This is an unusual set of circumstances, writes Geoff Barton. So whatever school leaders decide, we must stop 'picking holes in their decision'

Responsibility for the consequences of cuts lies with the government - and only the government

Reform league tables, abandon one-word Ofsted judgements and abolish the EBacc, for starters...

The debate about the cost of school uniforms offers us a chance to look again at branded blazers, says Geoff Barton

The focus on school league tables creates perverse incentives for schools – something has to change, says Geoff Barton

The government is talking about school improvement but it isn't putting its money where its mouth is, warns Geoff Barton

The row over Ofsted's approach to GCSE preparation just shows that its four gradings are inadequate, says Geoff Barton

Schools that are put in special measures find themselves in a vicious circle, losing pupils, funding and teachers

How about more teachers, more money, less accountability and major qualification reform? But start by abolishing the EBacc

After the surprising election result, what should the new education secretary's priorities be? Geoff Barton offers some suggestions

The Tory plan to give Ofsted cash makes no sense – they just want to look tough on school standards, says Geoff Barton

GCSEs seem increasingly archaic - Victorian, even. We have an 'oven-ready' replacement ready to go in the form of New Labour's abandoned Tomlinson reforms

We often call for transformative policies, says ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton, and here is one that looks at the shape of things to come and offers a socially just and economically astute solution

It is important that teachers are allowed to speak out about funding and other issues facing schools, says ASCL's general secretary

...and it's the beacon of optimism that radiates from our schools and colleges

The provisional performance tables show us that our exam system is failing 190,000 pupils, says Geoff Barton

The new Ofsted inspection framework is not short in detractors, but ultimately it could prove a major step in the right direction. We must remember that

And for that I only have my own teachers to thank

It doesn't matter if a school is an academy, a free school or neither of the two, writes the general secretary of ASCL. What truly matters is what we teach and how we teach it

There are a lot of good things going on in our education system. Labour should be wary of introducing change for change's sake, says Geoff Barton

If Labour adopts a plan to close private schools, it would be disruptive to pupils and teachers – and do nothing for social mobility, warns Geoff Barton

It’s a terrible indictment of a nation aspiring to a world-class education system that we think of a third of GCSE students as collateral damage, says Geoff Barton

Of course we must keep down the cost of uniforms, says Geoff Barton. But where to draw the line, when government guidance is vague?

But let's not be churlish: this new announcement represents a step change in the government's approach to funding for schools - and that should be celebrated, writes Geoff Barton

'Good' is now 'standard'. Unless it's 'strong'. We need a GCSE in understanding the new exam system, says Geoff Barton