Nick Linford | Schools Week

‘No one agrees on anything in education – can we sort that out, please?’

Planning an education conference led Heidi Williams to question whether ever-shifting policy at the whim of ministers was really best for the nation’s children. In media partnership with Schools Week, the Politics in Education Summit will consider, could there be a better way? My background is as an organiser of Summits. At these events […]

111 MPs write letter pressing for ‘national funding formula’

The government is facing pressure to introduce a “national funding formula” after 111 MPs wrote to David Cameron in protest over discrepancies between areas. The letter to the Prime Minister, organised by f40 campaign vice chair and former education committee chair Graham Stuart, calls for funding to be “geared towards improving educational standards rather than […]

Commuting time tops list of what attracts teachers to job

A quick commute from home and having an influence on pupils’ learning are the two top job draws for teachers, suggests a new report. A study published today by education think tank LKMco and exam board Pearson uncovers the top job attractions for teachers across the country. Its publication comes amid heightened concerns over teacher […]

Ministers avoid tackling ‘holiday hunger’

Children’s minister Edward Timpson has been criticised for ignoring funding and policy changes needed to stop children going hungry during the school holidays. Lindsay Graham, a school food and health adviser, said Mr Timpson did “everything he could to avoid talking about the issue” during an adjournment debate on so-called “holiday hunger” last Friday afternoon. […]

Government will double amount of teachers completing training in schools

The government will double the number of teachers completing their training in schools and speed-up reductions in university-based places, new figures reveal. Figures released by the National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) last week show that the government estimates almost 30,000 trainees will take places on School Direct – in which participants are recruited […]

EEF grants £4.6m for teaching assistants to boost pupils’ maths skills

Almost £4.6m will be handed to universities and education charities to help teaching assistants boost pupils’ number and maths skills. The Education Endowment Foundation will fund 13 projects, six of which will receive match funding from the Department for Education, aimed at helping teaching assistants of improve pupils’ number knowledge and mental maths. Most of the […]

Ofsted ‘inconsistent’ on handwriting rules

Ofsted has been accused of a “lack of consistency” on handwriting after academics claimed it has affected inspection results in some schools. The chair of the National Handwriting Association, Angela Webb, says headteachers have reported poor handwriting affecting their Ofsted grade. But analysis by Schools Week using Watchsted, a website that extracts words from Ofsted […]

Editor’s comment: Morgan must know that pride, and prejudice, comes before a fall

Watching Kathy Harwood receive the outstanding teaching assistant of the year trophy at the Pearson Teaching Awards on Sunday night was quite something to behold. After leaping onto the stage she smothered straight-laced presenter Dan Snow with a hug before joyfully fist-punching the air. A video played of parent tributes, with many close to tears, […]

Nicky Morgan accuses academy ‘enemies’ of underhand tactics and intimidation

Education secretary Nicky Morgan has launched an “extraordinary” attack as she draws up battle lines for the government’s attempt to justify removing the parental voice from academy takeovers. Ms Morgan this week accused parents and campaigners who opposed the academisation of schools of using “underhand tactics” and “intimidating” parents. She threw her support behind the […]