TF R O N

F E A T U R E S

EDITOR’S LETTER

What should we do with difficult students? The ones who distract everyone else in the class, and don’t care how they are punished? Some schools exclude struggling pupils because they are worried that their exams performance might drag down the class’s grades. But children have a right to an education, says Sophia Waugh, so we need to find a solution. Former teacher Hannah Glickstein agrees, but argues that new Ofsted rules have been put in place by bureaucrats with no experience of teaching. It might not be the sexiest of subjects, but it’s certainly an important one.

Talking of exams, Ross Clark takes a look at the rise in unconditional offers to university. As someone who was offered one himself, he thinks that they are a terrible idea. After all, he says, if universities are going to hand out places which are not reliant on good results at A-level, then what is the point of sixth form at all?

Elsewhere in this issue of Spectator Schools, Laura Freeman goes behind the scenes at the Royal Ballet School in Richmond Park’s White Lodge to discover what goes into the foundations of a prima ballerina. Harry Mount remembers discovering his naughty side on a boyhood school trip to Amsterdam. And Eleanor Doughty interviews Peter Green, headmaster of Rugby.

I hope you enjoy the issue.

Camilla Swift, Editor

CONTENTS

4 School report News from the front line of education

7 Talking heads Meet Peter Green of Rugby School

8 Out in the cold Sophia Waugh on why too many children are being permanently excluded

10 The stick doesn’t work Hannah Glickstein on Ofsted’s tough new stance

12 Opting for God William Cook on choosing a C of E education

15 Unconditionally yours Ross Clark on guaranteed university places

18 En avant Laura Freeman goes inside the Royal Ballet School

22 Moving on Alistair Lexden on independent schools

25 A class of their own Cristina Odone on home-schooling

29 Location, location Camilla Swift on the success of village schools

B A C K

32 School portraits Snapshots of notable schools

34 My school trip Harry Mount

Editor Camilla Swift; camilla@spectator.co.uk Cover Anna Trench Illustrations and images Anna Trench, John Jensen, Getty, iStock Production editor Emma Byrne

Sub-editor Deborah Maby Advertising Sophie Hirsch; shirsch@spectator.co.uk | Supplied free with 16 March 2019 edition of The Spectator

The Spectator (1828) Ltd, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP: 020 7961 0200 www.spectator.co.uk/schools

16 MARCH 2019 | SPECTATOR SCHOOLS

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