Councils | Schools Week

Public urged to report illegal schools as pupils taught in ‘squalid’ settings

Ofsted warns parents and councils are paying thousands for ‘woeful’ education in ‘squalid’ conditions at unregistered schools

MPs tell government to ‘shake up status quo’ on home education

MPs have slammed an “astonishing” lack of data on the number of children educated at home, and called for more powers for councils to check on their progress and welfare. School leaders backed calls for the government to introduce a national register of children educated at home, and to investigate a recent rise amid concerns […]

Urgent action demanded on home education after deaths of ‘invisible’ children

The government must pay “urgent attention” to safeguarding for pupils educated at home, an expert has warned, amid a probe into the deaths of three children. The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel revealed it had been notified of 15 incidents of “serious harm” involving home-educated children over the past year in England. Three children died, […]

Admissions shake-up in September to end struggle for in-year school places

The Department for Education has confirmed a shake-up of in-year admissions to stop schools turning away “challenging” pupils will come into force in September. It also set out multiple changes to the reforms first proposed last June after analysing consultation feedback from councils, academy trusts and parents. Previous investigations by Schools Week have revealed how vulnerable […]

School funding: ‘Serious questions’ for government over £100m bailouts

Ministers have “serious questions to answer” over school funding bailouts for five councils, Labour has said, with calls for transparency over funding deals and other authorities demanding cash. Last week the Department for Education revealed that deals totalling almost £100 million had been struck with Bury, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames […]

Ofsted’s autumn SEND ‘visits’ could prompt school inspections

Inspections of local area SEND provision could prompt emergency visits to individual schools if “serious concerns” emerge, Ofsted has said. In July it was announced that full SEND inspections, normally conducted across whole council areas by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission, would not go ahead in the autumn. Interim visits would be carried out […]

Use existing Covid cash for educational psychologist boost, councils told

Councils will have to use existing funding to pay for extra educational psychologists to help pupils readjust to school. The Department for Education this week called for recently retired educational psychologists, or those still working but with capacity, to make themselves known to councils to assist with pupil wellbeing as schooling resumes. However, when pressed […]

The rebel councils: Government’s schools plan in doubt as 27 town halls raise safety concerns

The government’s determination to begin the phased return of pupils to England’s schools on June 1 looked in serious doubt this week after as many as 27 councils said the move threatened the safety of pupils and staff. Seven have advised schools not to allow more pupils back on the preferred date, while a further […]

The lost generation: Are we failing England’s deaf children?

Deaf children in England fall a whole grade behind their peers at GCSE, according to new analysis that has prompted warnings of a “lost generation” of young people. The National Deaf Children’s Society analysed Department for Education data, and found that deaf children achieved an average GCSE grade of 3.9, historically a grade D, while […]