20 July 2021 NGA publishes report on the development of MAT central leadership teams

The National Governance Association (NGA) has published a report on the development of central leadership teams in MATs

Based on detailed interviews with 13 MATs, and complemented by an online review of a further 88 MATs, it concluded that 

- central leadership teams are emerging as powerful drivers for realising many benefits of trust wide collaboration, including bringing services in-house, employing individuals with specialist expertise and centralising functions

- central team power and influence can contribute to tensions between individual school expression and trust control and therefore discussions about the central team should consider these tensions, seek to resolve them and include engagement with key stakeholders at local level

- governance practice in relation to designing and approving central team structures is inconsistent - there remains a lack of sector-wide knowledge and confidence around the issue of central teams which does provide an opportunity for trust boards to further drive improvement in their trusts

6 July 2021 Ofsted updates inspection handbook in readiness for September

Ofsted has made a number of changes to the handbook for when inspections return in September:

- inspectors will look at how the deployment of tutors supports the aims of the school curriculum

- schools without adequate processes to deal with sexual abuse are likely to be considered 'ineffective' with an inadequate leadership and management judgement

- schools are expected to put in place a whole-school approach towards sexual harassment, ensure that children are taught about safeguarding risks and supported to understand what constitutes a healthy relationship

- during inspections, Ofsted will consider external data, but will be mindful of the age of this data, especially around statutory assessment and qualifications

- teacher-assessed grades from 2020 and 2021 will not be used to assess curriculum impact

- leaders must provide support for staff teaching outside their main areas of expertise

- the inspection window may be extended by up to six terms

- Ofsted will report where a school fails to comply with the 'Baker clause' regarding careers guidance and consider how it affects their grade