Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: Supporting Pupils with Autism

When I first read the title, I wondered whether this little green book would be patronising and offer a simplistic overview of autism; I was pleasantly surprised at this useful manual for teachers in primary schools. Autism is complex and using inclusive techniques for all children in mainstream can be challenging; 100 ideas for primary […]

National Citizen Service cuts ties with largest provider

The National Citizen Service has announced it will ditch its largest provider of summer school programmes from next year, after a dispute over shared IT systems and following an incident which saw 4,000 pupils miss out on places. The NCS, a flagship government scheme which organises outward-bound trips and community work for 15 to 17-year-olds […]

Dear Gavin Williamson, it’s time to invest in teachers’ development

The new education secretary must prioritise targeted investment in teachers and school leaders, argues Melanie Renowden. At Ambition Institute, we know that the quality of teaching and school leadership are the best levers – within control of the school system – for improving pupil outcomes, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Evidence shows us that […]

Luke Tryl to leave New Schools Network for government role

Luke Tryl, the director of the New Schools Network, is leaving the charity to return to government. Schools Week understands Tryl will return to his old role as special adviser to Nicky Morgan, who recently re-entered the cabinet as culture secretary. The Conservative campaigner has only been in his current role since March. He was […]

Schools can no longer close the gap for disadvantaged pupils

Over the past year, disadvantaged children have fallen even further behind their more affluent classmates in terms of GCSE attainment, which could signal the start of growing educational inequality, writes Jo Hutchinson. In the face of mounting financial pressures and disappearing wider social support, we can no longer say that the gap is on course […]

Unconditional offers continue to rise despite government intervention

The number of unconditional offers handed to pupils has risen again this year, despite demands from ministers that universities curb their use of the controversial practice. The latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service show that 38 per cent of 18-year-olds received a offer with some unconditional element this year, compared with 34 per […]

Meet the team: Your guide to the new DfE ministerial line-up

The Department for Education’s new ministerial team is now complete. Boris Johnson has finished his reshuffle after becoming Conservative leader and prime minister. Here’s your handy guide to who’s who on the seventh floor of Sanctuary Buildings. Gavin Williamson Education secretary The MP for South Staffordshire since 2010, Williamson previously served as Theresa May’s […]

How a trust-wide knowledge-rich curriculum can drive improvements

Implementing a trust-wide curriculum for primary schools wasn’t easy, but two years on we’re reaping the benefits, writes Rowena Hackwood. Notwithstanding Ofsted having made clear its position, the debate in the education sector as to the merits or otherwise of knowledge-based curricula rages on. At the David Ross Education Trust we have been quietly getting […]

Let teachers embrace a career that values lifelong learning

The Chartered College of Teaching is two-and-a-half years old. What does the future hold for the organisation? Dame Alison Peacock explains. According to the results of our recent survey – our society does not value our teachers sufficiently. Our teachers shape the future of society, and your impact on the lives of young people is […]