John Dickens | Schools Week

Private sector support for state schools – will it work?

Private schools and universities will be pushed into sponsoring schools to haul up standards in the state sector, despite an analysis of their current involvement revealing a chequered history. A key proposal in the green paper, Schools That Work for Everyone, is the provision of incentives for private schools and universities to either set up […]

77 new free schools: The complete list

Justine Greening has today announced the approval of 77 new free schools. For the full story, follow here. Below is the full list of schools approved: East Midlands Avanti Leicester School, Leicester Derby Cathedral School, Derby REAch2 Collingtree, REAch2 Moulton East of England A Level Sixth Form School, Bury St Edmunds Central Ipswich […]

Greening unveils 77 new free schools

Justine Greening has today announced 77 free school proposals have been approved in the latest round of applications – the largest number of approvals in one wave this Parliament. The 77 free schools (for a full list click here) will provide more than 45,000 new places. The announcement comes just two months after David Cameron announced details […]

Harris boss warns new Ofsted chief inspector against scrapping ‘outstanding’ grade

A leading academy chain boss has urged incoming Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman to keep the Ofsted outstanding grade – warning the rating is an “important motivator” for schools. Spielman, due to take over the Ofsted hot seat in January, has already signalled intentions to consider scrapping the top inspection rating because she was “quite uncomfortable” about […]

Progress 8 scores in grammars ‘overstated’

Progress scores for grammar schools are likely to be overstated due to unreliable SATs scores, amid fears they could be used to make a case for more selection. Analysis of Progress 8 results by Education Datalab, and shared exclusively with Schools Week, reveal that pupils at grammar schools last year made more progress in their […]

Academy trust CEOs reject ‘centres of excellence’ proposal

Multi-academy trusts have snubbed government proposals allowing them to move their most able pupils into a “centre of excellence”. The green paper outlines plans for trusts to select within their schools and set up a site to educate the “most able” pupils. The policy, overshadowed by the grammar schools proposals, worries some trust chief executives, […]

Durand Academy Trust refuses to cut ties with controversial former executive head

An academy trust has vowed to fight ministers all the way to court after defying government orders to sever ties with its former highly paid executive headteacher or face losing its funding. The Durand Academy Trust (DAT) was told by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) its funding agreement would be revoked unless eight conditions were […]

UTCs soak up lower ability pupils, research suggests

New research suggests that the government’s flagship 14-19 technical schools have become a dumping ground for lower-ability pupils, raising questions over its plan to allow schools to move pupils based on their ability at 14. Research published today by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found pupils at university technical colleges (UTCs) and studio […]

Backlash over ‘schools that work for everyone’ as grammar plan title

The government is facing a backlash after giving its green paper the title “schools that work for everyone” – despite the document focusing mostly on high-ability pupils, and completely omitting any mention of special schools. The consultation reveals proposals to allow existing grammar schools to expand and for new selective schools to open. It also […]