All posts filed under: Education

Schools wanted to become technology ‘testbeds’

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[ad_1] Pilot to build ‘evidence base’ on impact of workload-cutting tech Pilot to build ‘evidence base’ on impact of workload-cutting tech More from this theme Recent articles Ministers are asking schools to step forward to become edtech “testbeds” and help find scalable solutions to cut teacher workload. Officials say the nine-month pilot – for which expressions of interest have opened today – has been launched to “build the evidence base on the impact and scalability of promising technologies”. As part of a so-called innovation drive, government has also announced a further £1 million will be handed to AI firms to fund the development of classroom tools. National Association of Headteachers general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “Government investment in future testing and research is vital as staff need reliable sources of evaluation – supported with evidence – on the benefits, limitations and risks of AI tools and their potential uses.” Participants to receive ‘benefits’ The Department for Education said its “edtech impact testbed pilot” will “identify and evaluate innovative educational technologies that can enhance teaching and …

9 things leaders need to know

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[ad_1] Schools could use AI to help write letters to parents, give feedback to pupils and come up with ideas for lessons, new government toolkits have said. The guidance, published today and drawn up by the Chiltern Learning Trust and Chartered College of Teaching, also says schools should plan for “wider use” of AI – including to analyse budgets and help plan CPD. Government said the toolkits are part of a new “innovation drive”, which includes investment to “accelerate development” of AI marking and feedback tools. A new pilot has also been launched to trial tools in “testbeds” schools. The government previously produced guidance on “safety expectations” for the use of generative AI – artificial intelligence that creates content – in education, along with policy papers and research on the subject. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “By harnessing AI’s power to cut workloads, we’re revolutionising classrooms and driving high standards everywhere – breaking down barriers to opportunity so every child can achieve and thrive.” Here’s what you need to know on the new toolkits (which …

Ofsted flags safety concerns at country’s first secure school

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[ad_1] Ofsted has flagged safety concerns at the country’s first secure school for young offenders, including increasing numbers of children making weapons out of everyday items. Oasis Restore, which is classed as both a secure 16 to 19 academy and children’s home, was found to be “not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people’ after its first full inspection in February. The institution, run by the charity that sponsors the Oasis academy trust, was rated as ‘requires improvement to be good’. However, inspectors conducted a monitoring inspection just two months later in April after “concerns were received by Ofsted about children’s safety and well-being”, Schools Week can reveal. ‘Children not always felt safe’ Inspectors found there had been “an increase in instances of children making weapons out of everyday items. Some children say that this is because they have not always felt safe recently,” the report, published Thursday, said. The school, in Rochester, Kent, is for children aged 12 to 18 who are on remand or sentenced to custody. It opened …

Movers and shakers: Anthem, Archway, Bishop Wilkinson

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[ad_1] This week’s movers and shakers include a Kylie superfan, a cornet player and a karaoke champion. This column is our fortnightly guide to who is moving where in the schools community. We are keen to hear about appointments at a senior level. Please send submissions for this section to [email protected] with ‘Movers and shakers’ in the subject line. David Hatchett Chief executive, Anthem Schools Trust Start date: October Current role: Director of standards and inclusion, Lift Schools Interesting fact: David has been a Kylie Minogue super-fan since he was 8. He finally met her at an invitation-only midnight signing event to mark her 50th birthday and the release of a new album. Adam Ryder Head of secondary, Nord Anglia International School, Abu Dhabi Start date: September Current role: Deputy executive principal, The GORSE Academies Trust Interesting fact: Adam grew up in The Salvation Army, where his parents were officers, and now has a love of brass bands. He plays the cornet. Stuart Anderson Chief executive, the University of Lincoln Academy Trust Start date: September Current role: Deputy chief …

How we can ensure our schools cater for all our kids

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[ad_1] More from this theme Recent articles I’m 50 years old and I’ve just been back to school. I met some amazing teachers and some absolutely incredible kids, but I came away feeling a bit deflated. When it comes to SEND, nowhere near enough has changed since I was a child. Teachers and educators are working their socks off to inspire our future generations, but they’re being tripped up, because they’re being sent into the classroom without the skills and knowledge they desperately need to enable and empower every child. Dyslexia is one of the biggest areas of need in the classroom.  Writing for Schools Week, I know I’m preaching to the converted. I’ve heard repeatedly how frustrating it is to be working within a system that’s laser-focused on just 75 per cent of the class, allowing SEND children to fall between the cracks. You wouldn’t open a supermarket that only caters to 75 per cent of the population, and you’d never get away with it in a restaurant.  Neurodivergent children aren’t broken. They’re creative, curious …

Harris Federation scales back redundancies

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[ad_1] Schools Week revealed last month that 45 jobs were at risk Schools Week revealed last month that 45 jobs were at risk More from this theme Recent articles The Harris Federation, one of England’s biggest trusts, has scaled back redundancy plans at 20 of its schools. Schools Week revealed last month that 45 jobs were at risk across Harris, with the MAT blaming “extremely challenging” budgets caused by “unfunded” pay and national insurance rises. After National Education Union members in four academies balloted for strike action, the trust confirmed the number of job cuts has been reduced to 15 “out of a teaching workforce of 2,650”. But Daniel Kebede, the NEU’s general secretary, said that a loss of 15 frontline teaching staff meant a “cut to children’s education”. In a letter last month about the redundancies, Harris said it was “facing an unfunded pay rise for teachers of 2.8 per cent and for support staff of 3.2 per cent, which we will have to fund from existing budgets”. It also faced a “critical drop …

Academy trust pulls plug on merger after chair’s resignation

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[ad_1] More from this theme Recent articles An academy trust has walked away from merger plans at the last minute, claiming the trust it was joining had been plunged into “instability” after the sudden resignation of its chair. Veritas MAT had consulted parents on teaming up with Rainham Mark Education Trust (RMET), with an application due to be submitted to the government.  However, Veritas pulled the plug this week. In a letter to parents it said the decision followed a “sequence of events” that “resulted in the resignation of RMET’s chair”. “This instability in governance at RMET is not in accord with the five pillars of high-quality trusts,” the letter added. “Veritas trustees concluded there was no longer a secure foundation to progress a merger, and that a merger would not be in the best interests of Veritas’ pupils, staff or community.” KentOnline reported that RMET announced David Valentine, its chair, had resigned with “immediate effect” citing “personal reasons”. The trust would not give any more information. Left in a ‘quandary’ Dr Kerry Jordan-Daus, the chief …

‘Unsuitable’ EHCPs: SEND inspection failures revealed

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[ad_1] More from this theme Recent articles “Wholly unsuitable” education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and long wait times for vital services were among the key reasons areas failed SEND inspections, new analysis by Ofsted shows.  Lee Owston The watchdog, alongside the Care Quality Commission, has vowed to make a series of improvements – including exploring the creation of a national pool of education inspectors and introducing report cards – following a two-year review into the local area partnership assessments.  Just 14 (26 per cent) of the 54 areas visited since the inspections were rolled out in 2023 received top marks – with the same number ordered to “urgently” address “widespread and/or systemic failings”.  Lee Owston, Ofsted’s national director for education, said: “We know that we can continue to improve the way that we inspect local areas.  “[It’s] a fact thatservices for children with SEND have fallen short for too long, and it is vital that we hold providers to account where improvements need to be made.” 1. ‘Wholly unsuitable’ EHCPs Ofsted’s review stated the …

on the frontline of the special needs crisis

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[ad_1] More from this theme Recent articles “Not many staff feel able to do it, nor continue in [the] role for long,” Stephen Ellis, former head of the North Birmingham SENCos group, told MPs at their ‘Solving the SEND crisis’ inquiry.  He revealed three-quarters of SENCos in his area had “changed over a two-year period”, adding: “Morale is low. Turnover is high. Less and less time [is] given to SENCos due to funding cuts.” The number of teaching vacancies mentioning ‘SENCo’ or related terms soared from 37,737 in 2018-19 to 76,633 in 2023-24, SchoolDash analysis commissioned by Schools Week shows. Vacancies averaged around 3,100 a month in 2019. This year it was more than 7,000. The rise has also outstripped a wider surge in school workforce vacancies. SchoolDash found the proportion of vacancies mentioning ‘SENCo’ had risen from four per cent in 2019 to six per cent last year. Every school is legally required to have a designated SENCo. But Abigail Hawkins, a former SENCo who runs support group Sensible SENCo, said some are waiting …

Prioritise poorer pupils in admissions, says charity

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[ad_1] More from this theme Recent articles Oversubscribed schools should be encouraged to prioritise poorer pupils in admission rounds and ensure “potential isn’t determined by postcode”, a leading education charity has said. Teach First has called on the government to boost pupil premium funding to motivate schools to adopt the approach, as part of a multi-billion package of reforms it says will “break the cycle of poverty”. The charity suggests a pilot in which oversubscribed schools give priority to children eligible for free school meals. This could be run across multiple areas by working with a trust with national reach. If successful, the policy could be scaled nationally. “Prioritising children from poorer backgrounds in oversubscribed school admissions is a bold but necessary step to make sure potential isn’t determined by postcode,” said Russell Hobby, Teach First’s chief executive. Catchment areas favour richer families Schools have been allowed to prioritise disadvantaged children since 2014, but just 5 per cent of secondaries do so. Teach First said catchment-based admissions disproportionately favoured wealthier families who could afford to …