Kenneth Baker: ‘People told me to abandon Thatcher but I stood by her’

The former Tory education secretary transformed the school system in the 80s. Now he has written a new book which proposes more radical changes. And Michael Gove won't like them. He talks to Decca Aitkenhead

How difficult is it to learn a poem by heart?

The government wants children to memorise poetry at school. Stephen Moss joins in by committing a few verses to memory. But it's not easy

Rosemary Davidson obituary

Other lives: Educational editor who began a successful second career later in life running a contemporary art gallery

Library closures: not just a cause for ‘luvvies’, Eric Pickles

Bim Adewunmi: Libraries provide a necessary space – for free – where poorer children can catch up with their more privileged peers

10 great works of literature to use in your classroom

English teacher Sally Law shares her favourite novels and plays for use in class

Science writing: how do you make complex issues accessible and readable?

As London's Royal Society prepared to award its annual book prize, we asked five top writers to debate what makes good science writing in a technically minded age

Focusing on the OED’s missing words is missing the point

My book's case is precisely the opposite of what has found its way into this week's news

Anne Evans obituary

Other lives: Poet under the pen name Ellie Evans whose first collection was published in 2011

Phonics could speak to children’s knack for nonsense

Louise Schweitzer: The nonsense words in phonics tests, like those of Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll, can help children think laterally and creatively

Kalle Lasn: the man who inspired the Occupy movement

For more than 20 years, Adbusters magazine has been visually subverting capitalism. Its founder and editor outlines his radical new manifesto

Robin Marris obituary

Influential economist and academic noted for his work on understanding corporations

Library futures: is Worcester’s Hive a model for university development?

Britain's newest library is jointly run by the university and local authority, says Anne Hannaford – but not without challenges

Robert Currie obituary

Other lives: Dedicated teacher, politics lecturer and scholar at Wadham College, Oxford

Great literature should stay on all reading lists

Hannah Betts: A knowledge of Chaucer, Shakespeare and tales of Greece and Rome is necessary to understand our own culture

Entries now open: the Very Short Film competition

Make a 60-second video about a subject you love and you could win £9,000 towards your education