Alix Robertson | Schools Week

Academy trust bosses’ New Zealand trip questioned by the ESFA

A review of financial management and governance at the London-based Silver Birch Academy Trust has revealed serious failings, including a trip to the other side of the world for senior leaders that cost almost twice as much as the going rate. The trust, which runs four primary schools in Walthamstow, Chingford and Redbridge, was visited […]

Two more schools to offer T-levels from 2020

The Department for Education has revealed the names of two more schools that will deliver its new technical qualifications. These are George Abbot School, a secondary school in Surrey that is part of the Guildford Education Partnership, and Priestley College, a sixth form college turned 16-to-19 academy that belongs to The Challenge Academy Trust, which […]

International schools to recruit more UK teachers

Tens of thousands more teachers will move into overseas jobs during the coming decade as international schools seek to boost the number of staff they recruit from the UK. International schools plan to hire an additional 145,000 teachers from the British isles, according to ISC Research. This would more than double the number of British […]

Hinds challenged over ‘dangerously inadequate’ SEND funding

A coalition of trade unions and 39 local authorities have written to the education secretary to warn of “dangerously inadequate funding” for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The School Cuts Coalition was first formed in November 2016 and now includes NEU, NAHT, ASCL, Unison, GMB and Unite. In a letter to Damian Hinds, the […]

Council steps in to save 24-pupil special school

A local authority has prevented an academy for high-needs pupils from closing, saving them from a 45-mile journey to their new school. Unity Academy – Fenland in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire will now be moved to another site in the town as part of a development which will also house a new primary and secondary school. Catering […]

‘No need to finish your A-levels,’ universities tell school pupils

School pupils are being told by universities that they don’t need to finish their A-levels, it has been claimed. Pupils are “increasingly the subject of persuasive strategies” from universities, according to Bill Watkin, the chief executive of the Sixth-Form Colleges Association. Some are even encouraging pupils to quit school early and take up foundation degrees. […]

Dorset school told to improve or have funding withdrawn

A Dorset multi academy trust has been warned that one of its schools will have its funding agreement terminated if it does not improve on a damning Ofsted inspection. Lisa Mannall, the regional schools commissioner for the south-west, has written to the Twynham Learning multi-academy trust, after The Grange School in Christchurch was rated ‘inadequate’ with […]

First LGTBed conference goes off with a bang

A network established to offer support, information and ideas to LGBT+ teachers has held its inaugural conference. The first LGBTed was held in London last weekend, and even received the backing of schools minister Nick Gibb. Co-founders Daniel Gray, a teacher at Harris Academy South Norwood where the event was held, and Hannah Jepson, director for […]

Rural LGBT teachers have worse mental health

Lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans teachers working in rural areas are nine times more likely to experience mental health issues related to their job than their peers in cities, research has shown. Forty-six per cent of LGBT+ teachers working in villages reported taking time off work due to anxiety or depression linked to their sexual […]