James Carr | Schools Week

Schools lose £90m in pupil premium ‘stealth cut’, DfE admits

The government has finally admitted schools will miss out on around £90 million in pupil premium funding, despite previously insisting they would not lose out from a change to the way it is calculated. The Department for Education released updated guidance on the effective use and accountability of the pupil premium today. In December last […]

DfE considering ‘accelerated inspections’ to help Ofsted tackle Covid backlog

Gavin Williamson has revealed the government is looking to accelerate the timetable for Ofsted inspections in order to address the backlog of schools due a visit. The education secretary was questioned by the Parliamentary education committee this morning on the possibility of speeding up the process for schools left waiting for inspections, which were suspended […]

Struggling schools need ‘support, not public tellings-off’

An academy trust given a termination warning notice for one of its schools has called the procedure “demotivating” and “against the basic principles of education”. The Dean Trust was sent the notice by the Department for Education in May after its Dean Trust Wigan school was rated ‘inadequate’ after an Ofsted inspection in February last […]

An inset day on sexual abuse ‘won’t cut it’, says Spielman

Amanda Spielman has warned schools that a one-off safeguarding inset day alone “won’t cut it” as the sector looks to address sexual abuse and harassment among pupils. In response to Ofsted’s review of sex abuse in schools, the Department for Education pledged to “encourage” schools to include relationship, health and sex education curriculum and safeguarding […]

Speed read: Ofsted’s guide to a ‘high-quality’ geography curriculum

Ofsted has highlighted some of the key principles of teaching a “high-quality” geography curriculum in its latest research review. The inspectorate today published the fifth in a series of subject research reviews. It has previously covered languages, maths, science and religious education. Ofsted said the research reviews would be a useful tool in helping teachers […]

More than 1 in 5 pupils on free school meals after Covid surge

More than one in five pupils are now eligible for free school meals (FSM) following a steep rise during the pandemic, new government data has revealed. Department for Education (DfE) data on schools, pupils and their characteristics, published this morning, show an extra 300,000 pupils became eligible for free school meals since last year. In […]

Ofsted plans expansion of area SEND inspections to include all pupils in AP

Ofsted plans to “broaden the scope” of its area SEND inspections to look at support for all pupils in alternative provision, amid warnings that the pandemic has exacerbated issues for some of the most vulnerable children. Chief inspector Amanda Spielman said the “intertwined” nature of commissioning and response strategies for SEND and AP provision meant […]

Consider holding proms outdoors, DfE tells schools after ‘Freedom Day’ delay

The Department for Education has told schools sports day events can still go ahead – but open days and indoor prom events are “unlikely to be feasible” following the “Freedom Day” delay. Prime minister Boris Johnson confirmed yesterday most coronavirus rules will stay in place for at least another four weeks – pushing the planned […]

Ofsted: No mark-down if schools let year 11s leave early

Ofsted has clarified schools won’t be marked down for letting their year 11 cohort leave before the end of the academic year, despite its chief inspector raising concerns over the practice. Amanda Spielman told The Guardian last week that it was “concerning” to see secondary schools allowing pupils to end the summer term early due […]