Nick Linford | Schools Week

The 8 per cent school budget cut: what is it?

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned that school per-pupil funding could fall by 8 per cent by 2020. But what does that actually mean? The IFS, a prominent think tank, has set out its belief that increasing costs and pupil numbers mean resources per pupil could fall “significantly”. Those costs referred to by […]

Regional schools commissioners need national guidelines, MPs told

A lack of “shared practice” for regional schools commissioners (RSCs) is leading to “inconsistencies” in the ways they are holding schools to account, MPs have been told. In the first of a series of hearings into the work of the commissioners, witnesses from across the schools sector on Wednesday told the education select committee of […]

Grammar expansion plans in at least 10 new areas

Comprehensive school systems are under threat as councils consider grammar expansion proposals – with some schools considering placing annexes outside their boroughs. Nicky Morgan last week allowed the Weald of Kent grammar in Tonbridge to open an annexe for 450 pupils on a site nearly nine miles away in Sevenoaks, although it is believed the decision came directly from No 10. It is understood […]

Is mutant flu increasing pupil absence rates? (Plus 4 other curiosities from the absence data)

Pupil absence increased slightly last year with rises in pupil illness to blame, according to official government statistics. Figures from the Department for Education show authorised absence rates for pupils running at 3.6 per cent across state-funded primary and secondary schools in autumn 2014 and spring 2015. Unauthorised absence rates remained static at 0.9 per […]

Teacher recruitment crisis can be averted using Skype and unqualified teachers

Sir Andrew Carter, leader of the government’s teacher training review, has said schools can help avoid a recruitment “crisis” by using virtual teachers from other countries and “embracing unqualified teachers”. At an event about the future of the teaching workforce organised by think-tank Policy Exchange and teacher union ASCL, Sir Andrew described teacher training at […]

British values linked to security threat, Muslim educator warns

The teaching of British values in schools is now so linked to security concerns any discussions surrounding it are “really screwed-up”, Muslim educator and journalist Abdul-Rehman Malik has warned. Mr Rehman Malik, who works with young Muslims on change and social justice via the organisation Radical Middle Way, told the Battle of Ideas audience at […]

MPs to probe teacher supply ‘crisis’ during education committee investigation

An investigation into teacher supply has been launched by the House of Commons education committee. MPs will hold a one-off oral evidence session later this year on the issue to follow-up their recent grilling of education secretary, when the issue of teacher recruitment and retention was explored. The committee has called for written evidence on whether […]

Heads can decide if pupils will sit national reference tests, Ofqual confirms

Headteachers will get the final say on which pupils sit new national reference tests and schools will get two months’ notice of entry, the head of Ofqual has revealed. Glenys Stacey, chief regulator of the exams watchdog, (above) faced a grilling from MPs on the education select committee over the new tests, which will be […]

Councils publish ‘unfinished’ local offers for children with SEND

Many local authorities appear to be publishing inadequate information on provision for children with special educational needs (SEND) including dyslexia, says a new report. Analysis for the report by think-tank LKMCo found that a quarter of councils’ published Local Offers – which are supposed to provide comprehensive information on local provision for pupils with SEND […]