The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) was put in place to help address significant condition needs to keep buildings safe and in good working order. This article in Schools Week suggests that the funding is allocated in favour of schools/trusts who can provide a bigger share of the cost themeselves, but DfE insists applicants ‘not prioritised’ … Continue reading CIF funding – is the allocation fair?
Author: Bruce Levitan
Political party manifestos and their impact on education
This article by The Key on their blog The Hoot gives an overview of what each political party is saying in their manifesto about education. The Hoot also has another article on the general election 2024: FAQs for schools and trusts. Note that you will need to be a member of The Key to access … Continue reading Political party manifestos and their impact on education
New Governor’s guide on Pupil Mental Health and Wellbeing
The NGA and Place2Be have published a new guide for Governors: Pupil mental health and wellbeing A guide for governing boards. It identifies eight principles for a whole school approach, and in eaqch case outlines what good governance should look like: Leadership and management Ethos and environment Curriculum Pupil voice Staff development, health and wellbeing … Continue reading New Governor’s guide on Pupil Mental Health and Wellbeing
Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision
The latest data release on transforming children and young people’s mental health provision from the DfE notes that only 44% of pupils have access to the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) programme, marking progress towards the target of 54% by March 2025. The data also shows that 74% of schools and colleges have applied for … Continue reading Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision
Data security incident trends
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published a Data Security Incidents Dashboard where you can view various information on data security issues and breaches, including a screen that shows trends for the education sector. There has been a 55% increase in cyber security incidents reported in the education and childcare sector since 2022. The dashboard … Continue reading Data security incident trends
New RSHE guidance
The DfE has launched a consultation on its proposed new RSHE guidance: What it means for sex education lessons in schools. The guidance includes the following: Introducing age limits, to ensure children aren’t being taught about sensitive and complex subjects before they are ready to fully understand them. The concept of gender identity – the … Continue reading New RSHE guidance
Calls are growing for the Department for Education to ditch its “coasting” intervention powers
An article in Schools Week highlights the issue of schools being given ‘coasting’ warnings despite raising grades and fresh starts. It concentrates on Academy Trusts in the main, but the trend in LA maintained schools is also mentioned. Schools Week quotes Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders: “[this] … Continue reading Calls are growing for the Department for Education to ditch its “coasting” intervention powers
Oftsed ‘deep dives’ removed from ungraded inspections
At the National Association of Headteacher’s (NAHT) Annual conference on 4 May, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, announced changes to ungraded inspections. ‘Deep dives’ during ungraded inspections to stop from September. Move will affect 40% of all school inspections. The changes are designed to reduce the burden on school leaders and allow more time … Continue reading Oftsed ‘deep dives’ removed from ungraded inspections
Understanding the use of unregistered alternative provision
The DfE has published the outcomes from its recent consulttation on understanding the use of unregistered alternative provision. Key findings of the report are: The use and role of unregistered alternative provision within the SEND and alternative provision system Unregistered alternative provision is used to address needs not met in school Unregistered alternative provision offers … Continue reading Understanding the use of unregistered alternative provision
Advice on spotting and handling phishing emails
Phishing is a form of social engineering attack aimed to trick the user into giving their credentials or identity information to an attacker. They are normally delivered in messages that look authentic, with corporate/official logos. This article on Derbyshire County Council's S4S website gives advice on how to spot and handle them.
Government to launch consultation on lifting the 50% cap on faith school places
Proposals to create more good school places through lifting the faith cap were unveiled today on 1 May as new data shows over half of schools are now academies. A consultation on lifting the 50% cap, which applies to new faith free schools, will be launched alongside proposals on opening special faith-based academies. The DfE … Continue reading Government to launch consultation on lifting the 50% cap on faith school places
GCSE results will suffer ‘well into 2030s’ due to Covid
A new study from the University of Exeter, the London School of Economics and the University of Strathclyde conducted the research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation is reported on in Schools Week. The key findings include: Covid fallout to affect GCSEs ‘well into 2030s’‘Unprecedented’ widening of attainment gapEducational damage could cost billionsUniversity-led tutoring could boost … Continue reading GCSE results will suffer ‘well into 2030s’ due to Covid
‘Nearly all’ schools rely on donations for classroom essentials
A new poll of its members by NAHT has found that only 1 per cent of school leaders say they get enough funding to meet all their pupils’ needs. A TES article notes that nearly all school leaders (95 per cent) in England have had to generate additional income through other sources - like charity … Continue reading ‘Nearly all’ schools rely on donations for classroom essentials
How AI is being abused to create child sexual abuse imagery
A sobering new report from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) focuses on it's 2023 investigation of the first reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Initial investigations uncovered a world of text-to-image technology. In short, you type in what you want to see in online generators and the software generates … Continue reading How AI is being abused to create child sexual abuse imagery
Children’s Media Lives
A new report from Ofcom is the latest in a longitudinal study that started in 2014. It provides evidence about the motivations and the context for media use, and how media is a part of children's daily life and domestic circumstances. The project also provides rich details of how children’s media habits and attitudes change … Continue reading Children’s Media Lives
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