Weekly round-up: Teacher strike, Ofsted and staff shortages

The stage was set for a winter of industrial action in education this week when teachers in Scotland walked out for their first national pay strike in almost 40 years.

With unions south of the border also balloting their members on action over pay, teachers could soon be seen on picket lines across the UK.

Meanwhile, worrying new research showed that the number of very low-attaining pupils in Year 2 reading has soared since before Covid, Ofsted was accused of “moving the goalposts” and the consequences of the teacher recruitment crisis were revealed.

Catch up on your must-read Tes news and analysis from the past week right here. And how about getting all this essential insight in your inbox for free every morning? Sign up for our new Tes Daily briefing by clicking here.
 

• ‘Very low’ attainers in Year 2 reading have tripled
  The number of very low-attaining pupils in Year 2 reading has more than tripled compared with before Covid, a new Education Endowment Foundation study shows.
   
• Ofsted: Most ‘outstanding’ schools downgraded in full inspection
  The vast majority of “outstanding” schools that faced full inspections last year - after the removal of their exemption - lost their top rating, Ofsted has revealed. In response, education leaders accused the watchdog of “moving the goalposts” on “outstanding” schools.
   
• The first times tables check: what we learned 
  The first results of the new key stage 2 multiplication tables check have been published today - here are the key insights.
   
• Teacher vacancy adverts hit record high 
  The number of teaching vacancies being advertised by schools has reached a record annual high, according to a new analysis that gives an insight into the current recruitment problems.
   
• Teachers begin national pay strike  
  Almost every school in Scotland was shut on Thursday as thousands of members of the EIS teaching union walked out in pursuit of a better pay offer.
   
  
  
   
• Revealed: the impact of teacher shortages on schools
  The challenges schools are facing in finding teachers, and the effects this could have on the quality of education, have been exposed by new research.
   
• EYFS: ‘Significant’ drop in pupils at expected level
  The proportion of pupils aged 4 and 5 judged to have reached expected levels of learning at the end of Reception has plummeted compared with before the pandemic, new government data reveals.
   
• DfE to launch school mental health lead hub
  The Department for Education is planning to set up a national mental health lead hub aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing support for staff and students in schools.
   
• ‘Nearly half’ of schools use non-specialist maths teachers
  Teacher shortages and the measures schools are being forced take because of them - including using non-specialist teachers in some subjects - could be “a drag on system-wide improvement of pupil outcomes”, according to a new study.
   
• Why the funding increase won’t solve schools’ problems
  The chancellor’s surprise announcement of extra funding might avoid substantial job cuts but schools are still in a dire financial situation, writes former DfE adviser Sam Freedman.
   
• How PE is being ‘squeezed out’ in schools 
  Secondary school students have seen a significant fall in timetabled PE lessons, research shows - and teachers say competing pressures are to blame.
   
• Ofsted warned over early years review
  The inspectorate has been strongly criticised over a “number of concerning deficiencies” in its EYFS curriculum review.
   
• A-level results data: what can we learn?
  Grainne Hallahan breaks down new government data on this summer’s A-level results to reveal important trends.