The Tes news team discuss education secretary Gavin Williamson’s ambition - as set out in his speech to the Confederation of School Trusts’ conference this week - for all schools to become part of multi-academy trusts.

He told school leaders this week that he wanted 100 per cent of pupils being educated at schools within MATs and announced plans to target schools with three “requires improvement” ratings from Ofsted.

We also discuss his “try-before-you-buy” plan for individual schools to join trusts for a temporary partnership before integrating with them permanently. 

And we look at the reaction to his plans, with the heads’ union the Association of School and College Leaders saying the government has an “obsession” with academisation and that “tinkering with structures” is not the answer. Meanwhile, chief inspector of schools Amanda Spielman told the CST conference that ”no structure is perfect or a magic bullet”.

We also discuss issues around GCSE grades this summer, after Ian Bauckham, the chair of exam regulator Ofqual, told the CST conference that teachers must not let their sympathies sway their judgements when awarding teacher-assessed grades.

During this week’s podcast, the Tes news team also considers what the future holds for GCSEs.

At the Schools and Academies Show, head of the AQA exam board Colin Hughes said there will be “no leap back to normality” in terms of bringing back exams after the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the NAHT school leaders’ union, ahead of its AGM today, said teachers needed clarity by the end of this term on how exams are going to work next year.

And staying with the NAHT, Tes reporter John Roberts talks through his exclusive interview with general secretary Paul Whiteman, who warns that recovery is at risk as school staff cuts are looming because of a lack of government funding.

Finally, we talk about a craze in which pupils are cutting classroom chairs in half using face-mask string, which is costing schools thousands.