Sophie Scott | Schools Week

Full list: Department for Education releases free school application forms after lengthy freedom of information battle

The Department for Education (DfE) has finally released all the application forms for successful free schools after a freedom of information battle lasting more than two years. The DfE originally refused to release the documents which it said would give an unfair advantage to other potential applications, and open those who applied to unwarranted scrutiny. […]

New evidence suggests schools may ‘game’ reception baselines

Sixty per cent of respondents to a survey on the controversial baseline assessment for reception year pupils have been positive “to some extent” about its introduction. The finding was revealed in a new research report published today by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), which was commissioned by the department for education. But the report […]

Consultation launched on host of new GCSEs and A levels

Schools Minister Nick Gibb has today launched a public consultation on revised subject content for seven GCSEs and five A levels to be taught from 2017. The government is consulting on new GCSE subject content for astronomy, business, economics, engineering, geology, psychology and sociology. AS and A level consultation includes design and technology, environmental science, […]

GCSE exam results to be released early to help parents with secondary school choice

The government has announced today it will start releasing provisional GCSE results in mid-October so parents can use them to finalise school choices. Schools Minister Nick Gibb said the move is part of the government’s transparency drive and will help parents hold schools to account while allowing heads to highlight their achievements. The results will […]

“Nobody is forcing any teacher to sign up with a recruitment agency”

Following concerns reported by Schools Week that recruitment agencies were fuelling the teacher shortage by “hoovering up” job seekers and then offering them to schools for thousands of pounds. Below, Darryl Mydat is Managing Director of TLTP Education (The London Teaching Pool) presents the case for the other side. Comments reported from the recent Westminster […]

Regional schools commissioner Paul Smith resigns

Paul Smith, the regional schools commissioner (RSC) for Lancashire and West Yorkshire, has resigned. It is believed Mr Smith has left for a different post. It is not yet known who will replace him, but the posts were previously advertised nationally as they are civil servant roles. Mr Smith was previously executive principal of Parbold Douglas Church of […]

Birmingham and Tower Hamlets schools “improving slowly” after Ofsted targeted inspections

Schools put into special measures by Ofsted over extremism fears are “improving slowly”, Sir Michael Wilshaw has said today. But the Ofsted chief, writing to education secretary Nicky Morgan, has warned the “malign elements that conspired to destabilise schools” may still try to exploit weaknesses. The advice notice follows targeted inspections in 21 Birmingham schools […]

Michael Wilshaw: Heads should report destination of all ‘deleted’ pupils

Headteachers should be legally required to establish and record the destination of pupils leaving the education system amid fears they could become radicalised, Ofsted has today said. The education watchdog has called for an “urgent review” into what schools must record about pupils who are deleted from the school admissions registers. Chief inspector Michael Wilshaw has written […]

Special needs expert to lead review of low attaining pupils’ assessment

The government has launched a review into the accurate assessment of pupils with lower attainment. It will be headed by the executive headteacher of a special needs school. A Department for Education press release states the review will focus on the more than 50,000 pupils whose ability is below the national curriculum standards in the […]