• DfE to scrap LA-moderation of EYFS profile, despite calls for its retention

    The government is to proceed with plans to scrap statutory moderation of the early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) by local authorities, despite pleas to keep it in place. The Department for Education has published its response to a consultation on the EYFSP, which is how pupils’ development and learning is assessed at the end…

    12.32 Jul. 1st, 2020 | News

  • Investigation: The schools that slip through the council finance net

    Thousands of council schools have not had their finances independently scrutinised for more than five years – three of which were last audited by their local authority nearly 20 years ago. Schools Week can also reveal that council schools have been breaking rules over tax checks, issuing contracts and unauthorised pay rises for staff. And…

    5.00 Dec. 14th, 2018 | News

  • Is it legal for councils to fine schools for excluding pupils?

    The desire to achieve a reduction in exclusions is plainly to be welcomed, but councils can’t just impose a fining system – schools would have to sign up to it, explains Russell Holland Gloucestershire County Council has recently made headlines for proposing to “fine” schools £5,000 for permanently excluding a child. The reality is that…

    5.00 Oct. 21st, 2018 | Opinion

  • Attainment 8 and progress 8: Which regions performed best?

    Today the government has released the provisional GCSE results in England for 2017-18, which reveal the attainment 8 and progress 8 scores across the country. The lowest average attainment 8 score per pupil in England’s state funded schools was 35.2 this year, in Knowsley, a borough in Merseyside, while the highest was 58.0 in Sutton, London (excluding…

    12.30 Oct. 16th, 2018 | News