James Carr | Schools Week

Spielman set for two-year extension as Ofsted chief inspector

Amanda Spielman is set to stay on as Ofsted chief inspector for an extra two years, Schools Week understands. While the extension to the role is believed to have been agreed by government, it still has to be officially signed off by the Privy Council, the queen’s formal body of advisers. Should it get approval, Spielman […]

DfE to launch cyber-security advice tool after spate of attacks

The Department for Education (DfE) is set to launch a new tool which allows schools to measure their cyber-security provision after the sector was struck by more than 70 ransomware attacks during the pandemic. Schools minister Nick Gibb told the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) CYBERUK online conference today that all schools should take advantage […]

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

Ofsted has identified the key principles of teaching a ‘high-quality’ religious education (RE) curriculum in its latest research review. The watchdog today published its second research review, following on from a deep dive into science last month. They say the research reviews will in part help teachers prioritise catch-up content by explaining the most helpful […]

Ofsted: ‘Very few’ primary teachers trained to teach geography

Ofsted has found “very few” primary school teachers have actually been trained to teach geography, with nearly half of schools not meeting national curriculum standards in the subject. The finding came from a series of geography subject inspections where the watchdog visited 23 ‘outstanding’-rated primary schools between January and March 2020. Iain Freeland, Ofsted subject […]

DfE finally hits 1.3 million laptop target (5 weeks later than promised)

The government has finally fulfilled its pledge to deliver 1.3 million free laptops to disadvantaged pupils – five weeks later than ministers’ promised. New figures from the Department for Education today show it had delivered or dispatched 1,313,449 devices by May 6. Schools minister Nick Gibb previously pledged that all laptops and tablets would be […]

Schools sought for rapid Covid test ‘quality assurance exercise’

The government is seeking primary schools and nurseries to take part in a two-week Covid-19 testing “quality assurance exercise”. In an email sent to school leaders on Friday, and seen by Schools Week, the Department for Education (DfE) requests volunteers to help “assess the performance” of lateral flow devices (LFDs) in schools and nursery settings. […]

Consent workshops and reviews: schools respond to sex abuse claims

A school named on the Everyone’s Invited website, set up to tackle rape culture, is to run compulsory “consent workshops” for pupils as young as 11, while others form staff working groups to review abuse. The avalanche of sexual abuse allegations has also pushed other schools, not named on the website, to take stock of […]

Poorest areas ‘most likely’ to have ‘significant weaknesses’ in SEND provision, says Ofsted

The poorest areas of England are “most likely” to have “significant weaknesses” in their special educational needs and disabilities provision, Ofsted has warned. The watchdog has published updated data on its local area SEND inspections, conducted jointly with the Care Quality Commission, which look at SEND provision across local authority areas. Following inspection, two thirds […]

Special school ‘ineffective’ during pandemic, says Ofsted

A special school judged to be ineffective in providing education during the pandemic has been criticised by Ofsted for setting “time-filling activities rather than education”. Inspectors also warned that safeguarding failures such as damaged electrical sockets and missing fire extinguishers meant pupils were “not safe” at Unified Academy in Surrey, part of Orchard Hill College […]