General
Thursday
9th Nov 2023
DfE to spend £35m on temporary school buildings
The government has issued temporary accommodation contracts to limit school disruption while rebuilding and condition work is carried out amid the RAAC crisis
Weekly round-up: Teacher shortages and Ofsted warning
This week’s essential education news includes criticism of the DfE’s response to teacher shortages, a defence of Ofsted judgements and flexible working ideas for schools
Ofsted announce Lee Owston as new national director
The watchdog’s new national director of education will be assuming the role in January next year, alongside the next chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver
Unions demand £1.7bn extra school funding from Hunt
Four education unions have warned chancellor Jeremy Hunt that without the funding increase schools could struggle to recruit and retain enough teachers
Tablets-for-all approach criticised by Unesco expert
The Scottish government promised a device for every pupil – but such policies have been called into question by a Unesco expert
Oak National Academy: Judicial review to go ahead
High Court approves three organisations to pursue legal action against the government over establishing Oak National Academy as an arm’s-length body
Breaking: Oak National Academy: Judicial review given approval to proceed
The High Court approves three organisations to pursue legal action against government over establishing Oak National Academy as an arm’s-length body
Training bursaries ‘boost teacher retention by 15%’
But education unions respond to new research by warning that ‘sticking-plaster’ teacher training bursaries will not fix staff shortages
Wednesday
8th Nov 2023
Ofsted reports ‘opaque’ without grades, warns Gibb
Schools minister tells MPs that ditching single-word judgements will lead to people pulling out lines from a report ‘like a theatre review’
Safeguarding: 3 Ofsted findings for schools
School leaders often feel ‘isolated’ trying to safeguard vulnerable pupils, Ofsted warns in report on multi-agency responses to children needing help
Tuesday
7th Nov 2023
2m pupils could be persistently absent, Labour warns
Labour analysis of current school attendance trends warns the country could see a ‘lost generation of schoolchildren’ in the coming years
RICs to wind down as money diverted to support teachers
Regional Improvement Collaboratives worked across schools and local authorities, but education secretary Jenny Gilruth says their funding will ‘taper’