Billy Camden | Schools Week

We’ll judge character, not evidence says DfE

Schools do not need to submit verifiable evidence in support of their claim on a prize fund drawn from a £5 million Department for Education scheme (DfE) – a Schools Week investigation has revealed. Last week, the DfE opened applications for the 2015 Character Education Awards. Their aim is to celebrate the excellence and diversity […]

Newham council investigates ‘unlawful’ sixth-form centre

A sixth form set up by a London council has been left in legal limbo after councillors were told that it was “likely to be unlawful”, just months after it opened. Three managers have left Newham Council, with more under investigation, while the council scrambles to put the sixth form on a proper legal footing. […]

Schools that meet new measures will get a year’s grace from Ofsted

Schools performing much better than expected – a grade or more above predictions – will be exempt from Ofsted inspections for a year, a Department for Education (DfE) official told an education conference last week. Amy Collins, head of the DfE’s inspection and accountability unit, presented an outline of the Progress 8 performance measure to […]

Morgan boosts character funding with extra £4.5m

Nicky Morgan’s war chest for building “character, resilience and grit” has expanded with the announcement of a £3.5 million grant fund and £1 million for research, taking the total to £9.8 million. The Education Secretary has unveiled plans to allow schools and organisations that promote character in pupils to bid for a share of the […]

Commissioners must convert schools

The performance of regional schools commissioners will be judged by how many schools in their areas convert to academy status, despite education secretary Nicky Morgan’s public stance that she has no preference for any particular school type. Regional schools commissioners (RSCs) were introduced in September to strengthen accountability for academies, but it was not known […]

Middle leaders shun NCTL course

Concerns have been raised about the uptake and completion of school “middle leader” qualifications. NAHT Edge – the middle leaders’ union and part of the National Association of Head Teachers – said the latest figures from the National College of Teaching & Leadership (NCTL) were worryingly low. They show that 7,642 teachers have enrolled for […]

It’s up to heads to decide on PSHE, says Gibb

Schools minister Nick Gibb has ruled out making personal, social and health education (PSHE) and sex and relationships education (SRE) compulsory, saying instead that schools should be “autonomous” on such decisions. Mr Gibb gave oral evidence to the education select committee on Wednesday in the fourth and final session examining PSHE and SRE in schools. […]

New GCSEs face lack of invigilators

A top exams officer has warned of a shortage of invigilators when the GCSE reforms come into force. Andrew Harland, chief executive of the Examination Officers’ Association, told delegates at the Westminster Education Forum last week that there were many concerns about the changes, which will require pupils to take all their exams at the […]

Board votes to remove Cuckoo Hall chair

An academies trust director suspended amid allegations of misconduct has broken his silence after the chair who suspended him and two headteachers was removed. Cuckoo Hall Academies Trust director Phill Sowter was suspended at the end of November with his wife Patricia Sowter, the trust’s executive headteacher, and Sharon Ahmet, the head of Cuckoo Hall […]