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Robert Poole
TEACHERS STAND TALL: Members of the NEU make a clear show of
Features / 14 April 2025
14 April 2025
The NEU’s annual conference promises heated debate, with motions on international politics, curriculum reform and union amalgamation likely to provoke strong reactions and challenge the status quo, writes Education for Tomorrow editor ROBERT POOLE
ELITE ENDORSEMENT: Keir Starmer hosts Adolescence writer Jac
Features / 9 April 2025
9 April 2025
The series unveils uncomfortable truths about youth alienation and online radicalisation — but the real crisis lies in austerity and the absence of class consciousness in addressing young people’s disillusionment, says teacher ROBERT POOLE
CRUCIAL HISTORY: A silent crowd follows the funeral processi
Features / 17 March 2025
17 March 2025
From colonialism to the Troubles, the story of England’s first colony is one of exploitation, resistance, and solidarity — and one we should fight to ensure is told, writes teacher ROBERT POOLE
CONSERVATIVE POSTER CHILD: School head Katharine Birbalsingh
Features / 10 March 2025
10 March 2025
As the government moves to rein in academy freedoms, former darling of conservative education reform Katharine Birbalsingh cries ‘Marxism.’ Education columnist ROBERT POOLE examines how academisation has failed our children while enriching executives and empowering ideologues at the expense of democratic accountability
NEU delgation to Cuba
Features / 6 November 2024
6 November 2024
ROBERT POOLE reports back from his mission to Cuba delivering aid and learning from Cuban educators
Cuban school kids
Features / 10 May 2024
10 May 2024
After an inspiring meeting in Bolton Socialist Club addressed by a visitor from the Cuban Ministry of Higher Education, teacher ROBERT POOLE reflects on what we can learn from the education system in Cuba
ON THE FRONT FOOT: NEU members take part in a rally through
NEU Conference 2024 / 4 April 2024
4 April 2024
As the NEU meets for its annual conference, teacher and union rep ROBERT POOLE reflects on the most intense period of industrial action in his teaching career
Features / 12 January 2024
12 January 2024
Teacher ROBERT POOLE reflects on the year past and the year to come, as education staff prepare to fight the government not just for their rights, but for the future and purpose of schooling itself
Features / 31 August 2023
31 August 2023
Teacher and trade unionist ROBERT POOLE offers some revolutionary thoughts while on holiday in Nerja
Features / 18 July 2023
18 July 2023
After decimating its left, Labour has now turned its sights on teachers and children, in a wave of policy announcements that have left the education community incredulous, writes teacher ROBERT POOLE
Features / 29 May 2023
29 May 2023
From marking to cheating, from saving time to cutting jobs, secondary school teacher and NEU rep ROBERT POOLE considers the role AI may play in education
People listen to Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary Nat
Features / 3 May 2023
3 May 2023
As the strikes rumble on, NEU rep ROBERT POOLE asks if, with the four main teaching unions set to take joint action, it is time for one big education union
Features / 6 February 2023
6 February 2023
NEU activist ROBERT POOLE reflects on his first day on the picket line last week and the need to continue to build the union
READY TO STRIKE: Education workers in Brent encourage NEU me
Features / 8 January 2023
8 January 2023
Rishi Sunak’s maths gimmick doesn’t add up: as we enter the new year, teacher ROBERT POOLE looks at the challenges we will face from a fragile Tory government
Features / 21 October 2022
21 October 2022
As educators take one step closer to strike action, teacher ROBERT POOLE reflects on how the pandemic helped refocus the politics of those who’d banked on Parliament for change – leading to an upsurge in organisation and resistance
Features / 11 August 2022
11 August 2022
As strikes spread through the country, union rep ROBERT POOLE says it is time for workers to take a stand, form new coalitions and say ‘enough is enough’
There have been eight education secretaries since 2014 (from
Features / 11 July 2022
11 July 2022
Teacher ROBERT POOLE reflects on a week so turbulent in Westminster it's provided a brief respite from unwanted interference in the education system — now if only Ofsted would go on an indefinite strike too...
Features / 8 June 2022
8 June 2022
Yes, the Tories are particularly bad, but we must ignore any politician that claims they can force improvements in our educational attainment by doing anything other than creating a more just and equal society for our kids, writes ROBERT POOLE
NEU conference 2022, in Bournemouth
Features / 13 April 2022
13 April 2022
Teacher Robert Poole reflects on the government’s education white paper and the key events from the NEU 2022 conference
Features / 2 March 2022
2 March 2022
Teacher ROBERT POOLE asks what role educators can and should play in helping young people make sense of the world and why the government is suddenly looking to answer that question for them
Britain’s most famous public school, Eton College
Features / 10 February 2022
10 February 2022
ROBERT POOLE looks at the state of education in 2022 and concludes that it is time for workers to take action against the unfair advantages of the rich and powerful
Features / 4 January 2022
4 January 2022
Robert Poole questions if education really is a priority for this government and calls for redistribution and vaccine equity
N WITH THE OLD: Stamer has promoted David Lammy and Yvette C
Features / 30 November 2021
30 November 2021
ROBERT POOLE reflects on the appointment of a new shadow education secretary and what this tells us about the current state of the Labour Party
Features / 7 November 2021
7 November 2021
Exhausted educator ROBERT POOLE asks, does this government value education?