Freddie Whittaker

  • Unions write to DfE over Brexit school places 'misinformation'

    Government guidance for schools on the rights of pupils after Brexit “lacks clarity”, two unions have warned, after evidence came to light that some schools have spread “misinformation” to parents. The National Education Union and leadership union the NAHT have written to the education secretary Gavin Williamson to raise concerns over reports that parents have…

    12.24 Oct. 15th, 2019 | News

  • 43 trusts named and shamed for late financial returns

    Ministers have named and shamed 43 academy trusts that were late submitting financial returns in the last academic year. Although the government says the “vast majority” of trusts submitted their returns on time, it has published a list of those that did not “in order to improve compliance with the submission deadlines and, in fairness…

    15.23 Oct. 14th, 2019 | News

  • Queen's speech 2019: Ministers commit to new knife crime duty for schools

    The government will move forward with plans for a duty on schools and other public sector bodies to work together to tackle serious violence, the Queen has announced. In her speech to the state opening of Parliament, the sovereign announced that “a new duty will be placed on public sector bodies ensuring they work together…

    12.31 Oct. 14th, 2019 | News

  • Academy trust in plea for cash as VA school bid remains 'on hold'

    An academy trust struggling to open a new voluntary-aided school is offering “naming rights” to prospective parents who pledge large enough donations. A bid by the Avanti Schools Trust to open a new VA school in the London borough of Redbridge was put on hold by the government earlier this year, with the trust given…

    5.00 Oct. 13th, 2019 | News

  • RSCs drafted in to provide 'insight' on policy

    Regional schools commissioners have new responsibilities to help develop government policy, alongside their work managing academies in their areas. Schools Week understands each RSC has been assigned a selection of policy areas where he or she will provide “insight” based on “expertise and frontline experience”. Their areas are so big already I do worry about…

    17.00 Oct. 11th, 2019 | News

  • DWP extends Jobcentre support for schools programme with £7m funding

    The government will spend a further £7 million helping pupils at risk of falling into unemployment, employing 90 more advisers to work between Jobcentres and schools. Dr Thérèse Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, has today announced the extension of the Jobcentre support for schools programme, which has so far worked with more than 1,400…

    13.26 Oct. 11th, 2019 | News

  • DfE proposes DSG rule change as town halls brace for £230m schools overspend

    The government is consulting on a move that would stop councils from using their general resources to plug deficits in school funding, as town halls brace themselves for huge overspends this year. A consultation today proposes changes to the arrangements for the dedicated schools grant, the ring-fenced money councils receive to fund the schools in…

    9.51 Oct. 11th, 2019 | News

  • DfE extends curriculum fund pilots despite training and recruitment issues

    The government is extending its curriculum fund pilots for another year, despite teething problems with training and recruitment. In January, the Department for Education announced the names of 11 academies selected to lead trials of the programme, splitting £2.4 million in funding in an attempt to find the best ways to reduce teacher workload and…

    0.01 Oct. 11th, 2019 | News

  • Larger MATs more likely have 'unexplained' pupil moves

    Pupils in large multi-academy trusts are more likely to experience an “unexplained” move than their peers in other school groups, a new study suggests. Analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) found academy trusts with at least ten secondary schools all have above-average rates of unexplained exits, prompting calls for an investigation into their practices.…

    0.01 Oct. 11th, 2019 | News

  • Becky Francis appointed as new EEF chief executive

    Professor Becky Francis will replace Sir Kevan Collins as chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation. Francis will leave her role as director of the UCL Institute of Education and start in her new post in the new year. The EEF is a charity set up with a £125 million grant from the Department for…

    11.20 Oct. 10th, 2019 | News

  • School happiness fades with age, and 2 other wellbeing findings

    The Department for Education has published its first “state of the nation” report on children and young people’s wellbeing. The report was pledged by former prime minister Theresa May in October last year. It is supposed to integrate the “available evidence” on the state of children and young people’s wellbeing. Here are three interesting findings…

    0.01 Oct. 10th, 2019 | News