All posts tagged: mats

Trusts want governance split from leadership scores

Trusts want governance split from leadership scores

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles An influential group of trusts is urging Ofsted to split governance from its leadership judgment, saying the current system is masking sector-wide weaknesses. The Queen Street Group’s annual report, published today, said “many” CEOs in its network of 35 trusts believe “governance across the system is not consistently strong enough to bear the demands placed upon it”. Inspectors’ decisions on a school’s governance are rolled into their ‘leadership and management’ sub-judgement. But QSG members believe the two should be split.  “Weak governance is often carried by leaders,” the report said. “This problem is masked by incorporating governance within the judgement on leadership, so these need to be separated.”  This comes after Ofsted scrapped single-phrase headline grades for a school’s overall effectiveness earlier this month.  Until new report cards take effect next September, schools will continue to be rated from ‘outstanding’ to ‘inadequate’ for the four sub-judgments, including ‘leadership and management’.  Recruitment might not keep up with improvement Steve Taylor OSG chair Steve Taylor said CEOs “were reflecting that when a …

Alo Yoga’s Annual Aloversary Sale: Clothing, Leggings, Hats, Mats

Alo Yoga’s Annual Aloversary Sale: Clothing, Leggings, Hats, Mats

Published by Sam

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission. Step aside Sephora Savings Event: the third annual Aloversary Sale is here. It’s the perfect time to stock up on all your clothing and wellness essentials from the Jisoo-approved brand — and while the official event launches on Monday, April 29, you can shop the sale on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28. Here are all the details on how and what to shop two days before anyone else. Alo Access: Perks and How to Get Early Sale Access You can get early access to Alo’s Aloversary sale by signing up for Alo Access, the brand’s free membership program that offers early drops and sales, free gifts, exclusive discounts and loads of other perks. It’s really easy to sign up: just enter your name, email and phone number (and birthday, if you want an annual gift), and you’ll automatically be enrolled. The best part? You can shop the Aloversary Sale right …

Fully story of landmark court case

Fully story of landmark court case

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles An academy trust is suing former bosses for damages over business trips around the world, thousands spent on consultants and holiday cottages – and even wants them to repay their salaries. “Excessive” expense claims, luxury hotel stays and a £380 bill for a meal in an upmarket steak restaurant are also among 120 “losses” set out by the SchoolsCompany Trust in its claim against former trustees. It is a landmark case, as previously government has just written off such costs. The trust, which gave up its four schools in 2018 amid allegations of financial mismanagement, is seeking damages of almost £2.8 million – the amount it owes back to the government. But, three years after the Department for Education gave the legal bid its financial backing, the case is in chaos, with an estimated £900,000 in costs racked up so far and a trial unlikely to happen until next year at the earliest (read the full story here). For years, details of the case remained under wraps. But public …

£900k, three years … and still no final claims

£900k, three years … and still no final claims

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles The first government-backed lawsuit against an academy trust’s former directors has already racked up “scandalous” costs of £900,000 – with its final claims “still not in order” nearly three years on, a court has head. The Department for Education agreed in 2021 to bankroll the SchoolsCompany Trust’s bid to sue some of its former trustees after it collapsed amid accusations of financial mismanagement. But a full trial is still on the distant horizon amid complaints about the trust’s “convoluted” allegations. This week, the High Court heard an application on behalf of Everton Wilson, one of the three remaining defendants in the long-running case, to strike out allegations that he conspired to defraud the trust of money. John Meredith-Hardy, acting for Wilson, argued his client could not be held responsible for losses made after April 12, 2017, when he was suspended from work. “He cannot be providing any oversight or scrutiny when he is sitting at home. He is not playing any part in the running of the business.” He …

The Knowledge. How MATs are supporting pupils with SEND

The Knowledge. How MATs are supporting pupils with SEND

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles When the secretary of state for education herself describes the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system as ‘lose, lose, lose’, no one can deny it is in a bad way. Concerns around attendance, behaviour and mental health in the wake of the pandemic coupled with a decline in real-terms funding have left schools facing an increasingly challenging context for supporting all pupils, especially those with SEND. Yet while the SEND and AP Improvement Plan published last year calls for a ‘united workforce’ around the child, it does not identify collaborative school groups such as multi-academy trusts (MATs) as among the key system stakeholders. Today, NFER publishes a new report that looks to address this gap by providing insights into how some MATs are looking to better support their pupils with SEND, and what lessons school groups of all kinds may draw from this. Over the recent autumn and spring terms, we interviewed 49 trust leaders and school SENCOs across 19 MATs that had been identified as demonstrating potential …

Big MATs have highest teacher turnover, EPI finds

Big MATs have highest teacher turnover, EPI finds

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles Schools in the largest multi-academy trusts have higher levels of teacher turnover than other schools, new research has found.   The Education Policy Institute’s latest research into effective school groups, published this morning, follows the release of a study last month on pupil inclusion and attainment.  Today’s report found that large trusts have the highest turnover rates, particularly so in secondary academies.  Analysis also suggested that academy trust tend to be in a better financial position that others, as they post healthier in-year balances. However the data is from 2019. Louis Hodge, EPI’s associate director for school system and performance, said “our understanding of the relative strengths and weaknesses of different [school] groups has, to date, been patchy and inconclusive”.  “We hope [our research] will enable informed conversations across the education sector about the features of effective school groups and how school groups can be supported to improve their performance.”   Turnover highest in MATs … Drawing on school workforce census figures from between 2016-17 and 2019-20, the EPI found MATs “have …

SATs edged out of £25k academy grant as MATs profit

SATs edged out of £25k academy grant as MATs profit

Published by skeptic

Conversion cash will only be available to schools forming MATs with at least 3 academies Conversion cash will only be available to schools forming MATs with at least 3 academies More from this theme Recent articles Schools choosing to convert to academies will no longer be able to access a £25,000 grant unless they join or form a multi-academy trust. The move comes amid a national push for larger trusts to help protect the most vulnerable schools from financial peril. Schools that choose to convert to an academy – known as academy converters – have been able to get the grant to help pay for associated costs like legal advice and re-branding. However, in an update released this afternoon, officials said: “[The grant] will continue to be paid only to schools approved to join or form a trust as part of a group of three or more schools.” Despite this, special and AP schools “will continue to be eligible to receive it as part of a single-school conversion process”. The cash is handed to schools …

The best chair mats for smooth rolling in 2024

The best chair mats for smooth rolling in 2024

Published by skeptic

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › It probably didn’t take long to figure out that you’re not rolling around as smoothly as you did in the office without a chair mat. And that’s likely because your flooring is different from the company’s. If you’re a part of the work-from-home crowd, you may still be adjusting to being responsible for supplying your own equipment and WFH accessories—even if the company is footing the bill. Besides the ability to glide smoothly, chair mats can also serve another purpose: They stop your office chair from damaging your floors. The best chair mats keep things running smoothly while working at home. How we chose the best chair mats When compiling this list, I relied on my own experience with high-end chair mats that I’ve tested, combined with the opinions of colleagues and consumers. I evaluated such factors as material, weight, and size, along with durability and ease of movement. Also, understanding that budgets vary, I chose …