What makes a good school

The Tories say they will change to the face of education by changing school structures -- more academies, more Swedish-style schools. This is what politicians always do, because it is the only thing they easily CAN do, to be seen to be making their mark.

But fiddling with school structures is almost entirely beside the point. There are good academies and poor ones. Good grammar schools, and mediocre ones. Great comprehensives and failing ones.

What works in schools -- all schools -- is first-class leadership, dedicated teachers, high and unwavering expectations, good communications and an awful lot of hard work.

In the past two weeks I've seen these things in action in a terrific community school in Beckton, East London, and a rapidly-improving high school (secondary modern) in Kent.

The two schools couldn't be more different, but exactly the same things underpin them both. One gets GCSE results way above what might be expected for its disadvantaged pupils.The other is the second most improved school in the country.

We know what works in education, but we never seem to work steadily towards it. We are always reinventing the wheel.