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1 June 2026

Author: Freddie Whittaker

Three-quarters of primary leaders lack confidence in SATs, survey finds

Three in four school leaders lack confidence in SATs, while half report having received inadequate information to prepare pupils for this year’s key stage 2 tests, a survey has revealed. A poll of more than 1,000 primary school leaders by The Key reveals that 77 per cent “do not have confidence” in the current national assessment system. […]

Meet the teachers running in the General Election 2017

The teacher union activist and Schools Week blog reviewer Emma Hardy (pictured) is among several education professionals selected to run for parliament on June 8. Hardy will be fighting to retain the former education secretary Alan Johnson’s old seat of Hull West and Hessle for Labour. A former primary teacher who left the profession to […]

David Ross Education Trust given ‘final warning’ over job cuts

One of England’s largest academy trusts has been issued with a “final warning” by unions over job cuts in what they claim is an unprecedented move that could lead to a strike by staff. In an intervention that is the first of its kind since the advent of academy trusts, eight unions representing teachers, leaders and support […]

Paul Whiteman nominated as next general secretary of NAHT

Paul Whiteman, director of representation and advice at the National Association of Head Teachers, has been nominated to succeed Russell Hobby as the union’s general secretary. The NAHT’s national executive committee has unanimously confirmed Whiteman as its “preferred candidate” to take over later this year, following an “in-depth recruitment process”. Members will now be consulted […]

Tories claim school finances need ‘strong, stable leadership’ as MPs attack funding formula

The Conservative Party is refusing to comment on reports that it could scrap the long-awaited national funding formula, instead stating the only way to finance schools properly is through “strong, stable leadership”. Theresa May’s much-mocked catchphrase has been deployed once again, but this time to promote the party’s approach to school funding in the face of […]

Boarding school places for Syrian refugee children remain unfilled

A scheme aimed at providing free education and accommodation for more than 80 Syrian refugees at some of Britain’s most prestigious boarding schools has seen just four places taken up, Schools Week can reveal. Around 50 boarding schools offered the places, worth about £1.5 million in fees, more than 18 months ago. But the government […]

Stop judging primary schools on one year’s SATs results, say MPs

Primary school performance should be judged based on a rolling three-year average of key stage 2 SATs results, rather than annual data, according to parliament’s influential education committee. In one of its last reports, the outgoing committee of cross-party MPs argues the close link between SATs outcomes and school accountability creates a high-stakes system that […]

The 13 ways MPs want primary tests improved

The House of Commons education committee has published a key report on primary assessments and the chaos that ensued when they changed last year. They raked over the issues, but – more importantly – also made made some recommendations. Here is what the committee wants the government to do… 1. Give thorough information about SATs […]