Schools Week

New Ofsted policy sees 1 in 8 inspections deferred or paused Of the 786 schools that requested a deferral, 79 per cent were accepted

Ofsted deferred or paused one in eight school inspections in the first full year of a new policy aimed at lessening its impact on leaders’ wellbeing, data suggests

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/new-ofsted-policy-sees-1-in-8-inspections-deferred-or-paused/

Beer raises a glass to 11 years at DfE Longest-serving regional director is retiring

Exclusive: The Department for Education’s longest-serving regional director is set to leave the role after 11 years in post

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/beer-raises-a-glass-to-11-years-at-dfe/

Maths teacher targets don't add up when demand is growing The growing number of pupils taking maths A-level must get the best chance to succeed

'I want more specialist maths teachers and those with a passion for the subject in classrooms, passing on wonder and energy for a topic too often wrongly characterised as dull and dusty'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-maths-teacher-targets-dont-add-up-when-demand-is-growing/

New Ofsted policy sees 1 in 8 inspections deferred or paused Of the 786 schools that requested a deferral, 79 per cent were accepted

Ofsted deferred or paused one in eight school inspections in the first full year of a new policy aimed at lessening its impact on leaders’ wellbeing, data suggests

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/new-ofsted-policy-sees-1-in-8-inspections-deferred-or-paused/

DfE advisers RISE to the challenge (269 miles away) One in 10 schools in improvement programme have been paired with advisers in different regions

Investigation: Dozens of struggling schools enrolled in a £20 million turnaround scheme have been paired with experts based up to 269 miles away

schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-advisers...

Allergy guidance: Everything schools need to know Proposed statutory guidance says all schools should stock spare allergy pens

ICYMI: Schools should stock spare allergy adrenaline pens, government has proposed in new landmark guidance, but unions have warned this should be met with sufficient funding

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/allergy-guidance-what-schools-need-to-know/

Support staff turnover hits record high, report warns Report recommends government action to help schools recruit staff

ICYMI: Three-quarters of school leaders are struggling to recruit teaching assistants, while support staff are leaving at the highest rate since records began, a report has warned

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/support-staff-turnover-hits-record-high-as-experts-call-for-action/

Allergy guidance: Everything schools need to know Proposed statutory guidance says all schools should stock spare allergy pens

Schools should stock spare allergy adrenaline pens, government has proposed in new landmark guidance, but unions have warned this should be met with sufficient funding

Here's everything schools need to know...
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/allergy-guidance-what-schools-need-to-know/

Ofqual boss hears pupils' confessions on AI 'It’s getting harder and harder to detect it,' warns Sir Ian Bauckham

Pupils have admitted to Ofqual’s boss that they use AI in their work but don’t tell their teachers, he has revealed, as he asks exam boards to clamp down on cheating

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofqual-boss-hears-pupils-confessions-on-ai/

Over half of specialist free school projects to go ahead Councils faced a choice between a new school and accepting alternative funding for SEND expansion

Exclusive: More than half of free specialist school projects put on hold by the government are set to go ahead, as councils turn down alternative funding offers
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/more-than-half-of-special-free-school-projects-set-to-go-ahead/

Support staff turnover hits record high, report warns Report recommends government action to help schools recruit staff

Three-quarters of school leaders are struggling to recruit teaching assistants, while support staff are leaving at the highest rate since records began, a report has warned

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/support-staff-turnover-hits-record-high-as-experts-call-for-action/

Allergy guidance: Everything schools need to know Proposed statutory guidance says all schools should stock spare allergy pens

Schools should stock spare allergy adrenaline pens, government has proposed in new landmark guidance, but unions have warned this should be met with sufficient funding

Here's everything schools need to know...
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/allergy-guidance-what-schools-need-to-know/

Over half of specialist free school projects to go ahead Councils faced a choice between a new school and accepting alternative funding for SEND expansion

Exclusive: More than half of free specialist school projects put on hold by the government are set to go ahead, as councils turn down alternative funding offers
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/more-than-half-of-special-free-school-projects-set-to-go-ahead/

Support staff turnover hits record high, report warns Report recommends government action to help schools recruit staff

Three-quarters of school leaders are struggling to recruit teaching assistants, while support staff are leaving at the highest rate since records began, a report has warned

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/support-staff-turnover-hits-record-high-as-experts-call-for-action/

'If money is no longer a barrier to making our settings more inclusive, then I hope to hear far fewer excuses about being 'unable to meet need''

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/now-leaders-must-leap-to-the-challenge-of-send-reform/

'Nothing left to cut’: Schools count the cost of inclusion How the current system punishes inclusive schools financially

'Year on year it has been increasingly challenging to set a balanced budget'

With mainstream schools expected to meet more SEND need under reforms, we meet the schools counting the cost of inclusion

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/there-is-nothing-left-to-cut-the-schools-counting-the-cost-of-inclusion/

Enrichment is part of the engine that makes education work DfE is right to recognise clubs, sports and activities boost educational participation and achievement

'Enrichment is not the reward at the end of education. It is part of the engine that makes education work'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/enrichment-is-a-vital-ingredient-that-gives-school-its-full-flavour/

Over half of specialist free school projects to go ahead Councils faced a choice between a new school and accepting alternative funding for SEND expansion

Exclusive: More than half of free specialist school projects put on hold by the government are set to go ahead, as councils turn down alternative funding offers
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/more-than-half-of-special-free-school-projects-set-to-go-ahead/

David Bell to lead review on antisemitism in schools Former DfE and Ofsted chief will look at issues within and beyond school gates

Former Ofsted and Department for Education boss David Bell will lead an independent review into how schools identify, respond to and prevent antisemitism, government has announced

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/david-bell-to-lead-independent-review-on-antisemitism-in-schools/

How to support children to talk about Middle East conflict Above all else, we must not lose sight of that fact our support has never mattered more

'We cannot promise children a world without conflict, but we can promise them they will not face the world alone and the adults around them will listen, explain and support them'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/how-to-support-children-to-talk-about-conflict-in-the-middle-east/

School reform depends on staff knowledge and confidence If we get what comes next right, the outcome will be truly consequential

'Translating white paper aspirations into improved pupil outcomes will depend on whether teachers and leaders have the knowledge, capacity and confidence to enact them'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-reform-depends-on-staff-knowledge-and-confidence/

Replicating 2000s improvement is an out-of-London challenge We need to keep the ambition, but we also need to build something new, led by communities

'London may be calling, but those who live by the water need a new verse'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/replicating-blair-era-improvement-is-an-out-of-london-challenge/

Schools can only afford a 2.7% pay rise over two years - DfE Leaders will need to 'realise and sustain better value' to meet costs of 6.5%, three-year pay rise

ICYMI: Schools can only afford to raise staff pay by 2.7% over the next two years, the DfE has estimated, with leaders expected to 'realise and sustain better value' to make a 6.5% rise by 2029 more manageable

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-can-only-afford-a-2-7-pay-rise-over-two-years-says-dfe/

Schools can only afford a 2.7% pay rise over two years - DfE Leaders will need to 'realise and sustain better value' to meet costs of 6.5%, three-year pay rise

Schools can only afford to raise staff pay by 2.7% over the next two years, the DfE has estimated – with leaders expected to 'realise and sustain better value' to make a 6.5% rise by 2029 more manageable

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-can-only-afford-a-2-7-pay-rise-over-two-years-says-dfe/

Funding and leadership questions over new area 'missions' Bid to improve north east and coastal schools risks 'becoming symbolic rather than structural', ministers told

📈 Missions to boost outcomes in left-behind regions risk being ineffective with questions over the schemes’ funding and leadership unanswered, the government has been warned
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/funding-and-leadership-questions-over-new-area-missions/

Diversity and flexibility push in DfE’s 6,500 teachers plan Ministers aim to improve diversity in teaching and access to flexible working as part of their plan to boost the size of the workforce by 6,500

ICYMI: Ministers aim to improve diversity in teaching and access to flexible working as part of their plan to boost the size of the workforce by 6,500

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/diversity-and-flexibility-push-in-dfes-6500-teachers-plan/

Schools can only afford a 2.7% pay rise over two years - DfE Leaders will need to 'realise and sustain better value' to meet costs of 6.5%, three-year pay rise

Schools can only afford to raise staff pay by 2.7 per cent over the next two years, the Department for Education has estimated, with leaders expected to 'realise and sustain better value' in their budget

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-can-only-afford-a-2-7-pay-rise-over-two-years-says-dfe/

It demands a team effort to keep pupils like Z in the game Despite the structural barriers, many schools are already beating the odds to embed inclusion

Despite the structural barriers, many trusts, headteachers, local authorities and third-sector organisations are already beating the odds to embed inclusion and build belonging'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/it-demands-a-team-effort-to-keep-pupils-like-z-in-the-game/

Inclusion bases must remove a students' barriers to learning We must move beyond the idea that simply designating a space will solve deep-rooted challenges

'The drive to establish inclusion bases presents a genuine opportunity. But inclusion is not about where a pupil sits. It is about whether they feel safe, understood and able to learn'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/inclusion-bases-must-remove-a-students-barriers-to-learning/

Funding and leadership questions over new area 'missions' Bid to improve north east and coastal schools risks 'becoming symbolic rather than structural', ministers told

📈 Missions to boost outcomes in left-behind regions risk being ineffective with questions over the schemes’ funding and leadership unanswered, the government has been warned
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/funding-and-leadership-questions-over-new-area-missions/