Jess Staufenberg | Schools Week

Ofsted inspectors receive no training on secondary moderns

Ofsted inspectors have received no training on secondary modern schools, despite them operating in some of the toughest conditions in the country. Laurence Reilly, a headteacher who is also an Ofsted inspector, said HMIs had not been trained to recognise a “secondary modern” as a non-selective school sitting within a selective area. His comments at […]

Poor pupils with same SATs as richer peers do worse in grammar schools test

Poorer pupils with the same SATs score as their wealthier peers are much less likely to pass the 11-plus, according to new research by Education Datalab. The study found that the Kent Test, the grammar school entrance exam in Kent, was a “loaded dice” against pupils on free school meals as they were not coached […]

Headteacher board face chaos as elections loom

The upcoming elections for headteacher boards (HTBs) are “frankly amateurish” and beset with issues, including delays, the potential for all experienced members to lose their seats at once and unregulated lobbying. Members of the powerful boards, which advise regional schools commissioners (RSCs) on the opening, closure and rebrokering of academies and free schools, face re-election […]

MPs urge cuts review as budgets affect school mental health services

Budget cuts mean an increasing number of schools have cut back on mental health provision, according to a report by parliament’s education committee. Witnesses told the cross-party MPs who sit on the committee, that schools were facing increased budgetary pressures, and 8 in 10 surveyed headteachers said these were creating barriers to providing adequate support […]

A-level language grades will increase to correct historic undergrading

Grade boundaries in modern foreign language (MFL) A-levels will be adjusted to take “native speakers” into account for the first time, allowing more pupils to achieve higher grades and suggesting a historic under-grading in the subject. Ofqual announced a one-off upwards adjustment to grades to account for the advantage of native speakers after research found […]

Heads leave large multi-academy trusts faster than other school types

Falling retenion rates mean one in ten secondary headteachers now leave their roles every year, a new analysis has revealed, with large multi- academy trusts posting the biggest turnover. A report by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), published today, found the retention rate for secondary heads fell from 91 per cent in 2012 […]

Replace bursaries with ‘forgivable fees’ to boost teacher numbers, report claims

Teacher training bursaries should be scrapped in place of “forgivable” tuition fees for teaching graduates who stick in the profession for about ten years, a new report has recommended. A report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) think tank, published today, has made a series of proposals to tackle a lack of teachers, EBacc […]

Open new selective schools in MATs only, urges Carmichael

New selective schools should only be allowed within multi-academy trusts so that youngsters can “move around” between vocational and academic routes to keep their options open, a leading Conservative MP has said. Neil Carmichael, chair of the influential education committee, has said any new grammar schools should belong to large trusts that can ensure pupils do […]

Corbyn 4-day bank holiday pledge ‘includes teachers’

A pledge by Jeremy Corbyn to give workers an additional four national holidays per year will reduce the school year to 186 days for pupils, and 191 for teachers. The new bank holidays planned by the Labour Party as part of their election pledges, would be on each nation’s patron saint day: St David’s on 1 […]