John Dickens | Schools Week

Government’s computing revolution is excluding girls and poorer pupils, report finds

The government’s school computing revolution has cut off girls and poorer pupils from achieving vital technology qualifications, a new report has found. An annual study analysing the uptake of computing subjects has found just 16 per cent of GCSE computing pupils last year were girls. At A-level, girls made up just 8.5 per cent. The […]

Councils run crisis communications classes for schools as trusts up their PR focus

Councils are running classes for school managers on how to deal with the media in a crisis, while academy trusts are calling in consultants for up to £450 a day, a Schools Week investigation into the cost of public relations has revealed. The recent government investigation into the Perry Beeches academy trust (Former Perry superhead […]

Academy trusts told to avoid isolated academies

The government has issued its firmest statement yet that trusts should avoid running geographically isolated schools, raising serious questions over who will operate the far-flung academies that nobody wants. The first “good practice guide” for multi-academy trusts (MATs) was published last week, revealing what conditions trusts must meet to expand. The guidance also revealed that […]

Ofsted to scrutinise governors’ commitment after report found many lack expertise to challenge heads

Ofsted will keep tabs on governors not committed to their roles after the watchdog found many lack the expertise to hold school leaders to account. The watchdog published its ‘improving governance’ study today that claimed governors pay little attention to pupils’ outcomes, as well as not knowing their own roles and responsibilities. The watchdog concluded […]

National funding formula: the winners and losers by school type

Schools in inner London and urban areas are most likely to lose out in the government’s funding shake-up. The Department for Education has published the second consultation on its national funding formula today – revealing more details about which schools will win and lose under the new cash distribution model. The document shows that schools […]

Explainer: How schools will be funded under the new national formula

The government has today published further details about its new national funding formula. Schools Week has taken a closer look at each of the new funding blocks. The funding formula is made up of four building blocks: basic per-pupil funding, additional needs funding, school-led funding and geographic funding. These are each broken down into another […]

National funding formula: 10,700 schools set for extra cash, but more than 9,000 to lose out

More than 10,700 schools are set to get extra cash under the government’s new fairer funding formula, while 9,128 will be funded at a lower level. The Department for Education has published the second consultation on its national funding formula – revealing more details about which schools will win and lose under the new cash […]

NAO school finances report: Headteachers face £3 BILLION in cuts, and 10 other key findings

The National Audit Office (NAO) has published its report into school finances today. Schools Week has the key findings: (You can read our news story here) 1. Schools will have to cut £3 BILLION to meet cost pressures at worst level ‘since mid-1990s’ The NAO highlights that school budgets are being squeezed by pay rises, […]

OGAT runs course showing academies how to ‘restructure’ staff

A leading academy trust is running £300-per-head sessions to advise school leaders on how they can restructure staff to deliver a “fit-for purpose” curriculum in the face of crippling budget pressures. Outwood Grange academies trust (OGAT) will host the “curriculum access day”, which will include staff restructuring advice, in March next year for business managers, […]