Schools Week Reporter | Schools Week

Coronavirus: Specialist schools with highly vulnerable pupils decide to close

A number of specialist schools have decided to close in the coming days, with headteachers hitting out at the government for a lack of guidance over how to protect vulnerable pupils amid the coronavirus pandemic. Just yesterday the Medicine in Specialist Schools steering group wrote to the government calling for clear guidance on how to […]

Coronavirus: Heads demand answers over how to feed poorer pupils if schools close

Headteachers are demanding answers on how to feed poorer children if schools close this week. Schools have started pulling together plans on getting food parcels or vouchers to disadvantaged pupils who are entitled to free schools meals, with fears they could go hungry if not. Updated guidance published yesterday warned it “may be necessary” to […]

Coronavirus: Heads want specific guidance to protect highly vulnerable children

Specialist school heads have written to the government demanding specific guidance to help them protect highly vulnerable pupils with medical conditions from coronavirus. The Medicine in Specialist Schools steering group wants to know what can be done to protect the 30,000 to 40,000 pupils who have complex health and care needs and have an “elevated […]

Nearly nine in ten ‘satisfied’ with Ofsted’s new inspections

Nearly nine in ten respondents to a post-inspection survey since September are satisfied with their inspection, according to new statistics. Speaking in Birmingham at the weekend, Amanda Spielman said it was a “small and vocal minority” who were criticising the new inspection framework. In data released today, it shows that 88.6 per cent of 1,336 […]

Ministers reject nine in 10 council bids to prop up high needs budget

Councils have warned of soaring deficits and diminishing support for vulnerable pupils after ministers rejected nine in 10 bids to shore up high needs budgets with general school funds. The local councils of both education secretary Gavin Williamson and schools minister Nick Gibb are among 22 local authorities denied permission by Williamson to move cash […]

Trust issued warning after key stage 3 pupils not taught MFL

An academy trust could have funding axed for one of its schools after Ofsted found some pupils in year 7 and 8 – including those with special educational needs – were not being taught modern foreign languages. Inspectors who visited Bilton School, a mixed secondary school in Warwickshire, said some pupils in key stage 3 […]

Heads ‘handcuffed’ into anti-academy vows

Unions are using strike action to “handcuff” headteachers into signing pledges not to academise for up to five years. National Education Union (NEU) members have held strike action at Catholic schools in the Diocese of Brentwood. The diocese has outlined plans for eight new academy trusts to take over its local authority-maintained schools, although the […]

Third of teachers have to bring their own tea and coffee to school

Making a round of brews for your colleagues is an everyday activity for many teachers, but what if the contents of the staff kitchen had to be paid-for out of your own pocket? A survey found 38 per cent of teachers in secondary schools have to bring in their own tea and coffee, with over […]

New teachers happier, but feel hard work ‘isn’t appreciated’

Newly qualified teachers are happier than other graduates, but are more likely to say their hard work is unrewarded, new research has found. Researchers at the UCL Institute of Education found that, on average, new teachers work nine hours more every week than other graduates. Professor John Jerrim, lead author of the report, said it […]