Nicky Phillips | Schools Week

Whistleblowing in schools on the rise

A lack of “local authority oversight” over academies could help to explain the “huge increase” in calls to a whistleblowing advice line. Whistleblowing charity Public Concern at Work (PCaW) has revealed a 92 per cent rise in the number of calls from the education sector to its helpline – from 199 in 2011 to 382 […]

Ofsted inspector tells schools to stick with levels … just change the criteria

An Ofsted inspector regarded as “one of the most experienced in the country” has advised school leaders to keep their current assessment systems and instead just change the criteria that it measures. Speaking at an event to help leaders to develop their own assessment systems after the removal of levels, lead Ofsted inspector David Driscoll […]

Education blogger urges teachers to see lifting of levels as ‘wonderful opportunity’

School leaders were given an insight into life without levels at the London conference, designed to help teachers face the “enormous” task of developing their own assessment systems. Speakers explained their own models of assessment at the event organised by The Key, a company that provides leadership and management support to schools. The message was […]

Skirts banned as Yorkshire school brings in trousers-only policy

A school in east Yorkshire will join at least 63 others in being “trousers-only” for girls after male teachers allegedly said they were uncomfortable with female pupils’ short skirts. Bridlington School will remove skirts from its uniform in September 2015, despite a 1,100-strong online petition against the change. Headteacher Sarah Pashley sent a letter to parents last […]

EXCLUSIVE: Schools urged to enter pupils for fast-track ‘GCSE’ taught in just 3 days

– This is not a con trick, says company chief – Pupils must pass an exam (after three days) School leaders are being urged to enter “vulnerable” pupils into fast-tracked ICT qualifications, taught in just three days, to ensure they achieve five A* to C grades. The PiXL Club, an organisation that aims to raise […]

Mausoleum next to school sports field rejected

A mausoleum due to be built next to a Staffordshire secondary school has been refused planning permission after the school intervened to point out the impact of their own noisy pupils. Burntwood Cemetery in Lichfield opened on the site of a closed hospital in 2007 and recently submitted plans to open a mausoleum next to […]

Primary schools celebrating the end of SATs criticised for throwing parties

It was party time in many primary schools last week as year 6 pupils celebrated the end of their key stage 2 tests with music, karaoke and cake. But the practice of rewarding 10 and 11-year-olds for completing their SATs has been criticised by some parents; not about the celebrations themselves, but the need to […]

David McQueen, speaker, executive coach and facilitator

It is the morning of the general election and I’m in Radlett, Hertfordshire to meet David McQueen. McQueen, who runs Magnificent Generation, a pupil mentoring programme, bounds into a local Caffè Nero with so much energy and enthusiasm that it knocks me back. “Sorry, I’m a bit late [he’s actually on time], I’ve lost my […]

Let’s take a deep breath and make changes

A Conservative government with Nicky Morgan as secretary of state gives some chance of stability to allow schools to implement changes already in the pipeline In the National Governors’ Association (NGA) manifesto published a year ago we called for a period of stability, the most called-for request by our members – governors and trustees across […]