Lost Debate A British Revolution
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Aug 27, 2025 
Nick Gibb, the former UK Minister of State for Schools, discusses his impactful book, detailing how England transformed from education underperformer to leader. Joined by educator Doug Lemov, they delve into the successful strategies such as a knowledge-rich curriculum, phonics, and high accountability. The duo contrasts these advancements with the struggling U.S. education system, highlighting political maneuvers and the importance of rigorous assessments. They also emphasize the significance of restoring public trust in educational institutions.
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Deep Immersion In Schools Informed Reform
- Nick Gibb immersed himself in schools for five years to diagnose falling international performance.
- Understanding the problem shaped the reform agenda and levers he later used.
Naming The Ideology Enabled Change
- Reading E.D. Hirsch gave Nick the vocabulary to identify progressivist education.
- Naming that ideology let him purge its language and policies from department documents.
Screen For Phonics Early And Systematically
- Implement systematic synthetic phonics and assess early to ensure letter-sound mastery.
- Use simple national checks so every child is screened by the end of year one.
