General
Monday
17th Feb 2025
Heads’ leaders defend organised opposition to Ofsted plans
In response to a school leaders’ union producing a template response to the Ofsted consultation, the watchdog says it wants to hear the views of individuals instead
Exclusive
DfE warned about ‘negative’ impact of Oak National Academy
The British Educational Suppliers Association raises concerns with a DfE review about the creation of Oak National Academy as a government resources quango
Scotland’s chief examiner to step down
Scotland’s chief examiner and chief executive of the SQA Fiona Robertson will move on, with her interim successor to be announced shortly
9 out of 10 areas with highest absence are in the North
A coalition of northern-based charities and organisations calls on the government to tackle the root causes of pupil absence
Star Academies reveals expansion plans
Star Academies, which runs schools in five clusters across the country, is looking to open new free schools, its annual accounts show
Friday
14th Feb 2025
MAT defends extending day plan after strike threat
Outwood Grange Academies Trust says its current day falls short of the expected 32.5-hour weekly minimum
Teach First appoints James Toop as its new CEO
Mr Toop was part of Teach First’s inaugural 2003 cohort and also served as chief executive of Ambition Institute
Vision to transform school grounds in Scotland
National organisations join forces to rethink school grounds as ‘playful and nature-rich environments’ that can boost learning and ‘design out violence’
MATs ‘need guidance’ on investments as returns soar
Large multi-academy trusts nearly tripled their cash returns from investments last year – so why aren’t all trusts doing the same? Experts tell Jasmine Norden that MATs need guidance on ways to invest safely
Cut teaching jobs to save Scotland £500m, says IFS
But teaching union warns that cutting teacher numbers would be a ‘false economy’ that would ‘damage life chances’
Ofsted framework will lead to ‘army of expensive consultants’
The Headteachers’ Roundtable has also expressed concerns that inclusion and SEND are ‘afterthoughts’ in Ofsted’s proposed inspection framework