Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
On this episode of On Second Street, host Colin Craig digs into education reform and what Canada can learn from England's nonprofit school model. First, he's joined by outreach director Paula Iturri, star of a new documentary exploring how academies and free schools including Britain's "strictest" Michaela Community School are helping disadvantaged students excel. Then, Paige MacPherson, senior fellow of education reform at the Fraser Institute, breaks down the myths around independent schools, the real data on family income, and what meaningful school choice could look like across Canada.
With 53% of Canadians saying the K–12 public system has gone in the wrong direction, this conversation asks: why won't Canada adopt the models that work?
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — Intro: Education reform & the England model
00:39 — Documentary trailer: Britain's strictest headmistress
01:09 — Paula Iturri on how England's nonprofit schools began
02:29 — Academies vs. free schools explained
03:04 — The political history: Blair, Cameron & the reforms
04:02 — Union backlash and cross-party support
05:12 — How Conservatives built on Labour's model
07:02 — Inside Michaela Community School
08:28 — Discipline, accountability & student results
09:39 — Ontario's Education Minister and the "performative" problem
11:10 — Paige MacPherson on funding independent schools
13:04 — School choice by province: who has access?
13:53 — Debunking the "elite private school" myth
14:45 — The data on family income & independent schools
16:25 — What independent schools actually look like
18:13 — What should reform look like? Paige's take
21:02 — Final thoughts on Canada's stagnant school choice
GUESTS
• Paula Iturri: Outreach Director - SecondStreet.Org
• Paige MacPherson: Senior Fellow - Fraser Institute
On Second Street
Host: Colin Craig
FOLLOW US
• Subscribe: youtube.com/@TheNewsForum
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/thenewsforum_
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-news-forum
TAGS
#EducationReform #SchoolChoice #OnSecondStreet #Education #Canada #UKEducation #Academies #FreeSchools #MichaelaSchool #StudentSuccess #EducationPolicy #CharterSchools #Homeschooling #ParentalChoice #EducationMatters
On this episode of On Second Street, host Colin Craig digs into education reform and what Canada can learn from England's nonprofit school model. First, he's joined by outreach director Paula Iturri, star of a new documentary exploring how academies and free schools including Britain's "strictest" Michaela Community School are helping disadvantaged students excel. Then, Paige MacPherson, senior fellow of education reform at the Fraser Institute, breaks down the myths around independent schools, the real data on family income, and what meaningful school choice could look like across Canada.
With 53% of Canadians saying the K–12 public system has gone in the wrong direction, this conversation asks: why won't Canada adopt the models that work?
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — Intro: Education reform & the England model
00:39 — Documentary trailer: Britain's strictest headmistress
01:09 — Paula Iturri on how England's nonprofit schools began
02:29 — Academies vs. free schools explained
03:04 — The political history: Blair, Cameron & the reforms
04:02 — Union backlash and cross-party support
05:12 — How Conservatives built on Labour's model
07:02 — Inside Michaela Community School
08:28 — Discipline, accountability & student results
09:39 — Ontario's Education Minister and the "performative" problem
11:10 — Paige MacPherson on funding independent schools
13:04 — School choice by province: who has access?
13:53 — Debunking the "elite private school" myth
14:45 — The data on family income & independent schools
16:25 — What independent schools actually look like
18:13 — What should reform look like? Paige's take
21:02 — Final thoughts on Canada's stagnant school choice
GUESTS
• Paula Iturri: Outreach Director - SecondStreet.Org
• Paige MacPherson: Senior Fellow - Fraser Institute
On Second Street
Host: Colin Craig
FOLLOW US
• Subscribe: youtube.com/@TheNewsForum
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/thenewsforum_
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-news-forum
TAGS
#EducationReform #SchoolChoice #OnSecondStreet #Education #Canada #UKEducation #Academies #FreeSchools #MichaelaSchool #StudentSuccess #EducationPolicy #CharterSchools #Homeschooling #ParentalChoice #EducationMatters
