Schools Week Reporter | Schools Week

Ministers ponder pilot scheme for ‘mini-UTCs’ within schools

The Baker Dearing Trust is hoping to pilot what they call ‘UTC sleeves’ in ten schools

DfE ITT market review: the 9 things you need to know

The Department for Education has published its initial teacher training market review and consultation on the recommendations today. Schools Week has been through both documents so you don’t have to. Here are the key things you need to know. 1. DfE wants ALL providers to apply for reaccreditation The DfE is proposing to re-accredit […]

DfE officials plan schools white paper to deliver Williamson’s ‘vision’ for schools

Gavin Williamson has pledged to set out a “broader vision” for the school system later this year, with officials understood to be planning a white paper. That’s one of those key planks, finishing those reforms that were started back in 2010 Asked about his plans for schools, Williamson said the system would be “moving over […]

Fire chiefs to challenge government over ‘backward step’ of sprinklers plans

Fire chiefs are set to challenge a government consultation on sprinklers in classrooms, claiming the proposals are “taking the standards of fire safety in schools backwards”. A long-awaited consultation to the Fire Safety Design for Schools bulletin was launched last month. The non-statutory guidance proposes that automatic fire suppression systems – such as sprinklers – […]

New Covid study finds no reading loss, but confirms maths drop

Interim findings from another study into Covid lost learning have been published today. This one, funded by the Education Endowment Foundation and carried out by FFT Education, investigates whether Covid has widened the attainment gap. Here’s what it found. 1. Gap widens in maths, but not reading… The study found the attainment gap between […]

Festival of Education goes virtual for 2021

This year’s Festival of Education will take place online and will be free to watch. It was hoped that the June event, which was cancelled last year because of the pandemic, would go ahead on its usual site at Wellington College in Berkshire. But plans have been adapted following government guidance. The virtual festival will […]

The 2021 summer exams plan: everything you need to know

Exams regulator Ofqual has this afternoon published its proposals for replacing exams this year. In short: the regulator is proposing grades for this year will be determined by teachers and, following “quality reassurance”, results will be issued by exam boards, who will “remain accountable for the results”. Exam boards will record the grades on certificates […]

Ministers asked to ‘guarantee’ SEND rules won’t be relaxed again

Ministers have been asked to “guarantee” laws won’t be relaxed again that “downgrade” support for SEND pupils, as special schools are granted flexibility over provision during the latest lockdown. The Department for Education confirmed to Schools Week that special and alternative provision schools will be closed to all but vulnerable pupils and the children of […]

Exams ‘fairest way’ to assess pupils, and replacing them ‘not straightforward’, warns new Ofqual chief

Ofqual’s new interim chief has said replacing exams is “not straightforward”, in a sobering statement this morning warning the sector of potentially more disruption and suggesting a plan is yet to be fully worked out. Simon Lebus, former Cambridge Assessment group chief executive, urged students to continue to engage “as fully as you can” in education […]