Need to know: Covid chaos, Ofsted and knowledge

In a week when schools warned that soaring Covid staff absence was forcing them to send year groups home, new research revealed the likelihood of getting a “good” Ofsted rating, the focus on knowledge-rich education was called into question and teachers were given tips to combat micromanagement.

Catch up on your must-read news and features articles from Tes right here:

News

• Covid: Schools send year groups home as cases spike
  Schools have had to send entire year groups home because of rising Covid-related absence among staff and an ability to find supply teachers.
   
• Are we facing a ‘teacher experience’ crisis? 
  England has some of the least experienced secondary school teachers among developed countries, according to new research.
   
• Ofsted: The schools most likely to be rated ‘good’
  New research shows the likelihood of schools in different parts of the country being consistently rated “good” or better by the inspectorate.
   
• Revealed: the year group hit hardest by Covid
  The primary school year group most in need of catch-up support has been identified by new research.
   
• Ofsted: Covid ‘fractured schools’ contract with parents’
  Chief inspector Amanda Spielman says action must now be taken to improve student attendance in the wake of the pandemic.

Features

• Why a knowledge-rich education is flawed 
  A decade ago, Michael Gove’s reforms put knowledge at the centre of England’s education system - but this now means that we are failing to properly prepare young people for the modern world, warn two eminent educationalists.
   
• Beware the trap in our ‘evidence-led’ revolution
  The innovation driven by teachers’ new-found focus on education research is being hampered by a lack of consensus on what constitutes reliable evidence, writes Jon Severs.
   
• What’s the best way to tackle pupil absence? 
  Long read: A new report reveals what the research says are the most effective methods to improve school attendance.
   
• Sick of being micromanaged? Here’s how to handle it
  One teacher shares tips on what to do if your line manager is suffocating you by scrutinising your every move.
   
• Is this the best way to teach writing? 
  One head of English explains how a “workshop” approach - giving students choice over what they write about - has worked wonders.