Schools Week Reporter | Schools Week

MPs to look at ‘more active’ inspection role in new home education inquiry

MPs have launched an inquiry into home learning which will include looking at the role inspections should play in the future regulation of home educating. The education select committee has announced today it will be investigating how home-educated children are being supported in their learning and also looking at the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has […]

Catch-up funding could be nearly ‘wiped out’ by Covid safety costs, warns ASCL

Funding for pupil catch-up support could be nearly “wiped out” by the costs schools face in making their sites safe, a leaders’ union has warned. The government has so far refused to reimburse schools for the cost of preventative measures, despite insisting on increased cleaning and efforts to keep protective “bubbles” apart. ASCL is urging […]

NFER finds Covid effect could eradicate most teacher shortfalls, but heads urge caution

Teacher recruitment shortfalls in most subjects look set to be eradicated because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a new report has predicted. But headteachers have warned that any boost to recruitment could be shortlived. Research by the National Foundation for Educational Research predicted that increased recruitment, coupled with higher retention rates, could close gaps in shortage […]

HSE spot check call handlers are not health and safety experts

Spot checkers calling to review schools’ covid procedures are not health and safety experts. Schools Week understands this has heightened unions’ concerns that the calls are going to put additional strain on school staff during coronavirus. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out spot checks over the phone to review school’s measures taken […]

What school leaders need to know about HSE spot checks

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published an Education eBulletin on 4 September announcing its intention that, alongside businesses, it will be carrying out spot checks on schools, writes Hayley Dunn. Spot checks will be in the form of a phone call to review measures taken for reopening to “minimise the spread of the virus […]

Ofqual accused of ‘scapegoating’ heads’ union over deflated grades fall-out

Ofqual has been accused of trying to “scapegoat” a headteachers’ union amid the fall-out over deflated grades. The regulator has been facing challenges to offer an appeal route for schools that followed advice to mark down their own teacher grades in line with historical results. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and […]

It’s official: DfE doesn’t know how many schools have covid cases

The Department for Education does not hold information on the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in schools, a Freedom of Information request has revealed. The return to school has been disrupted with reports hundreds of schools have sent children home after suspected covid-19 cases, or a struggle to get those with symptoms tested. An […]

Academy trust co-founded by Tory donor has primary school terminated

A academy trust co-founded by a multi-millionaire Conservative party donor and luxury hotel chain owner will be stripped of one of its schools after “failing to improve” standards. Landau Forte Academy Moorhead saw only 28 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2019, compared to a national average […]

‘Widespread frustration’ among school governors over ‘nonsensical’ roepening rules

Decisions over reopening schools “weighed heavily” on school governors who say a “lack of clarity” from authorities, “nonsensical” competing demands and pressure from unions caused “widespread frustrations”. The concerns are revealed in the ‘Governing in unprecedented times’ study published today by Ofsted and the National Governance Association. One of the main concerns from governors and […]