Sophie Scott | Schools Week

Free schools have three times more unqualified teachers than maintained schools

Free schools have triple the number of unqualified teachers in their classrooms compared to local authority-maintained schools. A total of 15.4 per cent of teachers in free schools are unqualified, compared to 4.5 per cent in the maintained sector and 5.8 per cent in academies. The overall numbers of unqualified teachers is on the rise, from […]

Wakefield academy trust praised in Ofsted’s third focused inspection report

An academy trust has been praised by Ofsted for “making a positive difference” for pupils. Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT) received a focused inspection in May and five schools within the trust were inspected. It is the third publication of a focused inspection in as many weeks. Yesterday the inspectorate told Collaborative Academies Trust its […]

Tristram Hunt wants to reignite James Callaghan’s Great Debate over national baccalaureate qualification

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has called for a “Great Debate” to discuss the future of education in England. Mr Hunt spoke this morning at the Education Reform Summit in London and outlined the Labour party’s views on education. He said all pupils should take a “citizenship test”, as migrants are expected to do, as […]

Tributes paid to union founder

Tributes have been paid to the founding president of the Voice education union. Ray Bryant has been remembered as a man of “great principle” after his death on Sunday, aged 84. Mr Bryant set up the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT), which later became Voice in 2008, alongside Colin Leicester. General secretary Deborah Lawson said: […]

Ofsted finds “too few” schools have improved under Collaborative Academies Trust in second focused inspection

Another academy trust has been criticised for underperformance by Ofsted in the education watchdog’s second focused inspection of an academy chain. Ofsted found that too many schools had not improved since joining the Collaborative Academies Trust (CAT), in a report released today. Inspectors said, while showing early signs of improvement, the trust’s impact on pupils’ […]

Nick Gibb confirms academies could have to change sponsor if found to be “coasting”

Academies could be forced to change their sponsor if they are found to be “coasting”, schools minister Nick Gibb has said today. Speaking at the Education Reform Summit in London, Mr Gibb has clarified that academies falling under the government’s new coasting definition could be made to change sponsor. That is not explicit in the legislation, which states a school […]

Cadet units in state schools to increase five-fold with £50 million budget boost

The number of cadet units in state schools is to increase five-fold by 2020, George Osborne announced in the Summer Budget. Speaking on Wednesday, the Chancellor pledged £50 million to create cadet forces in 500 state schools. Most would be in “less affluent areas”. Currently there are about 275 cadet units across the UK. Of […]

Cadet units in state schools: George Osborne announces £50m boost

George Osborne has announced a £50 million drive to increase cadet units in state schools in today’s Summer Budget. The chancellor of the exchequer said the government would put the money towards expanding cadet units to 500 and would prioritise “less affluent areas”. He told the House of Commons: “We are committing £50 million to […]

Unqualifed teachers numbers rise by 4,000 in a year

The number of unqualified teachers in schools has increased by more than 20 per cent, figures released by the Department for Education today show. And the number of job vacancies has increased from 750 in November 2013, to 1,030 this November – the month when the annual workforce census is carried out. Free schools and […]