Wednesday
Schools White Paper: ‘Insufficient’ evidence on big MATs
Exclusive: Researchers dispute evidence behind Monday’s Schools White Paper call for academy trusts to be ‘on a trajectory’ to running 10 schools or 7,500 pupils
Face coverings not required in Scottish schools after Easter
But EIS is opposed and says ‘nonsensical’ removal of free lateral flow testing could be ‘devastating’ for students sitting exams
Why boosting English and maths GCSE grades is a problem
The DfE White Paper drive to raise the average GCSE grade in English and maths is fraught with difficulties, as school leaders and educationalists explain
Schools White Paper: Failure to focus on addressing disadvantage gap
Chief executive of the Education Policy Institute, Natalie Perera, laments the lack of focus in the White Paper on giving schools more scope to tackle issues that have caused a widening disadvantage gap
Tuesday
Most teachers already fulfil ‘Parent Pledge’, new data reveals
New Teacher Tapp data shows some teacher support for the ‘Parent Pledge’ but very few think it will actually raise standards
SEND Green Paper: Why the DfE needs to win families’ trust
The families of pupils with SEND will be wondering why it has taken so long to get to this point – but at least the Green Paper offers hope of positive change, says Rob Webster
SEND Green Paper: A chance to fix problems plaguing special schools
The government plans outlined in the SEND Green Paper are too focused on finance – but they do give us an opportunity to tackle long-standing issues, says this special-school leader
New Schools Network misses out on free-school support contract
Three-year deal worth around £1.5m has instead been awarded to professional services firm Premier Advisory Group
Schools White Paper: Why school leaders have been left so frustrated
Michael Tidd outlines the contradictions, confusion and frustrations in the Schools White Paper for school leaders – from grammatical errors to policy ideas that lack detail or the cash to make them a reality
SEND Green Paper: everything you need to know
DfE publishes plans to simplify EHCP process and make mainstream schools ‘more inclusive’, more than two years after launch of SEND review
Monday
DfE’s plan to move ‘coasting schools’ into MATs
Ministers intend to introduce new measure in September for schools ‘not making necessary improvements’
Schools could ask to move from academy trusts, under DfE plan
The DfE says it will carry out a review looking at how multi-academy trusts are held to account and the role of inspection
