Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Early phonics achievers three times more likely to ace KS2 reading test

Pupils who pass the phonics reading screening check on their first attempt are almost three times more likely to meet the “expected standard” in reading at key stage 2, the government has revealed. New data published by the Department for Education tracked the performance in the SATs reading test of pupils based on when they […]

Fewer primary schools below floor standard, but more are coasting

The number of primary schools below the government’s “floor standard” for key stage 2 SATs results has dropped. This year, 364, or 3 per cent of mainstream primary schools fell below the floor standard, down from 511, or 4 per cent of primary schools, last year. Though the floor standards remain in place as a […]

Pupil nationality data: Controversial collection misses data for more than million pupils

Schools failed to collect pupil nationality and country of birth data for hundreds of thousands of pupils for the second year running following an outcry over the controversial policy and a boycott by parents and schools. Data released today by the Department for Education shows that the government failed to obtain nationality data for 17.8 […]

Sixth form funding rates to remain unchanged in 2019-20

Funding rates for sixth forms will remain unchanged next year, the Education and Skills Funding Agency has confirmed, dashing hopes of a cash boost for schools and colleges. A letter from Peter Mucklow, director of further education at the agency, published today, said that the national base rates of £4,000 per full time pupil aged 16 […]

Revealed: The 50 academy trusts that cut chief executive pay

The government has named 50 academy trusts that have cut executive pay following pressure from officials. A list, sent to Schools Week under the freedom of information act, reveals the names of the trusts that have stopped paying salaries of either £100,000 to £150,000 or over £150,000. However this does not include any trusts that […]

Social Mobility Commission to relaunch with £2m research budget

Ministers have allocated £2 million in research funding to the rejuvenated Social Mobility Commission, a year after all of its commissioners quit in despair over government inaction. The Commission, which advises the government on issues such as educational disadvantage, teacher supply and the isolation of rural and coastal schools, will relaunch at an event at […]

Medway school mulls single-gender primary extension

A girls’ secondary school in Kent wants to add single-gender primary provision on its site. If the move goes ahead, Rainham School for Girls will become only the sixth school nationally to provide girls-only education to primary age pupils, and only the tenth nationally to provide single-gender schooling to younger pupils. The Medway school, which […]

John Tomsett will return to Huntington School after misconduct inquiry

A leading headteacher found not guilty of unacceptable professional conduct over a sexual relationship with a former pupil will return to work next year, it has been announced. John Tomsett, the headteacher of Huntington School in York, has been on leave for more than two months as a result of a Teacher Regulation Agency misconduct […]