Simon Kay | Schools Week

How schools are live-streaming lessons around the world

Teachers are donning wireless microphones while pupils are replaced by webcams as schools invest thousands of pounds to live stream lessons to self-isolating pupils and those trapped abroad. The Department for Education revealed this week around 1,500 schools have been forced to partially close – with 84 per cent of state-funded secondary schools fully open, […]

Revealed: The gaps in teachers’ pensions worth thousands

Teachers’ pensions could be tens of thousands of pounds short because of administrative failures – with the government admitting it has no idea how big the problem is. A Schools Week investigation has found some teachers are missing up to 80 per cent of their pensionable service, finding gaps from almost 30 years ago. […]

TV presenter deletes tweet supporting back-to-school campaign

A TV presenter has deleted a tweet that supported the government’s back-to-school campaign. Kirsty Gallacher may have flouted advertising rules as she did not acknowledge she had been paid to post her support. Schools Week revealed last week ministers were under fire for paying social media influencers, including Gallacher, up to an estimated £15,000 for […]

New ‘flagship’ study to solve why teachers leave

A new five-year study of 15,000 teachers will assess why staff drop out of the profession, the impact of Covid-19 and changing working conditions. The Department for Education says the longitudinal study will serve as its “flagship workforce research vehicle” and “fill key evidence gaps on a long-term basis”. In particular, the study will help […]

Closing trust gave CEO six -figure pay-off

An academy trust set to close over financial worries awarded its outgoing chief executive a £115,000 severance package – before handing its schools to another trust with a six-figure pension deficit. Floreat Education Academies Trust awarded chief executive Janet Hilary £115,062 in severance and redundancy pay last year, its final accounts have revealed. The trust, […]

Achievement for All had ‘detrimental effect’, finds EEF trial

A whole-school improvement programme which has been used at over 4,000 schools across England has a “detrimental effect on learning”, according to a damning two-year study. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) conducted a randomised controlled trial of 134 primary schools to assess the impact of the Achievement for All (AfA) programme at key stage 2. […]

Free schools can follow Nightingale lead

The rapid creation of temporary Nightingale hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic shows free schools shouldn’t have to wait for years to open, says a director at the New Schools Network. Sophie Harrison-Byrne, the director of programmes at the free schools support organisation, also urged the government to approve fewer bids from academy trusts “that simply […]

Ex-private school director ‘unable’ to repay £150k loan

The director of a private school that went bust had an “overdrawn” £150,000 loan when it collapsed, an investigation by auditors has found. But despite the Henriette Le Forestier Schools company owing creditors more than £900,000 – including £231,000 to former employees – just £30,000 will be recouped from the loan. Henriette Le Forestier Schools, […]

Coronavirus: Private school closures will put pressure on state

The closure of private schools unable to weather the economic hit from Covid-19 will put more pressure on state schools as they welcome back additional pupils while social distancing. Two long-standing prep schools announced this week they would close permanently. One, the 180-year-old Ashdown House Preparatory School in Sussex, is an alma mater of prime […]