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During the pandemic, continuing on into this academic year, the education system has been under enormous pressure. In the face of these challenges, schools have gone ‘above and beyond’, acting as the ‘fourth emergency service’ and proving to be vital national strategic infrastructure.

After the Government’s announcement that Ofsted will inspect all schools by summer 2025, Schools North East received correspondence from Ofsted’s National Director for Education, Chris Russell this week, regarding feedback from our Autumn term stakeholder briefings.

Schools North East has called on the Secretary of State for Education to urgently depressurise the education system, as staff in schools across the country are targeted by TikTok users. Schools North East has written to Nadhim Zahawi for effective actions to address the rising concerns for staff wellbeing

Schools North East have heard from school leaders in recent weeks that Ofsted’s current approach is one of the many factors for school staff fearing fatigue and burnout.

The mental health and wellbeing of those working in schools has been a focus this week, as heart-breaking figures regarding the amount of school staff who have seen colleagues cry since the beginning of the current academic year have been released.

Schools North East’s Annual Summit took place this week, with hundreds of school representatives in attendance.  It really was a privilege and pleasure to once again bid a very warm welcome to nearly 400 NE Head Teachers –  joined by a variety of national and regional media from TES to the BBC –  to what has always been the heart of our annual programme.

Schools North East has partnered with the Community Foundation to make £100,000 of funding available for schools looking to develop their cultural, sporting or careers provision for disadvantaged and looked-after children. 

Funding of around £4,000 is available per bid for schools in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland, North and South Tyneside.

The Secretary of State for Education has announced the removal of bubbles in schools as part of their step 4 plan which is intended to begin on 19th July. It looks likely that this will be sustained for the new school year as the narrative of “no going back” is being pushed from the Prime Minister and the new Health Secretary.

On Tuesday, the government’s preferred candidate for Chief Regulator of Ofqual, Jo Saxton, faced a pre-appointment hearing with the House of Commons’ Education Select Committee.

Selected from thousands of nominations, Hudson Road Primary School has been honoured as one of 102 Pearson National Teaching Silver Award winners across the country. Hudson Road Primary School was honoured with a Silver Award in The Award for Making a Difference – Primary School of the Year for their outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children they work with every day.

In the past few weeks, rising Covid cases have led to significant disruption in schools, leading to calls for change in how schools respond to positive cases. The most recent attendance data shows that Covid-related pupil absence in state-funded schools (adjusted for year 11-13 pupils not expected to attend) was 5.1% on 24 June. This is up from 3.3% on 17 June and 1.2% on 10 June.

Sir Kevan Collins, former government advisor on education recovery, spoke this week to MPs on the education select committee. Sir Kevan was asked about his former role, and his thoughts on the government’s ‘catch-up’ plan.