Primary schools given hope on assessment A consultation on primary assessment arrangements and a pledge of no new tests or assessments before 2018/19 have been welcomed as the ‘promise of light at the end of a long and very dark tunnel’
Heads renew demands for automatic free school meals registration Calls for an overhaul of the system of free school meals (FSM) have been renewed as eligible pupils continue to slip through the net.
Breakfast club research show positive impact Breakfast clubs that offer pupils in primary schools a free and nutritious meal before school can boost their reading, writing and maths results by the equivalent of two months’ progress over the course of a year.
Poor NQT retention figures spark further workload warnings Calls for direct action to tackle workload have been renewed after government figures revealed significant retention problems among new teachers.
Critics welcome end to DfE’s 100 per cent academy ambitions Widespread welcome has been given to the news that the government has finally dropped its controversial ambition to convert all schools in England into academies.
Improve retention but limit pay rise to 1%, STRB told “There remains a strong case for continued pay restraint in the public sector.” The message from education secretary Justine Greening to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) has been made abundantly clear.
Public sector redundancy reforms will 'deter leaders from taking on challenging schools' Government plans to reform redundancy payments across the public sector will act as a deterrent to those thinking about taking on leadership positions in challenging schools, it has been warned.
Extra mental health funding ‘sorely needed but not enough’ The additional £25 million unveiled last week to improve mental health services for young people is “not enough but is sorely needed”, it was said this week.
Crucial role of schools emphasised by cross-sector report on child sexual exploitation The crucial work of schools in raising awareness among children about the signs and risks of child sexual exploitation (CSE) is one of the keys to protecting vulnerable young people, a wide-ranging joint review of practice has emphasised.
High school nurse workload hampers efforts to meet medical conditions duty The high workloads of school nurses risk undermining their ability to offer essential support to students with long-term health conditions, research has claimed.
Research reveals the secrets to successful teacher retention The secrets to successful teacher retention have been revealed as – job satisfaction, having adequate resources, reward and recognition, and being well supported by management. 1 comment
Parents still face ‘uphill struggle’ to get satisfactory SEN support Despite far-reaching reforms, ‘too many wrong decisions’ are still being made by local authorities about SEN pupils’ education and care. Pete Henshaw reports
DfE is urged to suspend floor standards as concern mounts over key stage 2 SATs results School leaders have urged ministers to suspend the floor standard this year given that a majority of primary schools face falling below it.
Teacher's death sparks renewed calls for total asbestos removal As another former teacher dies from mesothelioma, a petition has been launched calling on the government to rethink its policy of asbestos management ahead of removal. Pete Henshaw reports
‘There is only one thing worse than saying the wrong thing, and that is saying nothing at all’ Schools across the country have been challenged about the extent and quality of support that they offer to students with mental health challenges. Meanwhile, teachers have been urged to embrace their role in supporting pupils' mental health
'Small but growing’ number of schools using Pupil Premium to offset cuts Concern has been raised at the “small but growing” number of schools that are using their Pupil Premium funding to offset budget cuts elsewhere.
RCN calls for urgent investment in school nursing to help mental health fight Urgent investment in school nursing services is needed if we are to tackle the crisis in children’s mental health, the Royal College Of Nursing (RCN) has said.
Concern at Ofsted candidate’s non-teaching background Teaching unions have raised concerns that the next chief inspector of schools in England is set to be someone with no teaching experience and who is heavily involved in the academies programme.
Funding proposals could threaten future of SEN units Schools could be forced to close special needs units if proposed funding reforms go ahead, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has warned.
Toolkit to help migrant parents is unveiled A toolkit to help newly arrived migrant parents navigate the school system in the UK has been published by academics.
Leaders revolt over assessment The row over government reforms to the primary assessment regime has deepened after school leaders launched their own independent inquiry and called on ministers to carry out a ‘fundamental review’. Pete Henshaw reports
Music provision under threat? Campaigners are worried that the focus on core subjects and government accountability priorities are hitting music provision in schools. Dorothy Lepkowska takes a look
Funding clarity urged over mental health provision in schools The government has been urged to clarify what budget it will commit to closing the “gap in provision” between schools and mental health services.
Collaboration and leadership buy-in key to effective use of research evidence Inter-school collaboration and strong support from senior leadership are key to developing a culture of research and evidence-based practice, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has said.
Lack of CAMHS capacity is biggest barrier to tackling mental health, teachers warn The lack of capacity in CAMHS has become a bigger barrier to tackling mental health problems than the historic stigma surrounding these issues, school staff have said.
