John Dickens | Schools Week

Bonuses for senior Ofsted staff rise to £110k, and 5 more annual report findings

Ofsted has today published its annual report and accounts for 2018-19. Schools Week has rounded up the key findings. 1. Bonus pay-outs to senior bosses rise to (up to) £110,000 Eight senior staff got bonuses this year, totalling between £70,000 to £110,000. The reason for the size of the range is that bonuses are […]

Three-in-four teachers feel they are less valued

Three quarters of teachers believe their work is less valued now than it was five years ago. According to a survey, run by YouGov on behalf of the Chartered College of Teaching, the majority of teachers also said they wouldn’t be likely to recommend the job as a career to youngsters. The findings come amid […]

Speed-read: The DfE’s 9 school sport plan commitments

The government has today published its School Sport and Activity Action Plan. Here’s your trusty Schools Week round-up of what the DfE has actually promised to deliver. 1. Teaching hubs to specialise in PE training Sport England will provide £1.5 million to boost the number of Active Partnerships to help schools open up their […]

QTS skills tests set to be scrapped

The numeracy and literacy skills entry tests that prospective teachers must pass to start training are set to be ditched, Schools Week understands. The move could boost the government’s efforts to reach its teacher recruitment targets – at least 3,500 would-be teachers have failed the compulsory tests every year since 2012. The move, expected to […]

10 more research schools announced under £1.5m expansion

Ten more research schools will be set up this year under a £1.5 million expansion of the project aimed at helping schools increase the use of evidence in the classroom. There will also be seven new associate research schools established from September, along with new regional leads at the Education Endowment Foundation to help expand […]

‘Healthy schools’ rating scheme finally published – nearly 2 years late

The government has finally published details of its “healthy schools” rating scheme – almost two years late. Schools are being encouraged to take part in the voluntary scheme by completing a survey that covers four areas: food education, school food standards, time spent on physical education and active travel. Schools will then receive a report […]

The SEND funding system is failing to keep up with pupil needs

The SEND funding system is failing to keep up with pupil needs: here’s what the government should do, says Natalie Perera. Anyone working in education will be acutely aware of the growing demand to support pupils with more complex needs. New data by the Department for Education affirms this: it shows that the number of […]

Cost-cutting visits for capital cash doesn’t undermine academy autonomy

It’s emerged that successful bids in the last round of Condition Improvement Fund applications have come with unexpected strings attached. To get the cash for their projects, heads have to agree to a visit from a school resource management advisor (SRMA), have their finance and operations pored over, and act on any recommendations around how […]

Energy Coast becomes only second ever ‘outstanding’ UTC

A university technical college in Cumbria that outsourced its teaching is celebrating after becoming only the second of its kind to be rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Energy Coast UTC, which opened in 2014, was rated ‘outstanding’ by the watchdog in an inspection report published today by the school. The UTC, which had been ‘requires improvement’, […]