91¶¶Òõ

The personal statement in the university applications process should be replaced with a series of short-response questions to address ‘unfairness’, warns HEPI

Don’t miss your round-up of 91¶¶Òõ’ must-read news and analysis from the past week, including the first teacher pay strike, Ofsted under fire over judgements and schools’ recruitment challenges

Children’s commissioner Rachel de Souza said she wanted all schools to report daily attendance ‘as soon as possible’

The influential Queen Street Group of multi-academy trusts pledges to support small MATs and help more women to become leaders

We shouldn’t be looking to improve schools through external intervention – let’s trust the trusts and support them to do the job instead, argues Leora Cruddas

A research project by Nesta has uncovered startling data showing that some regions are doing great work closing the disadvantage gap – and that could help other areas to follow suit, as two researchers on the project explain

At the Schools and Academies Show last week a panel of sector heavyweights debated whether the plan for all schools to be in an academy trust by 2030 is realistic – and how school leaders can be convinced to make the move

Ofsted ratings handed to schools before they joined an academy trust should not trigger intervention, education leaders warn ministers

Joint letter to education secretary warns that the new DfE curriculum quango will cause ‘irreparable damage to school autonomy’

Heads at first full School Leaders Scotland conference since 2019 fear education reform will be ‘reshuffling of the deckchairs’ – but are told, if it is, ‘you’ve only yourselves to blame’

Debate about the DfE’s aim of all schools being in multi-academy trusts by 2030 also hears that the target could ‘destroy’ the system

Government action demanded on attainment gaps, segregated schools, sex education and mental health counselling