Education News in the Autumn Term: A Round Up
From Mental Health Papers, to Ofsted reforms and Careers Strategies, it’s been a big news term this Autumn. As the year comes to a close, we take a look back at the main headlines we’ve reported on since September:
Ofsted boss ‘tears her hair out’ over schools that still grade individual lessons
Amanda Spielman raised concerns about a lack of curriculum expertise in schools at this term’s ResearchED annual conference, held at Chobham Academy in Stratford, East London. Ms Spielman believes that schools are continuing to grade individual lessons, despite Ofsted no longer carrying out the practice.
Agnew replaces Lord Nash as new Academies Minister
Following the departure of Lord Nash this term, Sir Theodore Agnew, the founder of the Inspiration Trust, was announced as the new Minister for Academies. It was speculated that Agnew would be Lord Nash’s successor, however it was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office that he will take the coveted position.
Schools should not be afraid to promote British values, says Ofsted head
The head of Ofsted said that schools should not be afraid to promote British Values, regardless of the fact that some children are being brought up in environments that are ‘actively hostile’ to them.
The SCHOOLS NorthEast Ofsted Event: A Snapshot
400 delegates attended the event at Boldon to find out the latest from Ofsted and what changes are taking place.
https://schoolsnortheastblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/29/ofsteds-north-east-report-a-snapshot/
Overhaul of Alternative Provision announced by Greening
At the annual Conservative Party Conference held in Manchester, Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for Education, announced her main policies. From the creation of £12 million English hubs in the northern powerhouse to improving Alternative Provision, the Education Secretary set out bold plans for the future of our schools.
No schools turned into academies as a result of ‘coasting label’
No schools branded “coasting” by the government have been turned into an academy as a result, according to figures obtained by the Tes.
1 in 4 Northern schools with academy order fail to find broker within a year
More than one in four schools in the North issued with a directive academy order couldn’t find a new broker within a year, DfE data has revealed
David Laws at SCHOOLS NorthEast Summit: ‘Success of North East schools less well known’
Speaking to a packed crowd at this year’s annual SCHOOLS NorthEast Summit, the Rt Hon.David Laws told the crowd of school leaders that the success of schools in the North East is ‘less well known than other regions in the country’ and that we have ‘done well to close the disadvantage gap’ despite the economic constraints in the past decade.
North East schools succeed despite the loaded system
As SCHOOLS NorthEast prepared to celebrate their 10 year anniversary, Mike Parker asks why the state of education in the region is so consistently misunderstood.
Head Teacher Boards – the results
As the DfE reveals who will sit on powerful committees overseeing England’s schools system, here are the facts you need to know.
‘Alarming’ number of schools accused of unofficially excluding SEND pupils
In an Ofsted report released this term, figures show that an ‘alarming’ number of schools are using unofficial exclusions as a way to deal with SEND pupils. The Ofsted findings also report that pupils with SEND have a much poorer experience of education than their peers. The inspectorate says that the illegal exclusions are being used as a behaviour-management policy, in addition to fixed term exclusions.
Unauthorised absences up despite Government crackdown
Unauthorised absences have risen across primary and secondary schools, despite attempts by the government to crack down on attendance.
Teacher apprentices will be paid on unqualified scale
Trainee teachers on a new postgraduate teaching apprenticeship will be guaranteed an unqualified teacher’s salary, the government has announced.
Institute for Teaching launches to create ‘expert teachers’
A new ‘Institute of Teaching’ was launched this week in Manchester which will see teachers who want to train as teacher-educators undertake courses developed from the expertise of professionals, including those from the fields of jet-piloting and ballet. Last month, the new graduate school secured a share of £75 million of government money, to help teachers progress in their careers without having to leave the classroom and move into school management.
Ofsted investigates inspection gaps at outstanding schools
Ofsted is to examine ‘unusually long gaps’ between inspections of ‘outstanding’-rated schools, according to minutes of a board meeting.
Could the North East get an Opportunity Area?
Education Secretary Justine Greening has indicated parts of the North East could soon be included in a list of ‘Opportunity Areas’, parts of the country singled out for extra education cash to boost social mobility.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-missed-out-72m-13840449
Bad teenage experiences scare parents away from child’s school
Some parents are put off engaging with their children’s education because of their own bad school experiences, but schools are wanting to help change this.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/bad-teenage-experiences-scare-parents-13827626
Read Mike Parkers’ Tes column on Parental Engagement:
SEND pupils ‘pushed out’ of mainstream schools, new data shows
More pupils with statements of special educational needs or education health and care plans (EHCPs) are being ‘pushed out’ of mainstream schools, according to new data.
‘The situation is critical’: Schools will lose teaching talent without 5% pay hike, unions claim
The Evening Chronicle this term reported that teaching unions have demanded that the Government fund a pay rise for teachers, as schools will struggle to recruit and retain the best staff otherwise.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/the-situation-critical-schools-lose-13871571
Extra ’50,000’ pupils’ eligible for free school meals under universal credit shake up
New Government plans to change the eligibility criteria of introducing universal credit could mean that 50,000 more pupils are now eligible for free school meals. In a consultation launched this term, ministers say that currently “some of the most disadvantaged low-income households do not qualify for free school meals”. The Government now plan to base the eligibility on each household’s net earnings, instead of the number of hours worked at present.
Two-thirds of school leaders believe teacher recruitment crisis will deepen over next two years
Two-thirds of school leaders believe teacher recruitment at their schools will get worse over the next two years, a survey has found.
Teaching School Alliances miss ‘cold spots’ of struggling schools
There are “cold spots” in the support that struggling schools are getting from Teaching School Alliances across the country, according to new government analysis.
Pupils being harmed by schools ‘gaming’ the system to climb league tables
Children’s education is being put at risk by a system that encourages schools to ‘game’ the system and drill pupils to pass tests, a new study warns.
‘Alternative Provision is at breaking point – our most vulnerable have become the forgotten pupils’
Alternative Provision is a vital and valuable safety net for children – but it’s going to take radical thinking and a phenomenal effort to save it. Read Mike Parker’s column for the Tes on the four main areas that the North East needs to address before change can be made.
Autumn Budget 2017: SCHOOLS NorthEast’s reponse
Following the announcements in November in the Budget for Education, we looked at the main reforms in the pipeline for the system. This includes a new National Centre for Computing and new computer science teachers, additional funding for pupils taking Maths at A Level, Teacher Development Premium and T Levels. We looked at what this means for the Education system and question the main issues that the Government has yet to address.
https://schoolsnortheastblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/23/autumn-budget-2017-schools-northeast-response/
Teacher training target missed for fifth year in a row in England
There has been a failure to attract a fifth of the trainee teachers the government says are needed for secondary schools in England. Figures released by the Department for Education show that only 80% of trainees were recruited on to schemes in 2017 and targets were hit in only two of 15 subjects. It is the fifth year in a row teacher training targets have been missed. However, School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said there were a record number of teachers in schools.
Tes questions why the North East doesn’t have an Opportunity Area after campaign from SCHOOLS NorthEast
The leading Teaching news outlet has asked why the region doesn’t have an Opportunity Area following questions to Justine Greening at the Teach First conference and a year’s campaigning from SCHOOLS NorthEast.
Teaching grammar does not improve children’s writing ability, research finds
Academics reveal ‘a significant and persistent mismatch’ between government policy and the techniques proven to work in the classroom.
£45m boost for young people with SEND
A multi-million pound package has been announced to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
https://schoolsnortheastblog.wordpress.com/2017/12/01/45m-boost-for-young-people-with-send/
Government launches Careers Strategy after pilot in the North East
After the Government’s announcement of a new nation-wide Careers Strategy in December, SCHOOLS NorthEast analyses the main points of the proposed plans and how this will impact our schools over the coming years.
Government publishes mental health green paper for schools
SCHOOLS NorthEast takes a look at the three key ‘pillars’ of the Government’s approach as set out in the Green Paper, which commits to spending £310 million to support young people’s mental health.
Bright Tribe in discussion over future of northern schools
The Bright Tribe academy trust is in discussions with the government about walking away from all of its schools in the north of England, the national schools commissioner has revealed.
How a £300m shake-up could help North East children access counselling at school
The new Government plans for school mental health provision announced this week could see mental health services for children in North East schools transformed.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/how-300m-shake-up-could-13988860
SCHOOLS NorthEast strongly backs new Social Mobility Plan
SCHOOLS NorthEast has strongly backed the Department for Education’s new Social Mobility Plan, ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential’, and the four ‘ambitions’ outlined by the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening.
‘Primary schools should put best teachers in Reception,’ experts say
Primary schools should put their best teachers in Reception class as children taught well in their first year achieve better GCSEs in English and Maths, educational experts have found.
Ofsted Report 2017
The North East Outlook
SCHOOLS NorthEast takes a look at the regional picture from the Ofsted Report, and the key findings from inspections in the North East.
https://schoolsnortheastblog.wordpress.com/2017/12/15/ofsted-report-2017-the-north-east-outlook/
Their Focus for the Future
In the 88 page document released by Ofsted, the inspectorate laid out their main focuses for the future in the areas where they believe needs most support, and monitoring.
https://schoolsnortheastblog.wordpress.com/2017/12/15/ofsted-report-2017-its-focus-for-the-future/
Secondary School standards fall in North East
A third of secondary schools in the North East are not good enough, inspectors have warned, and it is a bigger problem here than in other parts of the country.
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2017-12-13/secondary-school-standards-fall-in-north-east/
Read Mike Parker’s Tes column on the Careers Strategy: