News
Why doesn't the Royal Academy of Music like private school kids?
2+ hour, 58+ min ago (425+ words) It's always the newspeak that lacerates. The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) has, admirably, set up a new foundation year for "talented young musicians who have previously faced significant obstacles', specifically the decline in music education in so many secondary…...
The Stylist: the blazer has evolved from clubhouse uniform to stylish wardrobe staple
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (615+ words) The Spectator The Stylist: the blazer has evolved from clubhouse uniform to stylish wardrobe staple Even by the standards of Cambridge University, the influence of St. John's College on modern society is eye-watering. At last count, St. John's alumni include…...
How to solve the student debt crisis
3+ week, 4+ day ago (150+ words) England's student debt is staggering. It comes to "270 billion " that's larger than the budget for the NHS and two and a half times larger than the education budget. This arsenal of taxpayer-backed cash has seen the creation of 34 new universities…...
Letters: Litter is a sign of Britain's low self-esteem
1+ mon, 2+ day ago (315+ words) The Spectator Letters: Litter is a sign of Britain's low self-esteem State of the nations Sir: My spirits were raised by your stirring defence of the forthcoming royal visit to America (Britain's Trump card', 14 March). Its contemporary importance can be…...
Spectator Schools: spring 2026
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (180+ words) The Spectator Spectator Schools: spring 2026 In this week's Spectator Schools supplement, the Revd Fergus Butler-Gallie writes about the undervalued beauty of school chapels. "They are so often architectural gems,' he says, "masterpieces that stand alongside some of the nation's finest…...
History of art is not a "soft" subject
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (258+ words) A recent study by the Association for Art History throws the demise of A-level history of art into sharp relief. Over the past 15 years, the number of schools offering it has dropped by 34 per cent. You can't study it at…...
The cut-throat world of school magazines
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (193+ words) In my mind, there was always a sense of hubris in the air of our tucked-away offices at the Chronicle, Eton's main student magazine. As in many other domains of our school's life, we idly assumed ours was the first,…...
How to pay the school fees - a literary guide
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (465+ words) When belts can only be tightened so far, parents need to get creative. Frankly, the only affordable ways of educating your children privately today are either: a) access to masses of inter-generational wealth (which'presumably you'don't'enjoy,'or you'wouldn't'have read this far) or…...
The graduate benefit is not what it was
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (618+ words) So we have a large number of graduates unhappy about their financial situation. Since those graduates are potentially significant " especially to the Labour party " in future elections, politicians of all sorts are keen to respond to their complaints. This has…...