I’ve spent the last few months doing a deep dive into the scale of the challenge the English schools system faces, looking at: pupil numbers; SEND and financial pressures; staffing; and the performance of schools.

Which research does this recommendation come from? The main problem surely is the size of the school funding pie. Advocating for increased rates of pupil premium is a better way to go while schools across England are struggling to balance budgets

Thanks. Given political thinking is also a R4 programme, might it be worth sitting your analysis to R4 Feedback? The lack of rigour & environmental knowledge of news journalists is depressing

There's been little bandwidth to develop with the school inspection plan so controversial & wrong headed. MAT inspection surely needs to start with a focus on trust governance, executive leadership & their strategy: what value is it adding?

Sure, but most people do buy things on-line (even though it's wrecking the local economy: different argument I know). So they're willing to take the risk #bbcaq

I'm no expert but they did have slower trains before. Think they are just so much better at engineering & project management. But probably easier without national elections! No need to little to give in to every complaint from Chilterns consistencies. Wish HS2 had started in the North #bbcaq

I love My Brilliant Friend: it was in my 20 most memorable books in #Skybooks #Bookchallenge. But I just didn't find the 3rd compelling. But hope you're enjoying it