Alongside our best practice section, Headteacher Update features regular news and news analysis articles to keep school leaders up-to-date with the latest policy and sector developments. Our news pieces attempt to tackle issues of direct relevance to primary school educators and offer something different to the mainstream media.

first prev 1 2 3 4 5 nextlast

CPD research argues case for ‘incremental coaching’

The power of a professional development technique known as “incremental coaching” to improve the effectiveness of teaching has been spelt out in a new report.

---

Conservative's 'ordinary working class family' grammar school claim is ‘statistical jiggery-pokery’

The Conservative Party stands accused of employing “statistical jiggery-pokery” in its General Election manifesto in a bid to try and justify its plan to expand selective grammar school education.

---

SEN: EHCP waiting times are ‘still too long’

Many young people are still waiting “far too long” to get the right support for their SEN, the National Autistic Society (NAS) has said.

---

Fall in number of school nurses as student population increases

There has been a 16 per cent drop in the number of school nurses since 2010, despite a 450,000 increase in pupil numbers over the same period.

---

Parliamentary hopefuls targeted over funding

As the June 8 General Election looms, trade unions are targeting individual Parliamentary candidates asking them to pledge to tackle the growing school funding crisis.

---

School leaders vent their anger on funding

The recent annual conference of the National Association of Head Teachers was dominated by discussions over school funding. Dorothy Lepkowska reports

---

The 11-plus is ‘like rolling a loaded dice’, researchers say

Research into Kent’s 11-plus system has raised questions over the prime minister’s claim that expanding selective education will be meritocratic and offer opportunities to the poor

---

Concern at high price tag being paid for free schools

The government is paying “well over the odds” in its attempts to create 500 more free schools, with some sites being bought for as much as £30 million.

---

Unions fight to put funding on General Election agenda

Campaigners are hopeful that the widespread cuts to school funding across MPs’ constituencies will force political parties to face up to the issue in the run-up to the June 8 General Election. Pete Henshaw reports

---

Nine homes by the age of nine...

The preliminary findings of a three-year study offer an insight into what it is like for children growing up in poverty. From multiple house moves to free school meal stigma and the often-prohibitive costs of education, the report offers key lessons for schools. Pete Henshaw takes a look

---

The harrowing stories behind the thousands of pupils who are missing education

With almost 15,000 children missing education, new research has shed light on the wide range of complex and often connected issues behind the statistics. It also calls for more to be done to stop these children slipping through the net. Pete Henshaw reports

---

Behaviour in schools: The common factors behind success and failure

Eight key aspects to achieving a culture of good behaviour in your school have been identified by teacher and government advisor Tom Bennett. He has also uncovered some of the common factors in less successful schools.

---

National Education Union set to become fourth largest trade union in the UK when it launches in September

The new National Education Union (NEU) is set to become the fourth largest trade union in the UK when it comes into existence on September 1.

---

Speech, language and communication needs going unmet

Thousands of children are growing up with unmet speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), including many from our poorest families.

---

Funding latest: Primaries face £74,000 real-terms cut

New research is forecasting a real-terms funding reduction for all schools by 2019/20, with half facing budget cuts of between six and 11 per cent.

---

Axing of the £600m Education Services Grant puts key services at risk, councils warn

There have been further warnings from local government this week that the cut to the £600 million a year Education Services Grant (ESG) could see councils failing their child protection duties.

---

Student wellbeing: Teachers urged to sign open letter to PM

Teachers, parents and students are being asked to sign an open letter to prime minister Theresa May urging her to “rebalance” the education system and prioritise wellbeing in schools.

---

Research project aims to find secrets to teacher retention

A 14-month research project has launched aiming to understand the factors associated with teacher retention, turnover and returning to teaching.

---

Research reveals affect of poor education about periods and puberty

Almost half of women did not know what was happening to their bodies when they had their first period, research suggests.

---

Ofsted reliability study is welcome – but limited

Ofsted’s first attempt at testing the reliability of inspection outcomes has yielded seemingly positive results. However, with notable limitations to the research, calls for an independent investigation into the reliability and validity of Ofsted judgements have become louder. Pete Henshaw reports

---

Challenges ahead as 420,000 school places still needed

The government has made notable progress in meeting the need for new school places, but still has a long way to go and significant challenges ahead. Pete Henshaw reports

---

Crucial Pupil Premium guidance – from Ofsted and the students themselves

Delegates at the 7th National Pupil Premium and Ofsted Conference hear crucial inspection advice from Ofsted and receive inspiration and some key guidance from the students themselves. Pete Henshaw reports

---

What will the relationships and sex education curriculum look like?

There has been widespread relief and support at the government’s decision to finally make relationships and sex education compulsory in schools. Attention now turns to the proposed new curriculum and what it should contain. Pete Henshaw reports

---

Local authorities must consult schools and parents when spending £215m SEND fund

Local authorities are to receive at least £500,000 each to make capital investments to support children with Education, Health and Care Plans in their areas.

---

NUT-ATL merger decision due on March 22

Less than two weeks remain for teachers and support staff to cast their vote to decide whether a merger between the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) should go ahead.

first prev 1 2 3 4 5 nextlast