is also a report on The NEU Special Conference on support staff recruitment.

In the first of our responses to the proposed SEND reforms, we support the move to more inclusive mainstream schools but argue how funding is made available will impact on the success of the reforms.

Blog 59. James Whiting ex drama/arts teacher and SEA General Secretary, despairs at the BBC's approach to education reporting in a review of a radio 4 Artwork Programme

Blog 58 looks at the mess and the shattered lives caused by haphazard responses to challenging behaviour and violence in our schools. The recent case at All Saints, Sheffield is an example.

Labour can win in the Gorton and Denton by-election if we lead with our values and allow a fair, democratic and open selection for our candidate. Sign the petition below calling on the Chair of Lab...

In Blog 56 Education Politics turns its attention to the crisis in our universities caused by the insistence of this government and the last, that students must pick up the tab for their own tuition.

Blog 53 reports on a dispute at a MAT where an experiment with remote teaching is being challenged by the NEU. Also featured is first of three posts which made up 2025 Caroline Benn Memorial Lecture

Blog 52. Two posts argue that current education policy is dominated by testing, metrics, and rigid structures that undermine children’s wellbeing, engagement, and genuine learning.

Ian Duckett (SEA NEC) teacher, NEU activist and writer sets out how essential the comprehensive ideal is in our increasingly fragmented society. He also recounts a visit to Cuban schools.

This year's special 25th Anniversary Lecture takes the form of presentations on the question 'Completed or Defeated?  The Comprehensive Revolution 25 Years On' given by three women. Diane Reay -...

Blog 50 returns to a perennial SEA campaign. John Cosgrove shows how academisation/privatisation is a major factor in the SEND crisis. Richard Hatcher bemoans the loss of community sway it has caused.

Blog 49

Blog 48. We imagine how the test was conceived in a 'Yes Minister' style spoof. First, a post setting out the arguments against the test proposal and for a more playful approach to literature.

This year's special 25th Anniversary Lecture takes the form of presentations on the question 'Completed or Defeated?  The Comprehensive Revolution 25 Years On' given by three women. Diane Reay -...

Blog 47 digs beneath Bridget Phillipson's concern with white working class attainment and Richard Hatcher raises issues around the proposal to hand powers over education to combined authorities.

Blog 46 features Steve Witherden MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Education whose report finds children trapped in poverty and a system draining the excitement of learning away.

Blog 45. Paty Paliokosta look at why pupil well-being in secondary schools is declining and Conor Bollins questions Starmer's commitment to increase militarism in schools

Blog 44. Dr Conor Bollins asks when will Labour tackle the growing crisis, using his experience as a lecturer at UEA, as an example of the mess.

The two child benefit cap prevents swift results on child poverty.

We are delighted that our 40th Blog is by Diane Reay, our president and Professor of Education at Cambridge, originally published in the LSE blog.

Another education service is possible. The SEA has a long and proud history as the only educational organisation affiliated to the Labour Party. Join today.

Another education service is possible. The SEA has a long and proud history as the only educational organisation affiliated to the Labour Party. Join today.

Blog 39. The DFE is consulting on new accountability measures whilst OFSTED is encountering unprecedented opposition to its report card proposals. We respond.

Ex-FBU boss will continue to fight for his post as union re-opens nominations following a legal challenge

School leaders’ union issues a claim for a judicial review against Ofsted in response to its proposed changes to the inspection system

The US president is hurting rather than helping ideological allies such as Nigel Farage.

Nearly two thirds of respondents to a consultation set up to rival Ofsted’s own on inspection reforms said the changes were actually worse than the current framework. The ‘Alternative Big…