Author: John Dickens

The founder of a firm at the centre of a major education data breach involving betting companies was subject to a previous government investigation. Unions are now demanding an independent investigation over how the Department for Education gave the firm, which offers screening checks, access to the Learning Records Service database. The LRS contains the […]

Amanda Spielman has hit back at academy trusts that have questioned her new framework – insisting Ofsted won’t “incentivise apparent success without substance”. The Ofsted chief inspector said they must not succumb to the “selective but wrong-headed logic” that they are helping disadvantaged pupils by “turning a blind eye to schools that are narrowing education”. […]

The government is looking for schools to become “early adopters” of reforms aimed at boosting language development in early years education. The schools would be able to use revised early learning goals one year ahead of their compulsory roll-out in September next year. The goals are the measures teachers use to assess how prepared children […]

A government-funded school exchange programme to help disadvantaged pupils travel abroad has been expanded to include primary pupils. Education secretary Gavin Williamson announced today the international schools exchange programme will be funded for another year, and expanded to include children in years 5 and 6. Launched last year, it is currently only open to secondary […]

Tributes have been paid to the founder of school improvement network PiXL, Sir John Rowling, after his death yesterday. The organisation said today Rowling died after a short illness, adding his vision of “a ‘better future and brighter hope’ for young people will remain as we partner together to continue his work”. PiXL emerged in […]

All schools and colleges in England will finally be able to access free sanitary products from Monday, as part of a “fully funded” government scheme to tackle period poverty. They will be able to order a range of options, including eco-friendly items, from supplier Personnel Hygiene Services Group (PHS) by using an online portal, via […]

Explosive claims from academy trust leaders that deprived pupils are disadvantaged under Ofsted’s new framework don’t stack up, new analysis suggests. Harris Federation chief executive Sir Dan Moynihan and Outwood Grange Academies Trust boss Martyn Oliver claimed last week that Ofsted’s new focus on schools having a broad curriculum would “damage outcomes for disadvantaged children”. […]

An MP is to call in the Serious Fraud Office after a collapsed free school leader used a “false VAT number” when billing a council for consultancy services. Alun Morgan was the sole listed director of Morgan Bristol Limited, which was registered to the steel fire escape door on the side of Manchester Creative Studio […]