Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

No ban for leading head John Tomsett

A leading headteacher who had a sexual relationship with a former pupil will not be banned from teaching, the government has ruled. In a decision notice published today, the Teacher Regulation Agency said banning Tomsett, headteacher of Huntington School in York, would “clearly deprive the public of his contribution to the profession for the period that […]

Pupils are losing faith in their schools’ response to bullying, survey shows

The proportion of pupils who think their school handles bullying well has fallen in recent years, new government data shows. In the year to March 2018, 72 per cent of pupils aged 10 to 15 reported their school dealt with bullying either “very well” or “quite well”, down from 78 per cent in the year […]

Online progs vs trads debate ‘too polarised’, warns Ofsted research chief

Debate over pedagogy has become “too polarised” and fighting between traditionalists and progressives on social media “quite unhelpful”, Ofsted’s research chief has said. Professor Daniel Muijs told Schools Week the “trads-vs-progs” debate had become a “simplification of the evidence around teaching, around pedagogy, to say that it is one or the other”. “In general teachers […]

£2.4m on research is money well spent, says Ofsted boss

Ofsted’s increased focus and spending on research is “more important” as the inspectorate faces cost pressures, its head of research has said. Professor Daniel Muijs (pictured) has defended the inspectorate’s plans to shell out £2.4 million on research over the next two years. It comes as senior staff have been at pains to point out […]

Year 10 numbers dip at UTCs despite claims to the contrary

The organisation behind the university technical college programme has claimed the number of 14-year-olds studying at the institutions is on the up – although its own figures show a different picture. A spokesperson for the Baker Dearing Educational Trust told our sister title, FE Week, that year 10 recruitment at the 14 to 19 institutions […]

Hammond’s ‘little extras’ may not go directly to schools

Academy trusts will be able to pool the money their schools are awarded from the £400 million “little extras” pot and dish it out as they deem appropriate, Schools Week understands. Philip Hammond, the chancellor, pledged the in-year bonus during last week’s budget, suggesting the money could be spent on computers or whiteboards. He said […]

Heads question methods of glossy Westminster mag that charges £3,500 for exposure

A glossy magazine that charges schools thousands of pounds to be featured in its pages has been accused of misleading headteachers over its links to parliament. School leaders across England received letters last month telling them they had been selected to appear in The Parliamentary Review and attend a gala event in Westminster with politicians […]

Teachers ‘in danger’ as schools step up to tackle knife crime

Schools are being forced to put teachers in harm’s way in the battle to keep pupils safe from knife crime as police cuts bite, a Schools Week investigation has found. Headteachers have also rejected recent calls for schools to stagger the times they send pupils home to tackle violence between pupils in the evenings, instead […]

Government reveals triggers for new school support programme

The government has officially revealed the triggers for offers of optional improvement “support” for struggling schools, after scaling back its intervention model earlier this year. According to new Department for Education guidance, schools found to be meeting the new criteria, which are based on existing coasting and floor standards, will be offered up to three days […]