Nicola Woolcock
@nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
Education Editor, The Times
[email protected]
[email protected]
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
🔺 EXCLUSIVE: Prince Andrew has not paid rent on Royal Lodge for two decades
Prince Andrew has not paid rent on Royal Lodge for two decades
www.thetimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM
🔺 EXCLUSIVE: Prince Andrew has not paid rent on Royal Lodge for two decades
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
And I complete agree with Dr Henry Shevlin from @cfi-cambridge.bsky.social that "most [degree] courses are still figuring out how to adapt to the post-ChatGPT era when the take-home essay assignment is basically dead".
They need to adapt soon if their degrees are to retain any value.
They need to adapt soon if their degrees are to retain any value.
October 4, 2025 at 8:38 AM
And I complete agree with Dr Henry Shevlin from @cfi-cambridge.bsky.social that "most [degree] courses are still figuring out how to adapt to the post-ChatGPT era when the take-home essay assignment is basically dead".
They need to adapt soon if their degrees are to retain any value.
They need to adapt soon if their degrees are to retain any value.
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
Teenagers will sit a compulsory school reading test at 13 under changes planned by Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary ⬇️
Mandatory reading test to be introduced for 13-year-olds
A national assessment, expected to be set out in a white paper, will check children’s progress at the end of year 8
www.thetimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Teenagers will sit a compulsory school reading test at 13 under changes planned by Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary ⬇️
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
Mandatory reading test to be introduced for 13-year-olds | The Times
Mandatory reading test to be introduced for 13-year-olds
A national assessment, expected to be set out in a white paper, will check children’s progress at the end of year 8
www.thetimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Mandatory reading test to be introduced for 13-year-olds | The Times
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
A potentially big development.
It will be interesting to see if the Curriculum and Assessment Review cites the lack of a secondary reading test as a problem that needs solving. I'm certainly not convinced that a new compulsory reading test would count as an 'evolution' of the current system...
It will be interesting to see if the Curriculum and Assessment Review cites the lack of a secondary reading test as a problem that needs solving. I'm certainly not convinced that a new compulsory reading test would count as an 'evolution' of the current system...
Exclusive: Bridget Phillipson wants compulsory reading tests for 13-year-olds and will set out plans in forthcoming white paper
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Mandatory reading test to be introduced for 13-year-olds
A national assessment, expected to be set out in a white paper, will check children’s progress at the end of year 8
www.thetimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:47 AM
A potentially big development.
It will be interesting to see if the Curriculum and Assessment Review cites the lack of a secondary reading test as a problem that needs solving. I'm certainly not convinced that a new compulsory reading test would count as an 'evolution' of the current system...
It will be interesting to see if the Curriculum and Assessment Review cites the lack of a secondary reading test as a problem that needs solving. I'm certainly not convinced that a new compulsory reading test would count as an 'evolution' of the current system...
Exclusive: Bridget Phillipson wants compulsory reading tests for 13-year-olds and will set out plans in forthcoming white paper
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Mandatory reading test to be introduced for 13-year-olds
A national assessment, expected to be set out in a white paper, will check children’s progress at the end of year 8
www.thetimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Exclusive: Bridget Phillipson wants compulsory reading tests for 13-year-olds and will set out plans in forthcoming white paper
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
The Office for Students is considering using official rankings of teaching quality to determine how much institutions can charge for tuition.
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/YUkZqnO
#education #educationnews
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/YUkZqnO
#education #educationnews
Failing universities risk having their tuition fees cut
The Office for Students is considering using official rankings of teaching quality to determine how much institutions can charge
buff.ly
September 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The Office for Students is considering using official rankings of teaching quality to determine how much institutions can charge for tuition.
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/YUkZqnO
#education #educationnews
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/YUkZqnO
#education #educationnews
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
Nigel Farage looks uncomfortable as Jamie Raskin uses his opening statement to absolutely demolish him
September 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Nigel Farage looks uncomfortable as Jamie Raskin uses his opening statement to absolutely demolish him
Universities with poor teaching records could be stopped from charging full tuition fees under plans being considered by the Office for Students (and its new chair calls for more TikTok and gaming-style teaching from academics)
Exclusive in The Times
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Exclusive in The Times
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Failing universities risk having their tuition fees cut
The Office for Students is considering using official rankings of teaching quality to determine how much institutions can charge
www.thetimes.com
September 4, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Universities with poor teaching records could be stopped from charging full tuition fees under plans being considered by the Office for Students (and its new chair calls for more TikTok and gaming-style teaching from academics)
Exclusive in The Times
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Exclusive in The Times
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
And if you want to understand why scrapping GCSE resits could be a controversial move, my podcast with @sarahjwaite.bsky.social and Prof Lee Elliot Major discussed the arguments for and against the resits policy.
insideyoured.buzzsprout.com/1874905/epis...
insideyoured.buzzsprout.com/1874905/epis...
GCSE resits: should we keep them, reform them or scrap them? - Inside Your Ed
It is hard not to raise an eyebrow when a government policy is described by some as a ‘vital lifeline’ for students, while others describe the same policy as ‘demoralising’ and ‘soul destroying’.The G...
insideyoured.buzzsprout.com
August 22, 2025 at 7:08 AM
And if you want to understand why scrapping GCSE resits could be a controversial move, my podcast with @sarahjwaite.bsky.social and Prof Lee Elliot Major discussed the arguments for and against the resits policy.
insideyoured.buzzsprout.com/1874905/epis...
insideyoured.buzzsprout.com/1874905/epis...
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
@nicolawoolcock.bsky.social reporting that GCSE resits could be on the way out, with "a functional skills test or a driving exam-style competency assessment" cited as possible replacements.
Can the DfE make this switch without it being seen as lowering standards?
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Can the DfE make this switch without it being seen as lowering standards?
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Endless resits of maths and English to be scrapped in GCSE reform
Review of assessments is expected to suggest that the government create alternative routes for pupils who repeatedly fail core subjects
www.thetimes.com
August 22, 2025 at 6:47 AM
@nicolawoolcock.bsky.social reporting that GCSE resits could be on the way out, with "a functional skills test or a driving exam-style competency assessment" cited as possible replacements.
Can the DfE make this switch without it being seen as lowering standards?
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Can the DfE make this switch without it being seen as lowering standards?
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
Review of assessments is expected to suggest that the government create alternative routes for pupils who repeatedly fail core subjects
Endless resits of maths and English to be scrapped in GCSE reform
Review of assessments is expected to suggest that the government create alternative routes for pupils who repeatedly fail core subjects
www.thetimes.com
August 22, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Review of assessments is expected to suggest that the government create alternative routes for pupils who repeatedly fail core subjects
Nine students in Gaza with offers from British universities have been told the UK will attempt to bring them out to start their studies.
The students have Chevening scholarships funded by the government but had no access to biometric data to prove their ID
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
The students have Chevening scholarships funded by the government but had no access to biometric data to prove their ID
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Gaza scholarship students to be evacuated to Britain
Nine Chevening scholars will be helped to leave before their courses start next month but dozens of other Palestinian students will be left behind
www.thetimes.com
August 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Nine students in Gaza with offers from British universities have been told the UK will attempt to bring them out to start their studies.
The students have Chevening scholarships funded by the government but had no access to biometric data to prove their ID
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
The students have Chevening scholarships funded by the government but had no access to biometric data to prove their ID
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
Risk of collapse shouldn’t stop students graduating, the skills minister says
Clearing system to rescue students whose universities go bust
Risk of collapse shouldn’t stop students graduating, the skills minister says
www.thetimes.com
August 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Risk of collapse shouldn’t stop students graduating, the skills minister says
Teenagers are supposedly addicted to their devices - but are anxious about making phone calls.
Now schools are teaching them how to ring universities ahead of A-level results day.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Now schools are teaching them how to ring universities ahead of A-level results day.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Schools give pupils lessons in phone calls to cope with clearing
As A-level results day approaches, teenagers are learning to overcome worries about ringing Ucas and admissions officers to secure degree places
www.thetimes.com
August 12, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Teenagers are supposedly addicted to their devices - but are anxious about making phone calls.
Now schools are teaching them how to ring universities ahead of A-level results day.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Now schools are teaching them how to ring universities ahead of A-level results day.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
Lara, a postgraduate student at the University of York, speaks about identifying as asexual and her perspective of hookup culture at university, as told to Sian Bradley
I’m asexual and aromantic. Here’s what university was like for me
www.thetimes.com
August 12, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Lara, a postgraduate student at the University of York, speaks about identifying as asexual and her perspective of hookup culture at university, as told to Sian Bradley
As families brace themselves for the long summer break... should it be cut to a month? Most parents think so according to new polling by Parentkind
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Parents want four-week school summer holidays to ease costs
More than half of families support trimming the break, citing childcare pressures and financial strain — and many teachers say they would welcome the change too
www.thetimes.com
July 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
As families brace themselves for the long summer break... should it be cut to a month? Most parents think so according to new polling by Parentkind
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Difficult but important read by my colleague @georgiamay.bsky.social on the safeguarding failings at a special needs school
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Special needs school faces safeguarding claims after head teacher sacked
A damning Ofsted report reveals safeguarding failures and inadequate leadership at an Essex school rocked by allegations of neglect and potential sexual abuse
www.thetimes.com
July 11, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Difficult but important read by my colleague @georgiamay.bsky.social on the safeguarding failings at a special needs school
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
Education secretary plans to overhaul school complaints system.
With more than 5 million formal complaints last year, @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social says system is failing both parents and teachers.
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/DtTXCG1
#education #educationnews
With more than 5 million formal complaints last year, @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social says system is failing both parents and teachers.
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/DtTXCG1
#education #educationnews
Education secretary plans to overhaul school complaints system
With more than five million formal complaints last year, Bridget Phillipson said that the system is failing both parents and teachers
buff.ly
June 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Education secretary plans to overhaul school complaints system.
With more than 5 million formal complaints last year, @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social says system is failing both parents and teachers.
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/DtTXCG1
#education #educationnews
With more than 5 million formal complaints last year, @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social says system is failing both parents and teachers.
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/DtTXCG1
#education #educationnews
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
‘No ball games’ signs silence children — ban them, says peer.
Former children’s commissioner calls for outdoor play to be revived to tackle ‘scourge’ of phone addiction.
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/5EovADj
#education #educationnews
Former children’s commissioner calls for outdoor play to be revived to tackle ‘scourge’ of phone addiction.
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/5EovADj
#education #educationnews
‘No ball games’ signs silence children — ban them, says peer
Former children’s commissioner Baroness Longfield calls for outdoor play to be revived to tackle ‘scourge’ of phone addiction
buff.ly
June 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
‘No ball games’ signs silence children — ban them, says peer.
Former children’s commissioner calls for outdoor play to be revived to tackle ‘scourge’ of phone addiction.
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/5EovADj
#education #educationnews
Former children’s commissioner calls for outdoor play to be revived to tackle ‘scourge’ of phone addiction.
More from @thetimes.com @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social
buff.ly/5EovADj
#education #educationnews
Rachel Reeves announces £17.8bn stake in Sizewell C - here's my interview with the English literature graduate and Cambridge choral scholar running the project
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Former choral scholar and CND member running new nuclear power station
Cambridge alumna Julia Pyke wants the Sizewell C nuclear facility to attract women to the sector and boost opportunities for young people
www.thetimes.com
June 10, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Rachel Reeves announces £17.8bn stake in Sizewell C - here's my interview with the English literature graduate and Cambridge choral scholar running the project
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
Thanks to @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social for the coverage of our new report in @thetimes.com today. Regional disparities in access to HE are significant: a place-based approach to widening access, one that encourages & facilitates collaboration within regions, is needed to help close these gaps.
June 9, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Thanks to @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social for the coverage of our new report in @thetimes.com today. Regional disparities in access to HE are significant: a place-based approach to widening access, one that encourages & facilitates collaboration within regions, is needed to help close these gaps.
Reposted by Nicola Woolcock
Worth a read. What I found most interesting is both schools here had relatively low % PP - so part of the answer might be more integrated/diverse school populations (in all respects).
Would mirror research findings that fully comprehensive intake schools can do better for all.
Would mirror research findings that fully comprehensive intake schools can do better for all.
Yoga, wild animals, Scottish dancing - and no silent corridors.
Bridget Phillipson wants white working class pupils to do better - I spoke to two rural schools boosting results.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Bridget Phillipson wants white working class pupils to do better - I spoke to two rural schools boosting results.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Yoga and animal clubs boost GCSE results for disadvantaged pupils
A rural school is using extracurricular activities from astronomy to Scottish dancing as part of a range of measures to help white working-class pupils
www.thetimes.com
June 9, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Worth a read. What I found most interesting is both schools here had relatively low % PP - so part of the answer might be more integrated/diverse school populations (in all respects).
Would mirror research findings that fully comprehensive intake schools can do better for all.
Would mirror research findings that fully comprehensive intake schools can do better for all.
Yoga, wild animals, Scottish dancing - and no silent corridors.
Bridget Phillipson wants white working class pupils to do better - I spoke to two rural schools boosting results.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Bridget Phillipson wants white working class pupils to do better - I spoke to two rural schools boosting results.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Yoga and animal clubs boost GCSE results for disadvantaged pupils
A rural school is using extracurricular activities from astronomy to Scottish dancing as part of a range of measures to help white working-class pupils
www.thetimes.com
June 9, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Yoga, wild animals, Scottish dancing - and no silent corridors.
Bridget Phillipson wants white working class pupils to do better - I spoke to two rural schools boosting results.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Bridget Phillipson wants white working class pupils to do better - I spoke to two rural schools boosting results.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Becontree Primary School in Dagenham is a template for government reform of special needs. Its methods could be adopted across the country.
Was such a pleasure to meet their incredibly impressive children and staff
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Was such a pleasure to meet their incredibly impressive children and staff
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Labour plans to fix special needs system with more inclusive schools
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, intends for more children to be taught in mainstream schools to address absenteeism and spiralling costs
www.thetimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Becontree Primary School in Dagenham is a template for government reform of special needs. Its methods could be adopted across the country.
Was such a pleasure to meet their incredibly impressive children and staff
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Was such a pleasure to meet their incredibly impressive children and staff
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...