Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

DfE won’t issue guidance on ‘exceptional circumstances’ for sex education withdrawal

Headteachers will be left in the “invidious position” of deciding whether they have grounds to refuse parents’ requests to withdraw their children from new sex education lessons. School leaders’ unions have called for clarity after the new guidance confirmed that schools will be allowed to turn down such requests in “exceptional circumstances”. But the Department […]

Labour won’t ‘return to the past’ on school accountability

Returning to the past system of school accountability would be a “wasted opportunity”, Labour has said, as it launches a second consultation on its plans for a National Education Service. It is the clearest sign yet that the party would not return academies to local authority oversight if it formed a government, despite pressure from […]

Ofsted publishes first academy trust ‘summary evaluation’

The first ever summary evaluation of a multi-academy trust by Ofsted has been published, ushering in a long-awaited new inspection process for chains. Inspectors have issued a glowing report about Truro and Penwith Academy Trust, which runs 25 schools in Cornwall. It is the first report on a MAT to be published under the inspectorate’s […]

Ofsted: ‘No formal recruitment process’ for subject curriculum groups

Ofsted’s national director of education has admitted there was no formal recruitment process for new subject curriculum groups, following allegations of “pedagogical bias”. Sean Harford has defended the make-up of the groups, which have come under fire for alleged dominance by education traditionalists and government supporters, claiming Ofsted recruited group members “who we feel have […]

Ministers investigating ‘perverse incentives’ in high needs funding

The government is investigating “perverse incentives” created by the high needs funding system, a minister has said. Anne Milton, the skills minister, told a debate in the House of Commons that ministers are “looking at” problems with the way schools receive money for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, including a requirement than schools […]

Schools sought for autumn 2019 baseline pilot

Schools willing to trial the government’s new baseline assessment are being sought to take part in a pilot this year – but the department won’t confirm how many schools it wants to take part. The new test for reception children, which will provide the baseline for measuring progress in primary schools, will not become statutory […]

Relationships, sex and health education: What do schools need to know?

In what’s been hailed as a “historic” moment, the government has finally published the first new guidance on relationships and sex education for 19 years. From 2020, relationships, sex and health education will be compulsory subjects in all secondary schools, while all primaries will have to teach relationships and health education. It’s a real watershed […]

Widespread opposition to relationships and sex education reforms revealed

The majority of respondents to a consultation on new relationships and sex education lessons disagreed with the government’s proposals, new documents show. The documents reveal significant disquiet over the age-appropriateness of RSE content for both primary and secondary school pupils, with teaching on LGBT relationships a particular bone of contention. Proposed new health education lesson […]

Parents lobbying for new law on pupil restraint consider judicial review

Families of children with learning disabilities have sought legal advice over pupil restraint in schools, and may launch a judicial review to force ministers to introduce a new law governing its use. Lawyers Irwin Mitchell have announced they are acting for a group of parents who fear disabled children are “being hurt every day” because […]