John Dickens | Schools Week

Academies annual accounts 2017: 9 things we’ve learned

The government has today published its annual academies report, covering the 2016-17 year. The report relates to the 2016-17 year, and gives an overview of the finances of England’s academies. 1. Slight rise in trusts paying staff over £100k The accounts show the number of trusts paying at least one person over £100,000 has […]

More than 80 academy trusts named for submitting spending data late

More than 80 academy trusts that submitted financial information late have today been named by the government as part of its latest academies transparency drive. A government release published today revealed that 97 per cent of trusts submitted financial returns to the government on time for the 2017-18 academic year. However 88 trusts – three per […]

Former Perry Beeches ‘superhead’ Liam Nolan banned from teaching

The former “superhead” of the Perry Beeches Academy Trust has been banned from teaching. Liam Nolan was found guilty of misconduct last month after appearing before a Teacher Regulation Agency. A government investigation previously found the trust had paid almost £1.3 million to a private firm – Nexus Schools – without a contract or adequate […]

The four biggest issues with academies, according to Sir David Carter

Former national schools commissioner Sir David Carter tells editor John Dickens his biggest regret in government, insists he didn’t lose the battle for education with Ofsted, and admits academy autonomy is waning. The four academy issues that need tackling NOW Sir David Carter said the system needs to improve in four areas “right now”, […]

Rescue schools tied to ‘toxic’ PFI contracts, Hammond told

The government will no longer use private financial initiatives (PFI) to fund future school-building projects – but is facing criticism for failing to help those schools still tied into “toxic” contracts. Chancellor Philip Hammond announced on Monday the government won’t sign off any new PFI deals, claiming the model was “inflexible and overly complex”. It […]

Send annual reports to better engage with parents, Carter tells academy trusts

The former national schools commissioner has urged academy trusts to send out “annual reports” to parents, admitting their engagement with local communities is an area of “real uncertainty”. Sir David Carter, in a wide-ranging interview with Schools Week, said trusts should look at producing an annual report for parents, which he likened to the report […]

Ofqual wants stronger rules on SATs oversight amid cheating reports

The exams regulator wants rules around oversight of key stage 2 tests to be beefed up following reports of cheating. Ofqual has written to the Standards Testing Agency, responsible for developing and delivering statutory assessments, to “suggest” the body strengthens its current guidance over SATs. The STA currently recommends schools “should” arrange for key stage […]

John Tomsett accused of ‘abusing position of trust that is sacrosanct’

Headteacher John Tomsett has been accused of crossing a line and abusing a “position of trust that is sacrosanct” after having a sexual relationship with a former A-level student. Tomsett, headteacher of Huntington School, in York, is appearing before a Teacher Regulation Agency conduct hearing this week. He admits having a sexual relationship with a […]

Another studio school to close – meaning nearly half have wound up

A studio school in Bath that has struggled financially as a result of severely low student numbers is likely to shut in August 2020, after the government agreed to close it “in principle”. The Wellsway Multi Academy Trust, which has run The Bath Studio School since it opened in 2014, “regretfully” announced the news today […]