Nicky Phillips | Schools Week

Edition 23: Karen Jones, Nicola Dick-Cleland and Julie Molesworth

Academy Transformation Trust has appointed Karen Jones as their improvement director for 14 to 18-year-olds. Ms Jones has taught across upper primary to sixth form for more than 25 years, including time in Saudi Arabia, Germany and Cyprus. Working first as a headteacher in Germany, Ms Jones moved to failing secondary school, John Buchan School, […]

Comparing Manifestos – Part 3

In the run up to this May’s general election, Schools Week will analyse the manifestos of various education organisations, typically from opposite ends of the political spectrum. This third pre-election comparison is between the Independent Academies Association and the Association of School and College Leaders Click here for part three.

We need a proper review of asbestos in schools, say campaigners

A long-awaited report addressing asbestos in schools is leaving millions of children and staff at risk, a Labour MP says. In its delayed review, finally published last week, the Department for Education made five key pledges including creating clearer guidance on managing asbestos in schools and ensuring all duty holders were aware of their responsibilities […]

Schools ‘shun’ languages to boost league tables

Schools may be discouraging lower-ability pupils from taking languages at GCSE so they do not slip in league tables, a report has claimed. A joint report by the CfBT education trust and the British Council highlights concern about the uptake of modern foreign languages at both GCSE and A level, blaming too much focus on […]

Russell Group admissions head keeps ‘beady eye’ on report’s claims

The emphasis in a new report on bright but disadvantaged students needing to take facilitating subjects at A level to get into leading universities has been challenged by a Russell Group admissions officer. Launched on Monday, Subject to Background: What promotes better achievement for bright but disadvantaged students was commissioned by the Sutton Trust, an […]

Schools warn of job cuts as costs rise and budgets dip

School leaders are struggling to balance the books as looming hikes in national insurance and pension contributions become a reality. The government’s proposals, due to start in the 2015-16 academic year, leave some schools scrambling to cut more than £200,000 from their budgets. They come amid dwindling education service grants and a rise in teacher […]

The teacher car-to-work campaign picks up speed

Teachers at maintained schools could soon join their academy counterparts in the fast lane after the government signalled its intent to review their exclusion from car-to-work schemes. More than 400,000 teachers are currently missing out on the popular Teacher Car Campaign scheme because the government has not added it to their contract, the School Teachers’ […]

Academy plans in front line of Norwich battles

Growing unrest over plans to turn two failing Norwich schools into academies could become “key” battle lines in neighbouring marginal seats as the general election looms. Hundreds of parents marched through Norwich on Saturday protesting against proposals to turn The Hewett School, (pictured above), into an academy. Academies minister Lord Nash wants to hand the […]

EAL: How London’s pupils are winning the postcode lottery

Students arriving in schools without fluent English can thrive, but it depends where they live and how their schools use their pupil premium pot. Look at the statistics and you’ll see how the achievement “gap” varies hugely at different ages and in different areas. London pupils do best of all . . . as an […]