Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

South west RSC Rebecca Clark resigns to join Ark academy chain

The regional schools commissioner for the south west of England Rebecca Clark is to leave her role at the Department for Education to take a new job with the academy chain Ark. Department officials have today confirmed that Clark, who was appointed as the RSC for the south west region last April following Sir David Carter’s […]

Four in five reject Tory plan to lift faith admissions cap

Plans to lift the cap on faith-based admissions at over-subscribed free schools are opposed by four fifths of the population and more than two thirds of Catholics, a poll has revealed. Just 20 per cent of respondents to a poll of more than 2,000 people carried out by Populus on behalf of the Accord Coalition […]

Conservatives promise new routes to becoming a teacher

Schools could get additional funding to train their teaching assistants up to degree level using a new apprenticeship route announced in the Conservative manifesto. The party has pledged to ensure TAs are able to “become qualified teachers via a degree apprenticeship route”, a move which would give schools access to funding from the apprenticeship levy […]

Exam board apologises over Romeo & Juliet gaffe in GCSE English exam

A mistake in a GCSE English literature paper will not put pupils at a disadvantage, the exam board OCR has said. The organisation apologised after it emerged the GCSE paper sat by thousands of pupils this morning contained a glaring error relating to the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet. The paper refers to the character […]

Tory manifesto pledge is for only 17 extra free schools

A commitment by the Conservative party to build 100 new free schools a year if it wins the general election only guarantees that a further 17 will open on top of those already planned, Schools Week analysis has revealed. The party’s manifesto includes a pledge to build at least 100 free schools in every year […]

Political visits in schools can be ruled unlawful

Schools that host campaign visits from politicians risk breaking the law or charity rules if they don’t act with political balance. Candidates from all the major parties have made dozens of visits to schools since the general election campaign began. But schools have to adhere to the strict rules governing political campaigning that include providing […]

Supreme Court rules on wages of striking staff

The Supreme Court has ruled against a sixth form which deducted too much pay from teachers who went on strike in 2011. Justices today allowed an appeal against an earlier ruling in favour of the King Edward VI sixth form college in Stourbridge, which was taken to court by three employees over pay deducted for a day of industrial […]

Conservatives backtrack on £60m for primary school breakfasts

The Conservative Party has admitted that a key manifesto commitment to provide breakfasts for every primary school pupil in England could cost far more than the £60 million initially promised. In a second embarrassing U-turn for the party following the debacle over its social care plans, the Conservatives now say the costs of providing breakfasts “will vary depending […]

Conservative Schools Pledges 2017: The Nerdy Details Guide

The Conservative Party’s manifesto has been launched by the prime minister Theresa May in Halifax, West Yorkshire today. The 84-page document sets out the party’s vision for the next parliament, including what it will do for education. Here is our analysis of all the schools policies in the manifesto… More good school places 1. Build 100 […]