Jess Staufenberg | Schools Week

Three in ten vocational qualification tests fail Ofqual standards

The exams for some technical qualifications are too easy, too hard or not reliable enough, Ofqual has warned. The watchdog has looked at how trustworthy the exams for technical and vocational qualifications are, and found that 29 per cent of them do not stand up to scrutiny. In recent years, questions over the rigour of […]

Pupils on ‘SEN support’ fare worse than pupils with EHCPs

Pupils with special needs have better outcomes if they have an education health and care plan (EHCP) or statement – but those without statements or plans are being let down, Ofsted has warned. Children categorised as needing “SEN support” are more likely to have their needs overlooked, be excluded, and achieve less well than those […]

Leading MATs have far more pupils with English as additional language

The largest multi-academy trusts have far more pupils with English as an additional language – and could be benefiting from having more children who are “easier” to progress. Researchers have identified 13 academy trusts responsible for 12,000 pupils or more, which are dubbed “system leaders” under a new system used by the national schools commissioner. […]

British Council: Arabic must be taught in schools

Arabic is one of the top languages the British Council wants pupils to learn, even though just five per cent of schools in England teach it. New research identifies it as the fourth most important language for future job opportunities, after Spanish, Mandarin and French. But unlike the many secondary schools offering Spanish and French, […]

Private schools to face further hike in inspection fees

Plans to hike the fees small private schools must pay Ofsted are just the start of a programme of increased costs, according to a leading civil servant. Last month, non-association private schools reacted unhappily when the inspectorate announced it would consult on increasing what it charges to inspect them. Some could face paying £3,800 more […]

Free school meals rule change will leave disadvantage data ‘completely useless’

A “triple track” of changes to free school meal entitlements proposed in the government’s benefits reforms will render school data “useless” for years, experts have warned. The Department for Education is consulting on plans to restrict children’s eligibility for free school meals if their parents claim universal credit, the new one-size-fits-all system that will replace […]

50,000 more pupils to get free school meals

An extra 50,000 pupils will receive free school meals under proposals for a new earnings threshold put out for consultation by the government today. Under the proposals, developed in response to the roll-out of a new benefits system, pupils from universal credit-claiming households with incomes of up to £24,000 will be eligible for free school meals. It […]

Teaching School Alliances miss ‘cold spots’ of struggling schools

There are “cold spots” in the support that struggling schools are getting from Teaching School Alliances across the country, according to new government analysis. The National College for Teaching and Leadership has released initial findings on the work of teaching school alliances, which are amalgamated teaching schools delivering initial teacher training and school improvement in […]

Government investigates severance payouts in academy trusts

Government finance bosses are investigating several unnamed academy trusts that failed to get Treasury approval for hefty payments made to staff. The Education and Funding Skills Agency has launched investigations into three “special severance payments” worth £184,000 that were paid to staff after they resigned or were fired. According to one trade union, some of […]