Francis Beckett considers the current crisis over SATS, where all the notions that are wrong, foolish, and muddled about government education policy can be found

Hank Roberts reviews The Great City Academy Fraud, a guide to the inadequacies and inequities of New Labour’s favourite education gimmick

James Meadows describes the impact of harsh new employment conditions on teachers at Harlow College. A massive reduction in wages for many, the introduction of a new unqualified ‘tutor’ role, the imposition of an effective 56-hour working week and reduction of holidays from 45 to 30 days a year led to the teachers taking strike action, whilst Harlow student’s learning experience has rapidly declined.

Harvey Thompson and Linda Slattery describe the detrimental effects of continual testing on school children, which leads to a narrow curriculum, increased stress and a sense of inadequacy that may cause individuals to drop-out of education at 17.

Liz Smith and Linda Slattery call on NUT members to do what their leadership has refused to do – oppose the collaboration with the government by other teachers’ unions and campaign for joint action by all teacher.

Barry Mason looks at some of the details of the Primary Review, a major report on the state of primary education in Britain today.

Liz Smith looks at a report showing how the education system is failing a generation of British youth.

Gordon Brown’s threat to close ‘failing’ schools is a body blow against schools in the poorest areas. Terry Wrigley reports.