Kathryn Snowdon | Schools Week

Ministers still relying on ‘misleading’ record funding claims

Senior government ministers, including the prime minister, keep peddling the “misleading” line that “more money than ever before” is going to schools, despite mounting condemnation from the statistics watchdog. Theresa May, Damian Hinds, the education secretary, and Nick Gibb, the schools minister, are all repeat offenders, continuing to boast about the “record” levels of funding […]

Issue daily report cards to improve disruptive behaviour, teachers told

Teachers should adopt personalised approaches like issuing daily report cards to improve disruptive behaviour, new guidance states. Research by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) found that universal systems are unlikely to work for all students and for those who need more intensive support with their behaviour. It also advised that teachers greet each pupil personally […]

Paralympic swimmer to chair new edtech expert group

Paralympic swimmer Chris Holmes will chair a new expert group to help improve the use of technology in schools. The EdTech Leadership Group, which met for the first time today, consists of 27 members – 16 of whom are from education sector. The remaining 11 are ‘industry’ members and include companies such as Apple, Microsoft, […]

DfE told to publish official school funding figures amid another stats slap down

The Department for Education has been told to publish a “comprehensive set” of official figures on school funding after another slap down by the stats watchdog. The call came in two new letters sent from Ed Humpherson, director general for regulation at the UK Statistics Watchdog (UKSA), today warning the department again over its use […]

Greater degree of variation in results possible, Ofqual chief warns

Schools and colleges may see a greater degree of variation in results this year, the exam regulator has warned, with almost all pupils sitting reformed qualifications this year. In a letter published today, Ofqual chief regulator, Sally Collier, also urged against teachers predicting where grade boundaries will be set and warned schools about people offering […]

Don’t ‘hide’ periods in schools, urges charity at head of government taskforce

Schools must change the way they teach and talk about periods if they are to tackle the stigma that contributes to two in three girls missing lessons, a charity leading a government taskforce has said. Plan International UK will work with Penny Mordaunt, the women and equalities minister, and Procter and Gamble over the next […]

Just a third of DfE staff believe changes are made ‘for the better’, and 4 other survey findings

The dissatisfaction of Department for Education staff has been revealed in a survey which reveals just how little faith civil servants have in decisions made by management. The DfE’s people survey results for 2018 and 2017 were published today. Staff were asked to give their feedback on their work, manager, team, organisational objectives and purpose, […]

Character education advisers revealed in bid to boost children’s ‘resilience’

Damian Hinds has launched a call for evidence as he names his character education panel to help schools develop “character and resilience” among pupils. The education secretary said today that trying new activities and learning from failure will boost children’s character and resilience, which “are key to social mobility”. The 18-strong character expert panel will […]