Author: Freddie Whittaker

The government has released provisional key stage 4 data this morning that reveals how schools have fared in headline accountability measures. The data includes figures on progress and attainment 8 measures, and also provides an update on EBacc figures. Please note that due to the variations in data for private school caused by iGCSEs, which […]

Ofsted’s reliance on data during inspections of initial teacher education may be covering up “weaknesses” across training partnerships, Amanda Spielman has admitted. The chief inspector acknowledged today that the watchdog’s current framework for initial teacher training inspection “places a lot of emphasis on data”, such as employment and completion rates, and that inspectors place “relatively […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]