The trouble with free schools
The closure of the Al-Madinah school in Derby suggests that the English free school system has a lot to learn from its Swedish role model.
Education & Children
Is the faith schools debate ‘unnecessarily overheated’?
A new report suggests that while faith schools do favour middle class families, claims that they damage social cohesion are wide of the mark
Why Irish schoolchildren should be taught about atheism
Our plans will counter discrimination against secular parents, writes Michael Nugent of Atheist Ireland
Irish schoolchildren to learn about atheism
In a 10 lesson course into non-belief, Irish primary school pupils will be taught about atheism – but not taught atheism
A wake-up call to non-religious students
At the start of a new academic year, Rory Fenton calls for non-religious students to resist the tide of religious privilege on campus
Who are state schools for?
The Archbishop of Westminster says parents have a right to expect the state to fund religious education. Meanwhile, research reveals faith schools top the "most socially-exclusive" state schools list.
Malala Yousafzai receives top human rights award
The Pakistani schoolgirl wins Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience award, and is nominated for the European Parliament's Sakharov prize
Creationism debate heats up in Scotland
The removal of two head teachers for allowing a Christian sect to hand out anti-evolution textbooks in a Scottish primary school divides opinion
Mind warp
Distorted and unproven claims about the benefits of brain training have infiltrated Britain’s schools. James Gray says it’s time to think again
God and the classroom
It may be a new school year, but familiar debates over the role of faith in education continue to rage