News

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.

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Crumbling schools: DfE promises to publish data – but not just yet

Data showing the condition of school buildings will be published before the end of the summer recess, the Department for Education (DfE) has pledged.

Just give us the cash: School leaders' National Tutoring Programme plea

Schools should be able to access National Tutoring Programme (NTP) cash without having to match funding from “extremely stretched” budgets, headteachers have said.

Attendance Hubs and mentoring support to tackle post-Covid pupil absence

An expansion of the Attendance Hubs and Attendance Mentors initiatives will target areas with high levels of pupil absence and comes after successful pilots last year.

Mental Health Support Teams reach only a third of pupils

Five years after the launch of the government’s Mental Health Support Team (MHST) initiative, only a third of pupils are covered.

'Intransigence, petulance and contempt' – anger and frustration as strike ballots open

We will know by early August whether widespread school closures are likely this autumn with the teacher pay dispute showing no signs of being resolved.

A 'pay-as-you-go’ education: The hidden costs of schooling

State education is free at the point of access – and yet attending primary school costs families a minimum of £19 a week per child.

The changing daily reality of teaching

From resolving family conflicts to cleaning dirty clothes, the "new reality" of teaching is one of increasing pastoral and social welfare duties – but unprepared teachers are feeling the strain...

'Change is coming’ – pressure mounts as heads revolt against Ofsted’s regime

"Let me be clear, Ofsted does not raise standards.” And so began the National Association of Head Teachers’ annual conference – with a rallying cry that is echoing around our nation’s schools.

'We will not go away...' Coordinated autumn strikes loom after stark warning to DfE

With the prospect of coordinated strike action by four education unions this autumn, it is “inescapable” that the Department for Education must change its approach to the teacher pay dispute.

An hour a day? Children increasingly sedentary during the week since Covid

Since Covid, children have become increasingly sedentary during the week even though overall levels of physical activity have finally returned to pre-pandemic levels.

School funding: DfE reveals how £2bn injection will be allocated

The Department for Education has published details of how the extra £2bn announced in the Autumn Statement is to be allocated to schools.

'If food prices increase any more, I really don't know how my children are going to eat'

With food inflation soaring to 19.1%, a hard-hitting and poignant film has been released in a bid to bring home to policy-makers the reality faced by families struggling to feed their children.

Ofsted reviews safeguarding judgements as inquiry calls get louder

As a petition calling for an inquiry into Ofsted’s role in the death of headteacher Ruth Perry nears 250,000 signatures, it has been revealed that the inspectorate is reviewing its approach to how it judges safeguarding.

Working hours blight: Research confirms workload crisis in schools

Primary school teachers are working 49 hours a week on average, with primary leaders clocking up 56 hours a week, government research has shown.

‘Utterly shameful’ – child poverty increases as FSM debate continues

Hundreds of thousands of children have been pulled back into poverty, food insecurity is rising, and 1.7 million children remain ineligible for free school meals despite their families being on Universal Credit.

Pay dispute: Offer branded 'insulting' and 'out of step'

The pay offer being considered by the National Education Union (NEU) and other education unions has been labelled “insulting” and “out of step” with the rest of the UK.

School buildings: Capital funding 'well short of what is needed'

School leaders are not overly impressed at this week’s "announcement" of £1.8bn in funding for upgrading school buildings – saying it simply isn’t enough and it isn’t even new money.

Where are all the teachers? Primary teacher training on track to significantly under-recruit

Teacher vacancies are 93% up on pre-Covid levels while the initial teacher training target for primary education is set to be missed significantly this year.

Ruth Perry death: 'Ofsted must listen to coroner recommendations'

Any recommendations made by the coroner investigating the circumstances of headteacher Ruth Perry’s death must be considered fully by Ofsted, it was said this week. It comes as a petition calling for change approaches 200,000 signatories and the chief inspector issues her first public statement... ...

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