General

Thursday

2nd Nov 2023

Children’s commissioner: ‘Benchmark’ schools over absence
Dame Rachel de Souza calls for tougher measures to drive up attendance as research shows a link between persistent absence and GCSE outcomes
Children's commissioner call for attendance league tables

Wednesday

1st Nov 2023

More support staff strikes announced in Scotland
Schools in four local authorities have been closed today as a result of strike action, and more walkouts are now scheduled for November
Unison strike action
Sir Ian Bauckham to take over as Ofqual chief regulator
Sir Ian will take up the year-long interim position from 1 January 2024 as Dr Jo Saxton leaves for Ucas
Sir Ian Bauckham ofsted
Breaking: Sir Ian Bauckham to take over as Ofqual chief regulator
Sir Ian will replace Jo Saxton for 12 months from 1 January 2024
breaking news
9 in 10 teachers say Ofsted is not ‘reliable’ or ‘valid’
Union leaders warn that the findings by Beyond Ofsted show the next chief inspector has a ‘mountain to climb’
Nine in ten teachers in a new survey said that Ofsted is not reliable.
Revealed: How schools are trying to cut teacher workload
Five main changes that schools are making to tackle workload have been identified by research – but leaders say efforts are being hampered by a lack of staff and funding
Teacher workload

Tuesday

31st Oct 2023

Absence crisis in NI: ‘Schools can’t resolve it alone’
After Northern Ireland endures its worst-ever year for school attendance, officials blame the impact of Covid and mental health issues
Absence crisis in NI: 'Schools can’t resolve it alone
DfE: ‘Blend’ temporary buildings into surroundings
Consider ‘visual impact’, avoid playing fields and four other instructions for schools installing temporary buildings due to RAAC
‘Blend’ portakabins into surroundings, DfE advises schools
Covid: Williamson opposed masks in ‘no surrender mode’
WhatsApp messages between senior government officials claim Gavin Williamson had ‘not wanted to give an inch’ to trade unions by backing masks in schools
Gavin Williamson was in "no surrender mode" with trade unions over bringing in masks in schools during the Covid crisis, the official enquiry has heard.
‘Most schools’ to cut tutoring owing to cost
Two separate reviews find many school leaders think the National Tutoring Programme works but is unsustainable once government funding ends
Tutoring NTP

Monday

30th Oct 2023

DfE school hardship fund a ‘sticking plaster’
Union leaders and special schools warn extra funding announced to support teacher pay increase will not be sufficient
Sector leaders have warned that the DfE fund to help schools under financial pressure is only a "sticking plaster."
Oak to get ‘up to £2m’ to develop AI teacher assistants
Union leaders question investment and warn that AI will not be a ‘silver bullet’ to fix teacher workload
Oak to get ‘up to £2m’ to develop AI teacher assistants