Monday
The attendance crisis: what does last term’s data tell us?
Pupil absence was up in the autumn term, but what else can we learn when we break down the details of the latest DfE attendance data? Ellen Peirson-Hagger shares key insights
VAT complaints mask bigger private school problems
The impact of VAT on fees has been real for private schools, but the warning signs had already been there for years for schools that have closed, says this former independent head
Friday
Let’s rally behind the international strategy’s ambitions
The recognition of the value of schools to the government’s International Education Strategy is welcome – but sector support will be required to deliver the strategy’s aims, writes Rod Smith
The new inspections mean schools must change their expectations
One trust leader who has experienced Ofsted’s new inspection process says the bar has been raised, with the new ‘expected standard’ requiring genuinely high-quality provision
Would an under-16s social media ban help schools?
The government is considering restricting or banning children’s use of social media. How might this impact schools?
Thursday
Schools need ‘ecosystem’ of experts for inclusion drive, DfE told
After co-hosting a series of public engagement events on upcoming SEND reforms, the Council for Disabled Children sets out the key messages for the government
Lords back social media ban for under-16s
House of Lords vote follows the government’s announcement that Ofsted will inspect schools on whether students are using their phones
Why a social media ban would raise big questions for schools
Banning under-16s from social media would not remove the problem – and it could deny schools their role in empowering young people to protect themselves from danger, writes Simon Lightman
Wednesday
Phillipson announces £23m for new edtech tools
The government will also launch skills pathways for teachers and support staff to help them develop digital, data and tech skills, education secretary says
It’s ‘crunch time’ on SEND reform, warns IFS
With SEND spending set to more than double, the government must try to deliver a sustainable system without squeezing mainstream schools’ funding, says the Institute for Fiscal Studies
Want to improve the world? Spend more on education
The number of children not in education across the globe is rising – and failure to invest in schooling now puts the future stability of our planet at risk, writes this trust finance chief
