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Ofsted urged to "build faith" in inspection complaints process

1 April 2020

Ofsted’s proposals to reform the way it handles complaints about inspection are welcome but do not go far enough, school leaders have said.

Child poverty hits 4.2 million amid coronavirus impact fear

1 April 2020

Levels of child poverty in the UK have risen once again, as has the proportion of these children who are living in working families. It comes amid fears that the coronavirus crisis will hit these families and their children the hardest, while also pushing many more into poverty.

Coronavirus: National free school meal voucher scheme launches

31 March 2020

Schools can now provide every child eligible for free school meals (FSM) with a weekly voucher worth £15 to help them cover the cost of meals while they are being home schooled.

Home-schooling: Advice urges no more than three hours' work a day for pupils

30 March 2020

This is not “business as usual” and teachers should not be expected to deliver a full school timetable to pupils at home during the coronavirus closures.

Using teacher assessment for GCSE grades will show that an alternative universe is possible

30 March 2020

The use of teacher assessments to decide on pupils’ GCSE and A level grades presents us with the chance to show that “an alternative universe is possible”.

'A defining moment' for schools: Praise for phenomenal coronavirus response

25 March 2020

The first week under coronavirus lockdown has gone relatively smoothly for schools, although there have been reports of headteachers having to challenge some parents over the definition of “key worker”.

Government issues new social distancing advice for preventing coronavirus spread in schools

25 March 2020

Staggering lunch times, preventing parents from gathering at the school gate, and protecting vulnerable staff members are among the social distancing actions schools are being asked to take as they remain open for a minority of pupils.

Spike in year 11 September exclusions raises off-rolling suspicions

25 March 2020

Almost 2,000 pupils were admitted to pupil referral units in the last term of year 10 or the first term of year 11 – proof it is feared of an “alarming” trend of schools off-rolling problem young people.

Coronavirus: 'Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be'

20 March 2020

The government is urging all key workers who can keep their children at home to do so in a bid to ease the pressure on schools during the coronavirus emergency. ?The same message is being given to the parents of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (ECHP).

Ofsted bids to address 'significant disquiet' over key stage 3 and 4

19 March 2020

There is “significant disquiet” over the perception that Ofsted favours a two-year key stage 4 over a three-year approach, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has said.

Coronavirus: 'On the edge of safety' – How schools have handled the most difficult of weeks

19 March 2020

The pressure for a blanket closure of UK schools has been building for days and the decision to shut down finally came yesterday. Dorothy Lepkowska looks at how schools and others have been reacting throughout a very difficult week in education

Coronavirus: School leaders face up to 'enormous task' as schools close to majority of students

19 March 2020

Schools across the UK are getting to grips with the “enormous task” now facing them as they shut their doors, plan for continuation of learning, and meet government demands to support key workers and vulnerable learners.

Coronavirus: Emergency Bill includes powers to force schools to stay open

18 March 2020

Emergency coronavirus legislation will give the government powers to force schools and childcare providers to stay open.

Schools urged to be 'critical consumers' of education research

18 March 2020

Education research can be so complex and context-specific that schools and teachers must ensure they become “critical consumers”, one of the UK’s leading academics has said.

Coronavirus: Vulnerable staff urged to stay away as schools remain open under 'intolerable pressure'

18 March 2020

The National Education Union (NEU) is advising its members who are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus infection COVID-19 to stop attending schools from Monday at the latest.

Coronavirus: Staff shortage schools will be forced to close, ministers are warned

17 March 2020

School leaders are holding on-going talks this week with the Department for Education (DfE) as pressure builds over the government’s refusal to close schools in the face of the coronavirus emergency.

Coronavirus: Ofsted suspends all routine school inspections

17 March 2020

Ofsted has suspended all routine school inspections after coming under pressure to act in light of the growing coronavirus emergency.

Coronavirus: Scotland's parents voice COVID-19 concerns as schools remain open

17 March 2020

The Scottish government has no immediate plans to close schools but many parents and pupils have flooded social media asking if this is the right approach.

Coronavirus: Fears dominate ASCL annual conference

16 March 2020

The deepening coronavirus crisis dominated the discussions at the Association of School and College Leaders' annual conference this week. Chris Parr was there...

Coronavirus: Ofsted halts inspections for the rest of the week

16 March 2020

Ofsted has suspended all school inspections planned for this coming week and is in discussions with the Department for Education (DfE) about the “longer term picture”.

Technical education: More to do on funding and curriculum breadth

11 March 2020

Despite the government’s rhetoric on technical education, funding is still lagging far behind that of academic education.

NQTs working more hours but also more satisfied

10 March 2020

Despite working nine hours a week more than graduates in other professions, NQTs report higher wellbeing and life satisfaction, a study has found.

SecEd to host curriculum design and delivery best practice showcase

9 March 2020

The inaugural Curriculum Design & Delivery conference will offer a range of school case studies and best practice advice when it takes place on Friday, July 3.

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.