Bridget Phillipson, the new Secretary of State for Education, has written to all those involved in education, under the headline statement I’m excited to work with you to break down barriers to opportunity She goes on to say "I am determined that we will drive change together. Working with all of you, we want to … Continue reading Letter from Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education
Category: Department for Education
Problems with SEND provision
Several articles focus on the issues with SEND funding - here are a few of them: Schools Week has documented the growing crisis; BBC: Councils in England are forecasting a massive shortfall in budgets for SEND; The Guardian: Record 576,000 pupils have special needs support plan in England; The Independent: Children with special needs are … Continue reading Problems with SEND provision
Climate and Sustainability Education Toolkit
The Foundation for Education Development (FED) have released a toolkit to equip teachers, sustainability leads and their teams, with the tools, knowledge and confidence they need to deliver their Climate Action Plans, which need to be in place by 2025. The toolkit is linked to the DfE's "Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the … Continue reading Climate and Sustainability Education Toolkit
Keeping children safe in education 2024
The updated version of Keeping children safe in education is now available from the DfE (comes into effect in September). There aren't many changes, but you can read a summary by The Key of the new version. Links to both the full document and the summary are on our website on the Key Documents page.
CIF funding – is the allocation fair?
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?
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
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
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
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
Safeguarding Children in Schools and Colleges
The Department for Education (DfE) have launched a 12-week call for evidence (from 28 March), to take the views of schools, colleges, and other professionals on safeguarding practice development and direction, in advance of Keeping children safe in education 2025 (KCSIE). Your reflections, experience, and suggestions in this call for evidence will help to inform … Continue reading Safeguarding Children in Schools and Colleges
Government ends Inspiring Governance contract
The DfE have agreed to continue funding the Inspiring Governance service to support schools and academies for a further six months, but DfE funding of the Inspiring Governance school governor recruitment service will come to an end on September 30th, 2024. DfE funding for the service was reduced by 45% from April 2021, and over … Continue reading Government ends Inspiring Governance contract
List of administrative tasks that teachers should not be expected to undertake
In the latest update of the government's School teachers' pay and conditions report (19 March 2024), a new section has been included that lists tasks that teachers should not be expected to undertake (an earlier version had existed back in 2013). This is one of the actions resulting from the initial recommendations from the government’s … Continue reading List of administrative tasks that teachers should not be expected to undertake
New governance guides replace the Governance Handbook
The Department for Education (DfE) has published two new governance guides, to replace the Governance Handbook: Maintained Schools Governance Guide Academy Trust Governance Guide The new guides change the format and streamline things, but do not include any new requirements. So Boards/Trusts do not need to take any action other than to ensure they are aware … Continue reading New governance guides replace the Governance Handbook
DfE approach to teacher pay award for 2024/25
A newly published document (February 2024) sets out Department for Education’s view on the considerations for an appropriate pay award for teachers and leaders in 2024/25. It notes that "Great schools need great teachers and leaders, and a competitive salary" but then goes on to state: it is the department's view that [there should be … Continue reading DfE approach to teacher pay award for 2024/25
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