Author: Freddie Whittaker

Struggling University Technical Colleges now account for almost 10 per cent of revenue deficits reported by all academy trusts after deficits more than doubled in just four years. A report from the National Audit Office, the government’s spending watchdog, today lays bare the extent of financial failure among UTCs. £792m has been spent but UTCs […]

Ministers are aiming to introduce a British sign language GCSE “as soon as possible” – and have pledged to consult on draft content next year. Nick Gibb, the schools minister, has confirmed Department for Education officials are now “working with subject experts to develop draft subject content” for the GCSE. The government relaxed its position […]

Academies that can’t demonstrate good governance and show “restraint” in their chief executive pay face being denied access to maintenance funding. Ministers have attached the new rule to criteria for next year’s condition improvement fund, an annual grant pot of more than £400 million which funds improvements and upgrades to school buildings. Schools Week revealed earlier […]

The Department for Education has updated headline results for last year’s phonics screening check and key stage 1 SATs after mistakes in its original data release were identified. The department confirmed today that a number of changes had been made to a data release entitled phonics screening check and key stage 1 assessments in England, […]

An influential committee of MPs has accused the Department for Education of having “set local authorities up to fail” in a damning report on the state of education for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. The parliamentary education committee criticised “serious errors” in how the government administered money and its failure to provide extra […]

A cross-party committee of MPs has published a landmark report on the state of provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. The report from the parliamentary education committee, published today, makes a series of recommendations for government and other bodies. We’ve compiled a list of the recommendations most likely to affect schools.   […]

Schools in England have lost more than £2.8 million in funding this year after failing to enrol thousands of sixth formers in additional English and maths classes. Analysis of funding allocation data by Schools Week’s sister paper FE Week shows the government reduced funding for 139 academies, 42 school sixth forms and 24 university technical […]

The exams regulator Ofqual is planning to step up its regulation of technical qualifications offered to 14 to 16-year-old pupils, amid concerns they are open to “grade inflation or misuse”. Technical awards are level 1 and 2 qualifications with an applied or practical focus offered by some schools and colleges to pupils alongside GCSEs. They […]

The NASUWT teachers’ union made a “genuine error” in failing to call an election before its general secretary’s term of office came to an end, the certification officer of trade unions has ruled. In a ruling issued following a hearing earlier this month, Sarah Bedwell said the union’s current election process was “sufficient to remedy” […]