A quarter face literacy barriers to GCSE success 4 March 2020 With one in four 15-year-olds having a reading age of 12 or under, schools are urged to prioritise key stage 3 literacy support. Pete Henshaw looks at the implications of new research findings
Schools in disadvantaged areas more likely to rely on teaching assistants 4 March 2020 Schools in working disadvantaged areas have a much higher pupil-to-teaching assistant ratio than those in more affluent areas.
Research reveals CPD's impact on student outcomes 4 March 2020 The impact that quality CPD can have on improving pupil outcomes is an under-researched field, but emerging evidence shows that the two are closely linked. Chris Parr reports
Protests widen over cuts to free music tuition in Scotland 4 March 2020 Threats to the survival of a world champion pipe band have focused attention on further planned cuts to free music tuition in Scottish schools.
Call for renewed focus on work experience in Wales 4 March 2020 Work experience should be a feature of the new curriculum in Wales to help students go on to become creative and enterprising employees, Estyn has concluded.
Northern Ireland to review contentious key stage 3 assessments 4 March 2020 Contentious secondary school assessments that Northern Ireland teachers say have no value are to be reviewed.
Research round-up: March 2020 4 March 2020 SecEd's research round-up for March includes news of falling MFL take-up among boys, continuing problems with the STEM gender gap, and a mental health warning for pupils spending too much time sitting down
Coronavirus: Schools on alert after half-term 26 February 2020 The Department for Education (DfE) has updated its coronavirus guidance for schools in light of the continuing spread of COVID-19 across Europe. It comes as schools in Cheshire take precautionary action following half-term trips to Italy.
Early prevention hit as funding is diverted to support children at immediate risk 26 February 2020 Children’s social care budgets have been overspent by more than £3 billion in the last five years in a bid to keep up with demand and support those in immediate danger.
Researchers investigating impact of three-year key stage 4 26 February 2020 Academics are to study whether teaching GCSEs over three years is “more effective” than teaching them over two.
#PauseOfsted: NEU backs headteacher-led 'quiet revolution' 11 February 2020 The National Education Union (NEU) has put its support behind a headteacher-led grassroots campaign to disrupt Ofsted’s school inspection programme.
Sex abuse in families: Poor prevention work and staff training is letting down victims 11 February 2020 Children who are being sexually abused by family members are going “unseen and unheard” because of a lack of prevention work and poor awareness among professionals.
Bulk of £7.1 billion funding injection will disappear with rising costs and teacher pay rises 11 February 2020 There will only be £14,000 per-school left from the £7.1 billion funding injection once existing government commitments, rising pupil numbers and other costs are paid for.
School counselling key in mental health battle 5 February 2020 The children’s commissioner wants to see more funding and incentives for in-school counselling and other low-level mental health support. Pete Henshaw takes a look
Minimum per-pupil funding law welcome, but financial challenges remain 5 February 2020 While welcoming the news that minimum per-pupil funding levels are to be enshrined in law, school leaders have warned that this will not end the funding crisis.
The challenges of low prior attainment 5 February 2020 Of the many issues to be raised by Ofsted’s annual report, the on-going battle against off-rolling and the challenges of low prior attainment caught the eye of Chris Parr
Inquiries to focus on poor performance 5 February 2020 Politicians in Northern Ireland are to tackle poor performance in schools – by establishing two separate inquiries.
RSE and RE to be made compulsory in Wales 5 February 2020 Sex and religious education are to become compulsory in schools in Wales, the Welsh government has announced.
Suicide prevention film aired 5 February 2020 A short film made to raise awareness of mental health in young people and prevent suicide will be shown in all Glasgow secondary schools.
Parents 'in the dark' about school accessibility plans for disabled children 29 January 2020 Some schools are failing in their legal duty to publicise accessibility plans setting out how they meet the needs of disabled pupils and their families.
Significant link between SEN and looked-after children 29 January 2020 Eight out of 10 children living in care also need support for SEN, research has revealed.
Pupil Premium National Conference: Nine years of evidence, best practice and interventions 27 January 2020 After almost nine years of the Pupil Premium, this Headteacher Update event – taking place on Friday, March 27 – will be looking back at the wealth of evidence that has now been published about how schools can best support their most disadvantaged pupils.
6.7% vs 2.5%? Anger at disparities in DfE teacher pay proposals for September 2020 21 January 2020 There is anger this week at notable disparities in the September 2020 pay rises being put forward by the Department for Education (DfE). 1 comment
Sexism and harassment in schools as gender inequality continues 21 January 2020 Sexism and harassment in schools are “rife” and girls are “fed up and frustrated” with the lack of progress on gender equality.
Schools urged to listen to pupils' views in period poverty roll-out 20 January 2020 The views of students should be taken into account when schools decide how to distribute free period products, the government has said.
4 March 2020