News

Leaders give new Ofsted inspection toolkits the red card

‘The draft grade descriptors look as though they have been cobbled together with insufficient consideration of how they will…

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Academies

DfE abandons plan to scrap free school faith admissions cap

The previous Conservative government consulted on the proposals last year

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Ofsted

Ofsted’s 11 grades will make judgments less reliable – experts

The inspectorate plans to use a five-point grading system to judge schools in nine key areas, plus early years…

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Ofqual

Sir Ian Bauckham confirmed as permanent Ofqual chief

The former academy trust CEO has served in an interim capacity for over a year

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Ofsted

Ofsted report cards verdict: Parents and school staff have their say

Polls suggest parents favour the proposed Ofsted model to the old one, while teachers and leaders oppose it

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Opinion: Accountability

Report card reforms run critical reliability risks

Introducing a new school grading system also brings new risks that outcomes won’t reliably measure school quality

JL Dutaut
John Jerrim and Christian Bokhove


Academies

Academy trust central teams gobble up £200m

Analysis of the 30 largest trusts found the average amount top-sliced has risen by 50% per pupil since 2021

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson
Schools

Cease and desist: Trust supports staff to sue online trolls

Provision for staff sickness cover will be broadened to cover defamation

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson
Movers and Shakers

Labour reformer among four appointed to DfE board

Naomi Eisenstadt, Steve Crocker, Rebecca George and Margaret Casely-Hayford will each earn £15,000 for around 24 days’ work per…

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Prevent

Child Prevent referrals to be ‘routinely’ escalated

Major review comes after teenager who murdered three girls in Southport was referred to the programme three times

Rosa Furneaux
Rosa Furneaux
Writing

£2m for ‘writing framework’, CPD and resources fund

DfE says new guidance will ‘articulate a common approach to teaching writing rooted in evidence and good practice’

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Academies

Trusts on verge of going bust, accountancy report claims

Kreston Group study finds even biggest MATs have taken financial hit – but CEO pay is rising again

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson