Schools Week Reporter | Schools Week

NTP providers issued funding threat over speaking out amid conflict of interest and cap concerns

Approving tutoring providers have been warned any future funding could be jeopardised if they speak about the scheme publicly without getting approval from the National Tutoring Programme. The government’s flagship NTP scheme launched this week, with schools able to apply for subsidised tuition through 32 approved providers. But schools have been told they could face […]

DfE signals intent for National Tutoring Programme to continue beyond this year

The government has signalled its intent to extend the flagship National Tutoring Programme beyond this year – and has asked for the sector’s view on how it can be rolled out to recruit more tutors. It comes as schools were able to finally start applying for tutoring this week after the 32 providers of subsidised […]

Using mock exams as ‘back-ups’ could ‘compound’ disadvantage

Using mock as a “back-up” in the case of any disruption to exams next year could disadvantage poorer pupils even more, a social mobility expert has warned, saying that teachers assessments could be a better system. Earlier this month, The Guardian reported that mock exams could be part of the government’s “plan B” should pupils […]

Schools face cap on tutoring places as officials admit funding only covers 250,000 pupils

Schools may face caps on the number of pupils they can put forward for the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) after officials admitted the scheme would initially only cover 250,000 places. The programme, which is part of the government’s catch-up plan for school pupils across England, opens to applications from schools from 10am today (Monday). Schools […]

What new Datalab analysis tells us about Covid and school attendance

Pupils in the some of the poorest areas of the country are missing out on schooling the most, according to new analysis. FFT Education Datalab’s work follows research by the Education Policy Institute this week which prompted concerns that pupils in some parts of the country are more likely to be left behind. Here, we […]

Decrease in schools getting top grades, and 6 other findings from Ofsted’s inspections data

Ofsted judged a lower proportion of schools to be ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ in the first year of its new inspection framework. The watchdog has published management information on inspections conducted in the 2019-20 academic year, which takes into account reports published between April and the end of August. However, the data is based on a […]

Pressure grows for uni admissions change as 2 in 3 students back post-qualification applications

Ministers are under growing pressure to introduce post-qualification applications for university after research found most students believe applying after receiving their results would be fairer. A study by the Sutton Trust into reforming university admissions found that 66 per cent of just over 500 students surveyed in September felt a post-qualification approach would be fairer […]

NEU urges government to consider rota system for secondaries in lockdown areas

A teachers’ union is urging the government to consider the potential of secondary schools moving to a rota system in ‘high’ and ‘very high’ risk areas. The National Education Union says that as of October 16, its analysis shows the infection rate in secondary schools is “now 17 times higher than it was on September […]

DfE lifts all provider T Level restrictions from 2024

The Department for Education has announced today any provider delivering 16 to 19 study programmes will be able to run T Levels from 2024. In an update to its ‘T Levels: next steps for providers’ document, the Education and Skills Funding Agency said: “By 2024 all T Levels will have been delivered for at least […]