Laura McInerny

Laura McInerney is an education journalist, former teacher, and co-founder of Teacher Tapp, the daily survey tool that captures the real-time voices of thousands of teachers across the UK. With six years' experience teaching in challenging secondary schools and a high-profile legal battle with Michael Gove over transparency in free schools policy, she understands firsthand the pressures facing educators and leaders today. As former editor of Schools Week and a regular Guardian columnist, Laura holds policymakers to account with sharp insight and fearless questioning, appearing frequently on programmes including BBC Radio 4's Today and Newsnight. Her keynotes translate classroom realities and frontline policy challenges into practical, inspiring perspectives that resonate deeply with public sector audiences navigating the complexities of modern education.

When Laura McInerney submitted a routine Freedom of Information request during her PhD research, she could not have anticipated the legal battle that would follow. Taken to court by then Education Secretary Michael Gove for seeking transparency around free schools applications, Laura fought to access documents that would reveal whether government promises of innovation matched reality. After initially losing, she persisted and won, setting a precedent that reinforced the public's right to scrutinise education policy. That determination, rooted in six years teaching in challenging secondary schools, continues to define her work as an education journalist and co-founder of Teacher Tapp, the daily survey tool that captures real-time insights from thousands of teachers across the UK.

Laura's credibility stems from her dual perspective as both practitioner and investigator. As former editor of Schools Week, she built a reputation for investigative journalism that holds policymakers accountable with rigour and fairness. Her monthly Guardian column, alongside contributions to the Observer, New Statesman, TES, and Prospect, consistently translates complex policy debates into clear analysis that resonates across the sector. Regular appearances on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Newsnight, and Sky News have established her as a trusted commentator known for blunt, bold questioning that cuts through political rhetoric. Through Teacher Tapp, Laura maintains direct connection to the daily realities facing educators, understanding not just what teachers experience but how policy decisions ripple through classrooms and staffrooms nationwide. This combination of frontline teaching experience, investigative journalism, and continuous pulse on educator sentiment positions her uniquely to interpret the pressures shaping modern education.

Laura's keynotes offer public sector audiences something increasingly rare: honest, informed perspectives grounded in both classroom reality and policy analysis. She understands intimately the gap between government announcements and school-level implementation, the weight of accountability measures on already stretched professionals, and the frustration of watching decisions made without genuine consultation. Drawing on stories from her teaching years and insights gleaned from thousands of daily Teacher Tapp responses, she helps audiences make sense of current challenges whilst identifying practical paths forward. Her presentations resonate particularly with education leaders and public sector professionals navigating resource constraints, workforce pressures, and relentless reform cycles. Laura does not offer false optimism or quick fixes; instead, she provides the clarity, context, and credibility that help audiences feel understood, better informed, and equipped to advocate effectively for the schools and communities they serve.