policy | Schools Week

New alliance to stop schools being swept under MAT

Experts said the new West Kent Single Academy Trust Alliance showed there were ‘other models’ to the government’s preferred MATs

Council ditches ‘forced’ academisation plan as Zahawi softens stance

Tory-led Swindon had proposed to convert all schools to academies by 2025 before a U-turn

Treasury marks DfE’s 11,500-word homework laying out its vision

The Department for Education has published an 11,590-word “outcome delivery plan,” detailing the wide-ranging goals and performance metrics it agreed with the Treasury last year to justify its funding. Sector leaders welcomed the move to greater transparency and accountability. But they said the DfE’s plan lacked detail overall and lacked metrics in significant areas, including […]

London secondaries offer fewest initial teacher training placements

London secondary schools are the least likely in the country to offer at least one initial teacher training placement, a new survey suggests. Analysis of a poll of school leaders by the National Foundation for Educational Research reveals significant divides between schools in how many placements they provide. The think tank also warns schools can […]

New chair appointed to teachers’ pay body as controversial pay freeze looms

A new chair will take over the School Teachers’ Review Body from September, amid controversy over the upcoming public sector pay freeze. The STRB advises the prime minister and education secretary on teachers’ pay and responsibilities in England, but unions have recently accused the government of undermining its independence. Dr Patricia Rice, a senior research […]

DfE U-turns on masks for pupils travelling to school

The DfE has made a rapid U-turn over plans to relax face covering guidance for pupils on public transport and school buses. Guidance for schools about step four of the relaxation of Covid restrictions was revised on Tuesday, just eight days after it was published and before the changes even take effect next week. The […]

DfE officials plan schools white paper to deliver Williamson’s ‘vision’ for schools

Gavin Williamson has pledged to set out a “broader vision” for the school system later this year, with officials understood to be planning a white paper. That’s one of those key planks, finishing those reforms that were started back in 2010 Asked about his plans for schools, Williamson said the system would be “moving over […]

Long-Bailey: Lack of ‘overarching message’ on education contributed to Labour’s defeat

The lack of an “overarching message” from Labour on its flagship national education service was one of the reasons it lost the last general election, the new shadow education secretary has said. But Rebecca Long-Bailey said the “fantastic” policy will survive and be developed by Labour under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. She has pledged to […]