Billy Camden | Schools Week

Faith schools welcome 100% faith-based admissions

Faith schools have welcomed the government’s plan to remove the cap on faith-based admissions, although they will now have to prove there is demand for places at their schools from parents of other religions. The green paper proposes that oversubscribed free schools will be able to select 100 per cent of their intake based on […]

Ofsted data shows grammars do not ‘guarantee quality’

A grammar school does not guarantee education quality, shows a new analysis of Ofsted data that reveals some grammars require improvement and have been in special measures. It also suggests that the reintroduction of secondary modern schools could create more “unsatisfactory” schools, as more require improvement than are outstanding. Following Theresa May’s announcement that the […]

Teachers ‘almost unanimously’ reject grammar school proposals

Teachers are “almost unanimous” in rejecting government proposals to lift the ban on new grammar schools, according to research by The Fair Education Alliance (FEA), which found four in five opposed the plans. The survey of more than 2,500 teachers, school leaders and heads also revealed that 80 per cent of the profession did not […]

Grammar schools green paper reveals government selective education expansion plan

The government has released its green paper outlining plans to allow new grammar schools to open along with other major school reforms. Around £50 million a year is expected to be spent on the expansion plans while the government will also introduce new measures making it easier for new faith schools to open, and force universities […]

Complaints lodged against schools triple in 3 years

The Department for Education (DfE) has been hit with an alarming rise in complaints made against schools, with the figure more than tripling over the past three years. There were more than 4,500 complaints made to the department in the period between August 2014 and July 2015, a dramatic rise on the previous 12 months, […]

Imposter students are sitting 11-plus entrance exams

Imposters are taking the 11-plus entrance exam to get children into competitive grammar schools, claims a former headteacher. The allegation adds fuel to worries over the government’s plan to reintroduce grammar schools – with poor test regulation joining statistics that show the schools exacerbate inequality in outcomes. Andy Williamson, who led Wilmington grammar for boys […]

First step of teaching apprenticeships signed off

A group of schools hoping to create a fully vocational pathway to qualified teacher status (QTS) has passed its first hurdle after the government approved its plans for a new apprenticeship for teaching assistants. The framework, drawn up by 11 schools in Buckinghamshire and the West Midlands and first revealed by Schools Week in January, […]

Ofsted and Ofqual seek top calibre candidates for chair position

Ofsted and Ofqual have begun their quests to fill empty chairmanships as both face unsteady times as new chief executives settle in. Amanda Spielman leaves as Ofqual chair after five years to take the top spot at Ofsted when Sir Michael Wilshaw, the chief inspector, departs in December. Spielman briefly acted as interim chief regulator […]

Grammar schools expand even without new schools

Grammar schools have been increasing their intake for years even without the government legally lifting the ban on them expanding. New analysis by Education Datalab has also revealed there is no evidence that this expansion has improved recruitment of pupils from low income families. The government appears to be steaming ahead with plans to lift […]