Sophie Scott | Schools Week

Coasting school definition revealed by Nicky Morgan

Education secretary Nicky Morgan has today unveiled the criteria for what makes a “coasting school” as part of the Government’s drive to intervene in schools where pupils are not achieving their potential. The new measure will first be used in the summer of 2016 to define schools eligible for intervention if they cannot show a […]

Morgan: We’re working hard on a national fair funding formula, but it won’t be ready for at least two years

The education secretary has reassured school leaders her department is doing all it can to bring in a national fair funding model – but warned it will not be ready until September 2017 at the earliest. Education secretary Nicky Morgan fielded questions from governors – mostly over funding issues – at the National Governors’ Association’s […]

Pupil Premium has “significant potential” but it’s too early to judge, report finds

Pupil premium funding has the potential to spark significant improvements for disadvantaged learners, a report has found. But the National Audit Office report, published today, states that Government and schools have more to do for that potential to be realised. It found 94 per cent of school leaders are now targeting support to disadvantaged pupils, […]

Trojan Horse report “undermines” government efforts to tackle extremism, DfE says

The Department for Education (DfE) has said an education select committee report into its actions in response to allegations of extremism in Birmingham schools risks “undermining” the government. The report was carried out by the cross-party group of MPs after the incident in Birmingham in which a group of hardline Islamists were alleged to be […]

Schools minister defends GCSE grade changes after exam chief challenge

School reform minister Nick Gibb has rebuffed claims from an exam chief that new GCSEs changes will put more strain on an education system already showing cracks from a “whirlwind of reform”. Mark Dawe, chief executive of exam board OCR, said making the GCSE pass rate harder will have “significant repercussions”. Schools Week revealed last […]

Schools switching to academies causes rise in uniform cost for parents

Parents have faced extra costs of new uniforms as schools convert to academies and an increasing number of schools require pupils to wear blazers, a Department for Education (DfE) report has found. The DfE published the 68-page report by Elizabeth Davies from BMG Research today to examine the cost of school uniform, in comparison to […]

Local authority starts consultation to merge schools amid academy fears

A local authority is proposing to merge two schools in what appears to be an attempt to stop one being forced into an academy. Governors have put forward plans to merge Ofsted outstanding-rated Torriano Junior School with the Torriano Infant School, which is rated requires improvement. The schools are currently in a soft federation and […]

Oasis academy trust criticised by Ofsted in first ‘focused’ inspection

A multi-academy trust (MAT) has been criticised by Ofsted for its “legacy of weak challenge” in the first published results of a focused MAT inspection. Ofsted visited 10 Oasis Community Learning Trust (OCL) schools between March 2-5, eight of which were section 5 visits with the remaining two being section 8 monitoring inspections. However, OCL […]

David Hopkins, the man who “saved Chris Woodhead’s life”, pays tribute

Chris Woodhead was by any standard, one of the most influential educationalists of his generation. As a young teacher he developed innovative curricula and examinations for his students; later he became an educational administrator in local authorities and the curriculum and examination agencies. It was as Her Majesties Chief Inspector (HMCI) however, between 1994 and […]