Reforming Lessons

Why English Schools Have Improved Since 2010 and How This Was Achieved

By: Nick Gibb, Robert Peal

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eText | 11 August 2025 | Edition Number 1

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Reforming Lessons provides a first-hand account of the ambitious programme of reform that has led to a transformation in English schools since 2010 and seen pupils rise through the ranks of international comparison tests such as PIRLS and PISA.

Co-authored by former Schools Minister Nick Gibb and Headteacher Robert Peal, the book explores the key principles behind the reforms and reveals the impact they had on school leadership, accountability, teaching methods, curriculum design, and pupil behaviour. Addressing the long legacy of 'progressive' approaches to teaching in English schools, and the development of evidence-led alternatives, the book shows that approaches to education such as 'warm-strict', 'teacher-led instruction', and 'knowledge-rich curriculum' have been simultaneously both controversial and hugely successful. Chapters cover:

Reforms to the primary curriculum—phonics and mathematical mastery
The return of rigour in the secondary curriculum
School structures—academies and free schools
Academic standards
Grassroot reforms
Changes to teacher training and the introduction of the Early Career Framework

Providing a fascinating insight into the major reforms that have shaped England's school system and the drivers behind them, this is essential reading for anyone working in the education sector, policy-makers, and those interested in education reform.