Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Ministers to meet with Ofsted over omission of sexism from inspection handbook

Ministers will meet with Ofsted to discuss a “cohesive response” to sexual harassment and bullying in schools after the watchdog faced criticism for leaving sexism out of its handbook for inspectors. Although the handbook includes specific references to racist and homophobic bullying, as well as discrimination on the grounds of disability, there is nothing which […]

31 New Free Schools: The Complete List

Prime minister David Cameron has just announced the approval of 31 new free schools, the last wave under his premiership. If you want the full story, go here. Otherwise, here is the full list… Alconbury Weald Church Academy, Cambridgeshire Ashlawn Free School, Warwickshire Aspire Primary Academy, Newquay Chatteris Free School, Cambridgeshire City of London Academy, Downs […]

Cameron unveils 31 new free schools on last visit as PM – but details are thin

David Cameron has unveiled the latest wave of approved free school applications, in one of his final acts as prime minister. Of the 31 new projects, which were officially unveiled by Cameron in his last official visit as prime minister at Reach Academy in Feltham this afternoon, 24 are being set up by existing schools or […]

Absence fine refunds should be refused, schools minister tells local councils

Councils should not refund parents fined for taking their children out of school, the schools minister has said, after a surge in requests following a landmark court case. Nick Gibb has written to local authorities to say that the government expects refund requests, made after a High Court ruling in favour of a father who took his […]

Prime minister Theresa May: What does this mean for schools?

Theresa May could soon become our new prime minister after her only opponent in the Conservative leadership race Andrea Leadsom pulled out. Here’s what it could mean for schools… 1. No more Nicky? May is likely to reshuffle most of the cabinet’s posts once she takes over at Number 10. Nicky Morgan, who backed Michael […]

Apprenticeships: how the levy and hiring targets will affect schools and multi-academy trusts

In recent weeks, readers have asked how two key apprenticeship policies will affect schools and academy trusts. They sound similar, but are actually independent policies based on different criteria. Conflating them is easy, but wrong. Political reporter Freddie Whittaker, who knows his stuff on this, takes a look. First, there’s the apprenticeship levy. This is […]

Character education awards 2016: Who are the winners and why were they picked?

The government has unveiled the winners of this year’s character education awards. Nine regional awards worth £15,000 and one national award with a £20,000 prize are handed out every year to schools, youth projects and pupil referral units which demonstrate commitment to the government’s character education aims. Here are this year’s winners… Thorseby Primary School, Hull – […]

Skills shake-up won’t stop schools offering A-levels and BTECs

A planned overhaul of post-16 education won’t stop schools offering A-levels and vocational courses like BTECs together, the author of a government review has said. Lord Sainsbury (above right) has told Schools Week that a shake-up prompted by his inquiry into technical education in England would not prevent schools from offering BTEC and other “applied […]

Angela Rayner, shadow education secretary

Angela Rayner has a constituent named Dave who calls her “Boudicca” in his emails. “It’s because I’m fiery and tenacious and stand in the face of danger,” the new shadow education secretary tells me, as she poses for a photo near the statue of the Celtic queen opposite Westminster’s Portcullis House. Rayner has been “squatting” […]