John Dickens | Schools Week

David Carter: There’s no such thing as an ‘untouchable’ school

The national schools commissioner has dismissed claims of “untouchable” schools too toxic for new sponsors to take over – insisting support is being delivered quicker than ever before. In an exclusive interview with Schools Week, Sir David Carter (pictured) said that struggling schools were not left in limbo because of entrenched difficulties – such as […]

Primary assessment consultation: The 5 key proposals

Education secretary Justine Greening has this morning announced a consultation on a raft of primary school assessment changes – including scrapping SATs for seven-year-olds. The consultation will run for 12 weeks, and is expected to be published later today. Schools Week has rounded up the key proposals: 1. Scrap key stage 1 tests for […]

Sending letters to sixth-formers boosts chance of attending top university

Students are more likely to gain a place at the country’s top universities after being sent letters from role models urging them to “aim higher in life”, a major new study has found. The Department for Education has today published the findings of a three-year study run by the Behaviour Insights Team – known as […]

ECDL dropped from 2018 league tables – 12 months earlier than planned

The ‘fast-track’ ECDL qualification will be dropped from league tables in 2018 – a year earlier than previously announced. The move has angered one union boss, who said the government shouldn’t “change the rules” after pupils have started two-year qualification programmes. The Department for Education announced last month the BCS Level 2 ECDL Certificate in […]

Chief executive appointed at DfE’s new £2bn free school property company

Property management consultancy boss Lara Newman MBE has been announced as the chief executive of the Department for Education’s new £2 billion free school land company. Schools Week revealed in July the Department for Education had finalised plans to set up LocatEd – an “arm’s length” company that will be given a £2 billion warchest […]

Schools North East launches mock disciplinary hearings amid dwindling LA support

Schools NorthEast is running mock disciplinary hearings to help headteachers to avoid costly employment tribunals in the face of dwindling local authority support. A teacher is banned from the classroom once every two school days, according to government figures. Most exclusions are related to allegations of sexual activity, inappropriate relationships or general inappropriate behaviour. The […]

Greenwood Academies Trust set to lose two schools

The Greenwood Academies Trust will be stripped of two schools after Ofsted questioned its ability to drive improvement without a “balanced portfolio” of academies. The trust, which runs 31 schools across the east of England and the East Midlands, has now been told by the government to rebroker the City of Derby Academy and Skegness […]

Former trust boss’s new private school closes after six months

A private school set up by the founder of a collapsed academy chain has closed six months after it opened – leaving more than 80 pupils stranded. Schools Week revealed last week that parents and staff at Henriette Le Forestier preparatory school in Croydon, south London, were told it would break up nine days before […]

Bennett behaviour review: the 5 policy recommendations

The government has today published its independent review of behaviour in schools. It was commissioned to help identify evidence of effective strategies so school leaders can “optimise behaviour” among their pupils. The review was led by the government’s behaviour expert Tom Bennett. Schools Week has the key policy recommendations… 1. Use behaviour audits to […]