Author: John Dickens

Leading headteacher John Tomsett has admitted having a sexual relationship with a former pupil, but denied unprofessional conduct. A teacher conduct panel today heard how Tomsett and the girl, known as Pupil A, had a series of sexual encounters at local beauty spots after Tomsett had left Eastbourne Sixth Form College and the girl had […]

Leading headteacher John Tomsett has been accused of engaging in an inappropriate and sexual relationship with a former A-level student. Mr Tomsett is facing a teacher misconduct hearing over the allegations, which are said to have taken place between 1990 and 1992 when he was employed as a teacher at Eastbourne Sixth Form College. He […]

Auditors are probing the payments made by a private school prior to it going bust owing creditors over £900,000 – including more than £200,000 in unpaid wages to teachers. Henriette Le Forestier Schools, run by Trevor Averre-Beeson, the co-founder of the collapsed Lilac Sky Academies Trust (LSAT), was put into liquidation last year. The firm […]

As Ofsted reveals more of its proposed new inspection framework – before its official public unveiling early next year – editor John Dickens asks chief inspector Amanda Spielman the questions our readers want answering.   We know schools in leafy suburbs are more likely to be outstanding, and those in deprived areas are less likely […]

Three schools will no longer deliver the first wave of T-levels after one was rated “requires improvement” by Ofsted and two others “decided not to” take part. The Department for Education has today updated its list of those delivering the first wave of the technical qualifications in 2020. Analysis by sister title FE Week found […]

The Department for Education has admitted it “recognises” that its progress 8 performance measure can drive perverse incentives for schools with challenging intakes. The government has today published its response to the education select committee’s ‘Forgotten Children’ report. One of the report’s findings was that the government’s “strong focus” on standards has resulted in practices […]

A headteacher at one of the government’s research schools is to face a disciplinary hearing next week. John Tomsett, also a founding member of the Headteachers’ Roundtable, will face a Teacher Regulation Agency professional conduct panel on Monday. Schools Week understands Tomsett has been given a leave of absence from his role as headteacher at […]

The Association of Schools and Colleges has launched an inquiry into GCSE results that the union claims leave pupils “deflated and uncertain”. GCSE performance statistics published today showed that 57 per cent of pupils in state-funded schools failed to achieve the government’s new ‘strong pass’ measure in English and maths – a grade 5. The […]

The former chief executive of the collapsed Perry Beeches academy trust has been hauled before a teacher misconduct panel. The Department for Education today published an updated list of teachers due to face a professional conduct panel. It includes Liam Nolan, the former superhead of Birmingham-based Perry Beeches Academy Trust. The trust is closing down […]