Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Pupil premium change: Labour accuses government of £133m ‘stealth cut’

The government’s pupil premium funding change is a “stealth cut to school budgets at a time when children need more support than ever”, the shadow education secretary will warn tomorrow. Kate Green will tell the annual conference of teaching union NASUWT that the decision by ministers to base pupil premium funding on free school meals […]

Williamson plans £1.1m expansion of cadet units in schools

The education secretary Gavin Williamson wants to expand cadet units in schools, allocating £1.1 million in funding to increase the number of pupils taking part. The funding will go directly to schools with existing “combined cadet force” units to employ more school staff instructors to help run them. Williamson, a former defence secretary, has been […]

Sewell report findings ‘an insult’ to those who experience racism, say education unions

The findings of the government’s Sewell commission on race and ethnic disparities are an “insult to all those in Britain who experience racism every day of their lives”, a group of education unions has said. The report from the commission, which was chaired by former teacher Dr Tony Sewell, has been heavily criticised for downplaying […]

Race and ethnic disparities report: The 9 schools recommendations

A government commission on race and ethnic disparities has called for “better targeted” funding, extended school days and endorsed calls for reforms to exclusions. The commission, chaired by Dr Tony Sewell, found Britain has become a “more open society” where children from many ethnic communities “do at least as well or substantially better than white […]

DfE names providers for new school leader NPQs

The Department for Education has named nine organisations that will be lead providers for its reformed national professional qualifications (NPQs). The Ambition Institute, Education Development Trust, Harris Federation, Teach First and UCL Institute of Education are among those picked to deliver the qualifications. Following reforms, there will be six new NPQs on offer from September […]

Extend school day with deprived areas prioritised, says race commission

The school day should be extended and careers advice improved to help disadvantaged children succeed, the government’s commission on race and ethnic disparities has concluded. The commission, chaired by former teacher Dr Tony Sewell, found Britain has become a “more open society” where children from many ethnic communities “do at least as well or substantially […]

£200m summer schools funding details: the 5 things you need to know

Secondary schools will receive £59.70 per place per day to run summer schools this year, but only for a maximum of two weeks of activities, new guidance states. The money will also have to cover all costs associated with running the activities, including additional staff costs, free meals for eligible children and transport, and schools […]

Reopening schools ‘almost certainly’ responsible for Covid rate uptick among young people – PM

A slight uptick in Covid rates among young people is “almost certainly” the result of reopening schools, Boris Johnson has said. But a government medical chief said the case rates rise was not a “dramatic increase at this point”, and that the situation was “likely to become clearer over the next two weeks”. The latest […]

Williamson first education secretary to address NASUWT conference in five years

Gavin Williamson will address the annual conference of the NASUWT teaching union this weekend, five years after an education secretary last appeared at the event. The union announced today that Williamson has accepted an invitation to address the conference, which is being held virtually this year because of Covid-19. The union invites the education secretary […]