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
Tag: DfE
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
Responding to requests for wraparound childcare
This new guidance from the DfE will help schools and academy trusts understand how to respond to: parents’ and carers’ requests that the school their child attends considers establishing wraparound or holiday childcare childcare providers’ requests to use school facilities for wraparound or holiday provision at times when the school is not using them It … Continue reading Responding to requests for wraparound childcare
Primary assessments: future dates
The DfE provides guidance that summarises future assessment dates in primary schools, to assist schools with their forward planning. This covers: Academic year 2023 to 2024 Academic year 2024 to 2025 Academic year 2025 to 2026 This is available on the DfE website, here.
Flexible working in schools
The DfE has issued an updated version of its non-statutory guidance for employers and staff who want to make arrangements for flexible working. This guidance is for: employers developing flexible working policies or processing flexible working requests, including headteachers governors chief executive officers local governing bodies trustees school employees requesting flexible working local authorities providing … Continue reading Flexible working in schools
Government confirms plans to permanently remove RAAC from all schools and colleges in England
The DfE announced on 8 February 2024 that measures to permanently remove Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from all affected schools and colleges, have been confirmed by the Government. You can read the announcement on their website here, which includes a list to all the schools and colleges affected.
Government responds to Ofsted criticism in RE row
The BBC reported that Ofsted had criticised Wolverhampton's RE - in a report to Wolverhampton SACRE, Oftsed had said that the city's religious education was not sufficient to prepare young people for adult life in such a diverse and multicultural community. The BBC then approached the DfE for a response, and reports that they stated … Continue reading Government responds to Ofsted criticism in RE row
Ofsted’s work with schools – Education Committee Report
The House of Commons Education Committee has published its report on Ofsted. Some of the report's conclusions are: School inspections are not currently carried out in sufficient length or depth to cover the full range of areas of a school’s work. The short notice period appears to be causing operational difficulties for many schools. There … Continue reading Ofsted’s work with schools – Education Committee Report
Financial distress in local authorities – impact on SEND
In its report "Financial distress in local authorities" published today (1st February 2024) the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee comments in detail on the current funding issues in local authorities. This includes a chapter on SEND, in which it notes: The amount of funding provided by the Department for Education has not kept pace … Continue reading Financial distress in local authorities – impact on SEND
Digital leadership and governance standards
The DfE has updated its standards on digital leadership and governance. This includes coverage on: Assigning a senior leadership team (SLT) member to be responsible for digital technology Keeping registers relating to hardware and systems up to date Including digital technology within disaster recovery and business continuity plans Having a digital technology strategy that is … Continue reading Digital leadership and governance standards
Generative AI in education: educator and expert views
The The Open Innovation Team from the DfE has today (24 January) published a research findings report on the use of Generative AI (GenAI) in education. The introduction states: Although GenAI is not new, recent advances in the underlying technology and greater accessibility mean that the public can now use it more easily. This poses … Continue reading Generative AI in education: educator and expert views
Minimum service levels in education consultation
The DfE is seeking views on introducing regulations to implement minimum service levels in education services in Great Britain during strike action. This is obviously hugely controversial and follows similar trends for other public services. Here is your chance to respond to the government's proposals! You can find the consultation survey here.
dsga.org.uk 