Will Bickford Smith

'Let’s pilot our strongest school trusts running struggling colleges'
@wbickfordsmith.bsky.social (who was policy advisor under Keegan as education secretary) on bringing FE colleges up to the same 'rigorous' standards as schools

What Australia is (and isn't) copying from England's MAT system The Tasmanian government is to be the first to trial a version of England's grouping of schools into trusts, writes Will Bickford Smith - but it won't be adopting some aspects of the model

Australian officials have been looking at replicating England’s MAT system, but won't be adopting all of what they’ve seen, writes @wbickfordsmith.bsky.social

Thanks to @tesmagazine.bsky.social for publishing this piece on the work we’re doing in Tasmania – trialling a new school system inspired by England’s strongest multi-academy trusts.

A New Minister's Starter Guide Practical advice for all new ministers on how to run a government department

New Substack: Last week’s reshuffle means many ministers are stepping into new roles - some for the very first time. I’ve written an article with advice on how they can get off to a strong start.
open.substack.com/pub/wbickfor...

Strategy means making choices – but too often, weaker programmes that escape scrutiny. It’s the opposite of the ‘bleeding stumps’ tactic – a quiet form of self-sabotage.

The result is the worst of all worlds: poorer outcomes, yet sustained inefficiency and complexity – with lots of small programmes that soak up staff and sap ministerial bandwidth.

“[N]othing gets cut but nothing gets funded properly” is spot on. Because government lacks a real strategic centre, departments often try to make savings by cutting big, effective programmes (because that’s where the money is) while protecting smaller, weaker ones.

Politicians must reclaim childhood as a national priority Spelling out a vision and a plan for children and their future is key to winning back hearts and minds

I’ve written a piece for @schoolsweek.bsky.social on what a better future for Britain’s children could look like - and the bold leadership we need to make it real.

schoolsweek.co.uk/politicians-...