Pippa Allen-Kinross | Schools Week

Dr Becky Allen to lead new Centre for Education Improvement Science

The UCL Institute of Education (IoE) has appointed Dr Becky Allen, the current head of Education Datalab, as the director of its new Centre for Education Improvement Science. Allen, a former reader in economics of education at the IoE, will return after a three-year break, to help develop a “scientific understanding” of education using methods such as […]

The pushy parents and unmanageable workloads at private schools

Private school teachers have spoken of their “unmanageable workloads” and “exhausted” colleagues, with a third reporting that they are expected to respond immediately to parents who contact them at home. A survey conducted by the National Education Union also found that a fifth of staff are spending the equivalent of four extra working days a week […]

‘Confusion’ over grammar school expansion plans

A London MP is “confused” after a grammar school denied multiple reports in the press that it had plans to expand into his constituency. Despite large-scale media coverage to the contrary last year, the head of the trust behind Wallington County Grammar School (WCGS) has now insisted that expansion was “never on the table” and […]

Isle of Wight to consult on shorter summer holidays

The Isle of Wight will launch a major consultation into shortening school summer holidays, a move that has been abandoned by other councils and academy trusts after problems with unauthorised student absences. The Island’s council said it would ask residents for their views on cutting the summer holidays by one or two weeks and instead […]

College of Teaching signs pledge to use evidence-based practice

The Chartered College of Teaching has joined with medical and policing colleges to commit to using evidence-based practice. The Chartered College launched earlier this year as a professional group for teachers. Today, it has joined with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the College of Policing to sign a pledge declaring to “take full […]

Unions demand 5% pay rise for teachers ahead of autumn budget

Leading education union figures have joined forces to demand a 5 per cent pay rise for teachers from 2018, just weeks before the chancellor is due to deliver his budget. In an open letter to the education secretary Justine Greening, the heads of six major unions expressed “grave concerns about the state of teacher supply” […]

Study takes pictures of packed lunches to tackle obesity

A study into using so-called “nudge theory” to encourage parents to pack healthier lunches for primary school students will publish its findings this month. Funded by Public Health England and carried out by researchers from the University of Derby, there are high hopes that the low-cost, low-intensity theory of behavioural modification could have a real […]

New academies minister: MAT sweet spot is 12 to 20 schools

The new academies minister has encouraged academy trusts to team up and expand, and said they should aim to run between 12 and 20 schools, even if it means a loss of autonomy. Lord Agnew told the North Academies Conference in Gateshead yesterday that he believes the “sweet spot” for multi-academy trusts (MATs) is “somewhere […]

Ofsted to review school knife crime after London mayor complaint

Ofsted is to review its approach to knife crime in schools following an intervention from the mayor of London. Mike Sheridan, Ofsted’s regional director for London, confirmed the watchdog would undertake a “thematic report” to analyse how best to tackle what is a growing problem in the capital’s schools. Sadiq Khan wants to treat knife […]