Specialist teachers of the deaf: Alarm at dramatic fall in numbers Cost-cutting and a crisis in the recruitment and retention of specialist teachers of the deaf is putting the education of thousands of deaf children at risk.
Teachers face pay cut this year as strike talks deadlocked As talks to avert looming teacher strikes yielded no progress, new analysis shows that most teachers are facing a 5% real-terms cut to their pay this year.
Energy discount scheme extended – but fewer schools will benefit Fewer schools will benefit the government’s new discount scheme for energy bills – however those still eligible can now count on support until the end of March 2024.
Schools Bill: Demand for clarity over 'parent pledge' and 32.5-hour week School leaders are demanding clarity on the future of policies such as the “parent pledge” and the 32.5-hour school week following the axing of the Schools Bill.
'A sticking plaster' – DfE's £500m energy efficiencies fund not enough There is “deep concern” among school leaders that the government has already decided to end the energy relief scheme in March leaving schools exposed to huge hikes in their bills.
Recruitment and retention: The most deprived schools hit hardest After catastrophic teacher recruitment figures are revealed, a new analysis shows that schools with high levels of free school meals have higher teacher attrition, higher teacher vacancies, and spend much more money on supply.
Literacy: One in 15 pupils do not have a book at home As many as 500,000 children – one in 15 – do not have a book of their own at home, with dire consequences for their literacy development.
Cost of living crisis: Increasing numbers of non-FSM pupils cannot afford school lunches Pupils unable to concentrate, tired, without adequate winter clothing, coming to school hungry, and families unable to afford school lunches...
Mental health crisis: NHS warning over eating disorders and self-harm Almost one in five children aged seven to 16 have a probable mental health disorder according to the latest NHS research.
Staff wellbeing: ‘We are witnessing the slow disintegration of the workforce’ Insomnia, mood swings, over-eating, tearfulness, recurring headaches, difficulty concentrating – welcome to life as a teacher in 2022.
Increase in low-attaining pupils as disadvantage gap 'shows no sign of reducing' The proportion of low-attainers in year 2 classrooms has tripled for reading and doubled for maths post-pandemic, presenting significant challenges for teaching staff.
Ofsted graded judgements 'woefully blunt tool' Ofsted’s graded judgements are a “woefully blunt tool” it was said this week after 83% of schools previously exempted from inspection lost their outstanding rating.
Almost 3,000 primary schools – one in seven – have no library provision Primary schools in the North of England are significantly more likely to have no library provision, new findings show.
Leadership and workload more important than behaviour for tackling teacher stress Supportive school leadership and reasonable workload demands are most closely related to relieving the stress that teachers often feel, research suggests.
One in four children say they are 'frequently' bullied A quarter of children say they are frequently victims of face-to-face bullying, with those on free school meals or with SEND more likely to be targeted.
Funding crisis: 13 things school leaders may be forced to cut The stark reality of exactly how thousands of school leaders plan to cut frontline provision in light of the funding crisis has been spelt out in new research.
Safeguarding: Plea for politicians to get on with Online Safety Bill Thousands of online child sex offences will have been recorded during the on-going delays to the progress of the landmark Online Safety Bill, frustrated campaigners have warned this week.
Per-pupil funding to fall by £147 in real-terms, unions forecast Per-pupil funding will be lower in real-terms in 2023/24 for 90% of schools when compared to the current academic year.
Cost of living crisis: Four million children living in food insecure households With food inflation soaring, one in four households with children have experienced food insecurity in the past month – equating to four million children.
Safeguarding: School referrals drive sharp rise in children in need More than 10,000 cases of child criminal exploitation and a dramatic rise in referrals from schools have contributed to rising levels of children in need.
Safeguarding: How to avoid victim-blaming language in schools Guidance on how to avoid victim-blaming language and behaviours when supporting children who have been abused or exploited online has been published.
Spring term strikes loom as education unions issue ballots for industrial action The prospect of mass teacher walk-outs during the spring term is a step closer after the two largest teaching unions launched formal ballots over pay. It comes as primary school leaders could also be taking to the picket lines.
Free school meals expansion campaign picks up pace as cost of living crisis bites Expanding free school meals (FSMs) to all families on Universal Credit could yield a £25bn boost to the economy, research suggests.
Fewer SEN pupils being identified since 2014 reforms The identification of SEN “appears to have fallen” since the introduction of the SEND Code of Practice in 2014 and the move to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Dismayed and appalled: Kit Malthouse attacked for 'constant pressure' threat The education secretary is facing a backlash from school leaders “dismayed and appalled” at comments made during his speech to the Conservative Party annual conference.
