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Colleges are well versed in the challenges of supporting those who struggle to gain a grade 4 in GCSE maths and English, but Covid has made their job so much tougher. The resulting havoc wreaked on students’ progress will take years to undo, especially without adequate funding in place, finds Chris Parr

While most accept that phonics is the best way to teach children how to read, not everyone agrees that it has a positive impact on spelling. But this may be selling the approach short, finds Chris Parr

The Covid-19 pandemic may have put paid to freshers’ fairs, where students can sign up for a host of sporting and cultural pursuits, but it is vital that extracurricular activities continue to take place – albeit online or socially distanced – if this year’s cohort are to develop the social networks and ‘soft skills’ that such pastimes provide, finds Chris Parr

We’ve all experienced a rush of blood to the face when placed in an embarrassing situation. But for some students, fear of ‘going red’ can mar their experience of school and have a detrimental effect on their attainment and wellbeing, finds Chris Parr

Debates about the last day of term had a new angle this year: whether schools should be open at all. But in more normal times, is a ‘fun’ day in class really as damaging as some believe? Chris Parr investigates

The past nine months have possibly been the toughest that teachers have ever faced, but Chris Parr finds that, amid the chaos, teachers have been quietly working education miracles for their pupils. He talks to staff from all sectors and phases about the ingenious ways they have found to teach amid a global pandemic