Author: Pippa Allen-Kinross

The government has pledged to shake-up the alternative provision sector and committed to holding schools accountable for the pupils they exclude after a landmark review. The long-awaited Timpson review into exclusions has been published today, with 30 recommendations on how the Department for Education can work to ensure that exclusions are used fairly and do not […]

Just three of the 11 academies splitting £2.4 million government funding in a curriculum programme pilot have ruled out selling their resources once the pilot is finished. The 11 knowledge-rich academies were chosen to find the best ways to improve results and reduce teacher workload. Each school already had curriculum programmes prepared in their chosen […]

Schools have been “snubbed” from accessing the Treasury’s new private finance initiative (PFI) “centre of excellence”. Philip Hammond, the chancellor, announced the centre last year as part of his pledge to stop using PFI for building projects. Central government must step in to free those schools and local authorities that are saddled with historic PFI […]

Government behaviour tsar Tom Bennett will lead a £10 million project to support 500 schools across England to develop policies like detention systems and new sanctions for pupils. At the Conservative Party conference in October, education secretary Damian Hinds pledged the £10 million in funding to help schools which manage behaviour well share their experience […]

Playing online games that aid short-term memory can help to boost maths scores for primary pupils by three months, suggests a report from the Education Endowment Foundation. But the findings are less impressive for pupils on free school meals who made just one month’s extra progress. The foundation trialled the Improving Memory Programme across 127 […]

Work experience should take place in sixth form and beyond and be spread throughout the year, rather than happening through a “one off encounter” at age 14, according to a new report. Research published today by think tank LKMco and Workfinder – a subsidiary of charity Founders4Schools – said schools, colleges and universities should set […]

The academies minister has suggested academy trusts take part in mid-year financial audit reviews to avoid “failings going onto the public record”. In a letter sent to auditors and accounting officers of academy trusts, published today, Lord Agnew also warned auditors to ensure they are reporting on any issues discovered – threatening if not his […]

The regional schools commissioner for north west London and south central England has announced he will return to the schools sector once his contract ends this year. Former headteacher Martin Post is one of just three RSCs to have served in the role since it was created almost five years ago. Most of the original […]

Ofsted has released a new report in defence of its under-fire grading system – warning a move to a pass/fail system could lead to more “gaming” in the sector. Sector leaders have long argued for Ofsted to ditch its four-point grade system. Earlier this month, a joint open letter from the influential Headteachers’ Roundtable and […]