The Department for Education (DfE) has said that schools can postpone the teaching of relationships and sex education (RSE) until the Summer term in 2021 because of coronavirus
Originally, from September 2020, relationships education was to become compulsory in English state primary schools and relationships and sex education compulsory in secondary schools
The decision to allow schools to delay starting RSE has been taken to give them more time to prepare to deliver the curriculum and engage with parents
However, schools that feel ready to deliver the new curriculum are being encouraged to start lessons from 1 September, or through a phased approach during the academic year
The DFE also says that schools should consider prioritising lessons on mental health and wellbeing, as pupils return to schools following periods at home
Tuesday, 16 June 2020
Friday, 12 June 2020
12 June 2020 £7m to support pupils leaving Alternative Provision
The Department for Education (DfE) is to provide £7m to support more than 11000 vulnerable young people who leave Alternative Provision every year
The young people are at risk of falling out of education after their GCSEs and will benefit from mentoring, pastoral support and careers guidance including through the work of transition coaches and mentors
Statistics indicate that 59% of pupils in Alternative Provision go on to a sustained post-16 destination, compared to the 94% attending mainstream schools; 23% of those leaving Alternative Provision are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
The young people are at risk of falling out of education after their GCSEs and will benefit from mentoring, pastoral support and careers guidance including through the work of transition coaches and mentors
Statistics indicate that 59% of pupils in Alternative Provision go on to a sustained post-16 destination, compared to the 94% attending mainstream schools; 23% of those leaving Alternative Provision are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
Tuesday, 2 June 2020
2 June 2020 PrimarySite publishes report on MAT growth
PrimarySite (primarysite.net) has published a research report on the growth of multi-academy trusts (MATs) - the research was focused on understanding more about how MATs had experienced growth and how they might grow in the future
The report recommended
- More incentives for schools to join MATs, such as through the Trust Capacity Fund, would support further growth
- MATs should invest more in leadership development so they can access the necessary skills to grow sustainably
- Taking on schools with the same value and ethos may make sense but can constrain potential growth
- The arrangement of MATs across the country is irregular and, at times, inhibits growth
- Mergers of MATs are likely in the next three years and trust boards need to put in place criteria for discussing mergers
- The role of the RSCs is likely to play a key role in how trusts merge
- More MATs need to have a good understanding of marketing and developing a meaningful online presence
- COVID-19 means that the growth of MATs will be slower in the short-term with the larger ones being able to cope with the impact of the crisis more quickly and start planning for growth sooner
The report recommended
- More incentives for schools to join MATs, such as through the Trust Capacity Fund, would support further growth
- MATs should invest more in leadership development so they can access the necessary skills to grow sustainably
- Taking on schools with the same value and ethos may make sense but can constrain potential growth
- The arrangement of MATs across the country is irregular and, at times, inhibits growth
- Mergers of MATs are likely in the next three years and trust boards need to put in place criteria for discussing mergers
- The role of the RSCs is likely to play a key role in how trusts merge
- More MATs need to have a good understanding of marketing and developing a meaningful online presence
- COVID-19 means that the growth of MATs will be slower in the short-term with the larger ones being able to cope with the impact of the crisis more quickly and start planning for growth sooner
Friday, 15 May 2020
15 May 2020 Report outlines areas for improvement in alternative provision
A report published by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has called for improvements in alternative provision in order to ensure consistent quality across the country
Whilst the report cites many areas of excellent practice, it outlines the variation in provision across regions, including the money spent on pupils, the data collected on them and the quality of education provided
It calls for
- a set of benchmarks to demonstrate what quality looks like and a national funding formula for alternative provision to support it
- a system improvement fund to share good practice throughout the country
- highly specialised teachers working with this cohort of children
Whilst the report cites many areas of excellent practice, it outlines the variation in provision across regions, including the money spent on pupils, the data collected on them and the quality of education provided
It calls for
- a set of benchmarks to demonstrate what quality looks like and a national funding formula for alternative provision to support it
- a system improvement fund to share good practice throughout the country
- highly specialised teachers working with this cohort of children
Tuesday, 5 May 2020
5 May 2020 Northern Powerhouse Partnership calls for 'Catch-up' premium
The Northern Powerhouse Partnership has called for a catch-up premium for disadvantaged pupils when schools reopen
The funding, which they say should be at least £700 for each secondary school pupil, would pay for tuition for those that have fallen behind during the COVID-19 crisis
The Partnership feels that without it, the attainment gap, which affects Northern children more than most, will get bigger
The funding would secure interventions for around 30 minutes of tuition, three to five times a week over a six to twelve week period
The funding, which they say should be at least £700 for each secondary school pupil, would pay for tuition for those that have fallen behind during the COVID-19 crisis
The Partnership feels that without it, the attainment gap, which affects Northern children more than most, will get bigger
The funding would secure interventions for around 30 minutes of tuition, three to five times a week over a six to twelve week period
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
28 April 2020 Ofsted unlikely to resume routine inspections of schools before the end of the academic year
Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools, appeared in front of the Parliamentary education committee by video link yesterday morning
She told the committee that she was 'not expecting to be asked to resume full routine inspections before the end of the summer term'
The chief inspector said that there was too much uncertainty to be able to say how long schools will get before they are inspected once inspections resume
She also said that Ofsted would not be 'judging schools per se on their response to COVID-19' but was seriously concerned about the impact of the partial school closures on the most vulnerable pupils, including those in alternative provision
She told the committee that she was 'not expecting to be asked to resume full routine inspections before the end of the summer term'
The chief inspector said that there was too much uncertainty to be able to say how long schools will get before they are inspected once inspections resume
She also said that Ofsted would not be 'judging schools per se on their response to COVID-19' but was seriously concerned about the impact of the partial school closures on the most vulnerable pupils, including those in alternative provision
Tuesday, 21 April 2020
21 April 2020 Education committee to investigate the underachievement of white pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds
The education select committee is to investigate the underachievement of white pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds
It will form the first part of a bigger inquiry into the issues faced by pupils from 'left behind groups' and will run alongside the committee's COVID-19 inquiry
The committee pointed to statistics showing that the average attainment 8 score for white boys eligible for free school meals in the GCSE examinations in 2018 was 28.5, whilst the national average was 46.5
The committee is inviting submissions by 5 June 2020
It will form the first part of a bigger inquiry into the issues faced by pupils from 'left behind groups' and will run alongside the committee's COVID-19 inquiry
The committee pointed to statistics showing that the average attainment 8 score for white boys eligible for free school meals in the GCSE examinations in 2018 was 28.5, whilst the national average was 46.5
The committee is inviting submissions by 5 June 2020
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