Sophie Scott | Schools Week

ASCL calls for national fair funding formula to reduce gap between local authorities

A call is being made for the introduction of a national fair funding formula as analysis by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) shows schools in poorly-funded areas will each receive almost £2 million less than those in the best-funded areas. At its annual conference in London on Friday and Saturday, the union […]

Labour MP slams Nicky Morgan over claim free schools outperform ‘council-run’ schools

An MP had strong words for education secretary Nicky Morgan after she wrote to him claiming free schools are better than ‘council-run’ schools. Ms Morgan wrote to Greenwich and Woolwich MP Nick Raynsford on Monday as David Cameron announced plans for 49 new free schools. One of the schools is planned for Greenwich and Woolwich, so Ms Morgan asked […]

Two new Ofsted board members announced

A political advisor at BP and a think tank director have been appointed as new non-executive board members at Ofsted. Former teacher John Hughes will join after retiring as group political advisor at oil giant BP later this month. James Kempton will also join the board for three years. He is director of social policy and education […]

Social media and cyberbullying contribute to increasing emotional disorders among young people, new report claims

Misuse of social media and cyberbullying are presenting challenges to schools and causing a rise in emotional disorders among young people, according to a report published today by the National Children’s Bureau. Last month Schools Week exclusively reported that no government figures had been released about prevalence of mental health in children since 2014. Today’s […]

A level students will receive £15k to become teachers, Cameron to announce

Teenagers are to be offered £15,000 to become maths and physics teachers, the government has announced today. Under plans due to be revealed by prime minister David Cameron and education secretary Nicky Morgan, it is hoped the financial incentive will bring “top graduates” into the profession. The plan is part of a £67 million scheme, […]

Department for Education not doing enough to close “shockingly poor” attainment gap for children in care, report finds

The Department for Education has been criticised for not doing enough to secure a better future for children in care – with the “shockingly poor” education attainment gap highlighted. A report released today by the Committee of Public Accounts said the department needs a “step change in attitude and leadership” to prove it is serious […]

Members of commission on assessment without levels revealed

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the names of the members of the commission on assessment without levels. School reform minister Nick Gibb last month announced the teacher-led commission and said it would highlight best practice models to help schools develop their own assessment systems. It came in response to a consultation in which […]

Morgan says sexual consent to be taught in schools – but SRE still not compulsory

Children are to be taught about sexual consent from the age of 11, in plans announced by education secretary Nicky Morgan yesterday. Consent lessons for secondary pupils will be taught as part of the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) curriculum. It is believed schools will be encouraged to teach the lessons as soon as […]

“Schools cannot be trusted” with careers advice, says report

Schools cannot be trusted to give careers advice in the best interest of young people, says a report released today by the education select committee. The report “Apprenticeships and Traineeships for 16 to 19-year-olds” was launched at the annual conference of Schools Week’s sister publication FE Week, by committee chairman Graham Stuart. The committee said […]