Nicky Phillips | Schools Week

State-private partnership lacks evidence

The government has announced it will fund a scheme aimed at joining up private schools with state primaries in order to boost performance – yet it does not know how much money will be on offer or how many schemes are already in existence. Last week, schools minister Lord Nash announced plans to strengthen teaching […]

Morgan shifts gear but is ‘not easily held back’

In a speech light on policy but with a change in rhetoric Nicky Morgan has pledged to reduce teacher workloads and help to build “character, resilience and grit” in pupils. With an emotional Michael Gove in the second row (pictured right), the new Education Secretary told the audience at her Conservative Party conference speech that […]

Sats results quashed at primary schools

Investigations have been carried out at two primary schools after concerns were raised about key stage 2 tests, with pupils’ results annulled at one of the schools. Cartmel Church of England Primary School in Cumbria and Heavers Farm Primary School in South Norwood, south London, were investigated after concerns were raised over the results’ reliability. […]

Ofsted website inspections on the rise

Ofsted has increased its monitoring of school websites, Schools Week can reveal. In the past three years, 109 inspection reports have included the words “website” or “web site” either in the main findings or recommendations section. Since 2011, that has increased from nine mentions in a year, to 49 in 2013. In reports released so […]

Free meal census creates funding ‘fears’

Concern has been raised over the calculation of funding for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), based on the school census carried out yesterday (Thursday). Richard Watts (pictured below), leader of Islington council, which introduced free school meals for all primary school pupils in 2010, has warned that taking a snapshot of take-up numbers so […]

Morgan ‘not looking at’ assisted places or new grammar schools

The education secretary Nicky Morgan has said she is ‘not looking at’ the return of assisted places or new grammar schools, after rumours emerged Number 10 were considering it. Speaking on a panel at a Policy Exchange Conservative Party fringe event this week, former director of policy at 10 Downing Street James O’Shaughnessy was quick […]

Teach First hits back at new private school trainee scheme

Concerns have been raised by Teach First about a scheme to place trainee teachers into top private schools. Earlier this week the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), announced plans to train graduate teachers in its network of 260 leading independent schools. The programme, called HMC Teacher Training, is being introduced in response to a “sharp” […]

Cash perks don’t aid pupil achievement – £1.6m study reveals

Research costing £1.6m has concluded that cash incentives offered to pupils make no significant improvement in GCSE results. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) research did though find that the prospect of a school trip could help encourage pupils with low attainment to do better in maths. A group of year 11 pupils involved in the […]

FEATURED: the new regional schools commissioners

The new regional schools commissioners will mean more demands made on those seeking approval for academy projects, says Sir David Carter, RSC for south-west England. Speaking to Schools Week, Sir David says that each headteacher board will now have more time to consider each proposal – resulting in better decisions. “In last week’s meeting we […]