Policy

The latest news, analysis and advice on government policy and legislation. Find a breakdown of new documentation, case studies from leaders and comment from high-profile educators

Friday

13 ways to transform Scottish education
On the final day of a consultation on Scottish education, the first submission to emerge includes a wide-ranging wish list
GCSEs: Pupil cash rewards ‘could halve attainment gap’
Paying students could boost GCSE scores for those with lower predicted grades, research finds
Schools told to run on-site Covid tests in January
Government asks secondary schools to run testing at the beginning of 2022 to curb the spread of Covid after Christmas
Stressed students prove education metrics must change
A generation of anxious and stressed students entering society will help no one, says Geoff Barton, who says we must refine how we measure educational outcomes
Hiring ‘five attendance advisers’ ignores real issues
Efforts to tackle attendance are important – but the government’s latest plan is too small in scope and ignores the far bigger, structural issues that exist that really need solving, says Sam Freedman
Stage ‘important’ live nativity shows, schools told
Schools minister urges schools to go ahead with festive shows as those in Covid hotspots cancel in-person festive plans
Schools to get ‘advisers’ to tackle persistent absence
School leaders say tackling persistent absence has been made harder due to budget cuts and it won’t be solved by ‘one-off visits’
We can change education - if the DfE listens to teachers
The overhaul of education in the 1940s shows that disruption can bring positive change, writes Helen Amass