News

Most teachers to pay less into their pension under new plans

DfE launches consultation on cutting employee contribution rates for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme across most salary bands

Recent
Most read
Most shared
Recent
Most read
Most shared

MATs told to seek DfE approval for ‘contentious transactions’

New guidance sets out what transactions may be considered 'novel, contentious and repercussive' amid a row over one academy trust's plan for an alternative pension scheme

Over 5,000 Scottish primary teachers on temporary contracts

Over 400 more primary teachers were on temporary contracts in 2024 than in 2019 – although the latest figures are an improvement on 2023

Classes ‘shivering’ in winter and ‘overheated’ in summer

Headteachers' leaders call on the chancellor to use her spring statement to address a £3.6bn shortfall in funding for school buildings

Ofsted parents’ survey on report cards ‘misses the point’

Headteachers' leaders voice fears that Ofsted grades in planned new inspections will be unreliable as research shows parents would prefer report cards to current system

Can metacognition be effective in the early years?

Helping children as young as 3 to 'reflect on their thinking' and 'make intentional choices about their learning' is the aim of Nord Anglia's ongoing research project

‘Interrupted learning’ pupil support more than doubles post-Covid

Today's figures also show that classroom teachers in Scottish schools now support over five times more pupils with ASN than in 2019

Delay Ofsted report cards and school profiles, heads urge

Ofsted's plan for inspection report cards will cause greater anxiety for heads and make judgements less reliable, warns ASCL

Nord Anglia announces major safeguarding appointments

International schools group says the fresh leadership expertise will 'strengthen our safeguarding culture'

MAT rejects DfE intervention over teacher pension plan

Confrontation over United Learning's plan to offer teachers an alternative pension scheme that provides them with more take-home pay

Legal action for teachers over pension valuation delay

Law firm launches action on behalf of NASUWT members, warning that some teachers have been left waiting for months for pension valuations

Government pushes back on free school meals cuts claims

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she does not 'recognise' reports claiming that ministers are considering ending universal infant free school meals

SQA exploring use of AI to analyse exam marker feedback

The Scottish Qualifications Authority says it is committed to improving its processes after the fallout over the Higher history pass rate in 2024

Report cards will fuel workload problems, heads warn Ofsted

School leaders voice fears that Ofsted's proposed changes, with increased monitoring inspections and additional evaluation areas, will exacerbate workload

Number of GCSE students taking 3 non-EBacc subjects halves

But new research exploring the take-up of GCSE subjects in recent years suggests the 'EBacc era' could be coming to an end

Natural history GCSE to be finalised after curriculum review

New qualification will focus on nature, climate and conservation, with schools minister saying the DfE will consult on its content after the review has finished

SEND plans will fail to stop private school costs from soaring, DfE warned

Warning comes as 91¶¶Òõ analysis reveals the local authority areas where spending has jumped by up to 477% over the past four years

Ofsted inspection toolkits ‘lack coherence’ on SEND

There is a risk of SEND becoming a 'low-risk failure' under Ofsted plans, leader warns

Call for teachers to be able to trade pension benefits for higher salary

Research shows 'significant minority' of teachers would prioritise salary increases over retirement benefits but union warns they shouldn't have to choose

DfE wants schools to meet six digital standards by 2030

The government has also announced a £25m investment to upgrade wireless networks in schools

Council support improving impact of PEF, says Education Scotland

Local authorities have been criticised for charging schools for administration costs associated with PEF – but a new report says the upshot is ‘more impactful interventions’

Severe absence reaches record high

Overall absence continues to fall, but figures for the most severely absent pupils have reached highest numbers since data collection began

First minister grilled on number of violent incidents in Scottish schools

As new data shows scale of violence in Scottish schools, first minister embraces debate over 'toxic influencers' stemming from TV drama Adolescence and Gareth Southgate lecture

International schools group’s bid to make schools ‘vape-free zones’

The zero-tolerance approach will see detectors installed in schools and random bag checks, as well as anti-vaping education for all students

SQA removes exam from three National 5 practical courses

Three practical subjects will have their exam removed in 2025-26 – but an exam will be retained for National 5 practical electronics, with a decision pending for three other courses