Last Friday, I addressed Elmbridge headteachers at an Elmbridge Schools Partnership conference entitled 'Designing a curriculum Fit for the Twenty-First Century'. It was a useful opportunity for some candid two-way dialogue about the direction of education policy.

I then hot-footed it over to Reeds School in Cobham, to talk to the School Council, hosted by Deputy head, Graham Spawforth, and comprising students from the lower and senior schools. We also discussed changes to the curriculum - especially GCSE and A Level reform - and the different views emanating from the school unions, teachers, universities and business groups. As ever, I found the feedback from both local headteachers and pupils insightful and useful.