Alix Robertson | Schools Week

Campaigners plot judicial review over closure of abandoned church school

Staff and parents at a Church school rejected by the local diocese will seek a judicial review of a decision to close it down. Surrey County Council has ruled that Ripley Church of England Primary School must close, after local CofE academy chain The Good Shepherd Trust, established by the Guildford Diocesan Board of Education, refused […]

Academy trust deficits rise but reserves grow for many

The proportion of academy trusts reporting a financial deficit rose to 6.1 per cent in 2016-17 from 5.5 per cent in 2015-16, new statistics from the Department for Education have revealed. The 185 trusts that were in deficit were responsible for 300 academies (4.3 per cent of the total), and smaller trusts were more likely to find […]

Special Educational Needs: Five findings from the latest statistics

This morning the government has published the latest statistics on pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and the provision they receive in schools. Schools Week rounded up the main findings. 1. More pupils with SEN The proportion of pupils with special educational needs has risen for the second consecutive year, after a period of […]

Out-of-date pregnancy guidance isn’t helping schools, say critics

A worrying lack of up-to-date guidance on how to ensure pregnant pupils continue their education is fuelling a rise in the use of alternative provision for those expecting a baby. The government claims five-year-old advice on how to deal with pupils with “health needs” – which makes no specific mention of pregnancy – is good […]

Tauheedul renames itself ‘Star’ as it expands into non-faith provision

A successful multi-academy trust known for its stewardship of Muslim faith schools has ditched its branding after taking on a raft of non-religious schools. Tauheedul Education Trust has changed its name to Star Academies from this month, almost six years since its first school opened in September 2012. The change is meant to reflect the […]

UTC becomes first school with cameras in every classroom

A university technical college in Birmingham has become the first school in the country to install always-on, 360-degree cameras in all of its 28 classrooms. Aston University Engineering Academy, which caters to just over 600 14- to 19-year-olds, officially launched the video equipment at an event at the UTC on July 18. AUEA has been […]

The national reference test cost more than £2m, and six other things we learned from Ofqual’s annual report

The exams regulator Ofqual has published its annual report and accounts for 2017-18. Schools Week rounded up some of the most important findings from the report. 1. The National Reference Test cost £2m+ Ofqual introduced the National Reference Test last year to provide more information about the awarding of GCSEs. In its first year of […]

New relationships and sex education guidance is here – but does it do the job?

Teachers are crying out for clarity on what they can teach in relationships and sex education classes, but does draft guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) give it? Lucy Emmerson, director of the Sex Education Forum, looks at the detail. We’ve waited nearly 20 years and finally the revamped government guidance on relationships and […]

Ofsted considers tougher inspection regime for secure training centres

Ofsted wants to change the way it inspects secure training centres, which educate young offenders up to the age of 17. Run by private companies, the centres provide young people with 30 hours of education and training a week, following a school-day timetable. There are currently three secure training centres across the country, but none […]