Friday
Eton-backed free schools among projects spared in DfE review
Two maths schools have also been given the go-ahead but most of the 44 mainstream free-school schemes that were on hold look set to be scrapped
SEND spending favours mainstream ‘at expense of special schools’
Leaders question government decision to drop special and alternative provision free schools amid pressure for specialist places
Safeguarding review on ‘zero tolerance’ sparks national row
Hackney safeguarding chair will write to the education secretary to voice concerns over criticism of the review from DfE behaviour ambassador Tom Bennett
Only 7% of heads will spend more time on arts post-EBacc
School leaders are not planning changes to arts provision, despite the scrapping of the EBacc, polling reveals
Can per-pupil funding keep schools afloat as rolls plummet?
Demographic decline is squeezing school budgets and forcing political choices. Is it time to rethink the way schools are funded?
Ofsted and DfE warned of grade shift in new inspections
Inspectorate and government warned they need to mitigate against risk that the move to new inspection framework will ‘inadvertently’ look like a decline in standards
Ofsted inspections: 5 changes MATs want to see
With the new Ofsted inspections underway, CST deputy chief Steve Rollett reflects on trusts’ experiences so far and explains why many schools may be disappointed with their new gradings
Don’t overestimate resource base savings, heads warn Labour
Leaders question education secretary’s suggestion that creating more specialist places in mainstream schools will address SEND cost pressures outlined in Budget
Tackling the ‘3% issues’ to cut teacher workload
An international leader determined to reduce the time teachers spend on non-teaching tasks explains how a simple app has helped to free up staff at his school
Thursday
£3bn for mainstream SEND places, but special free schools face uncertainty
DfE announces plans to create 50,000 new specialist places but up to 77 free school projects could be replaced, with councils getting funding instead
Plan to deliver 6,500 more teachers delayed
Government had aimed to publish its plan to fulfil its manifesto promise by the end of the year – but now tells Tes this will be released along with its White Paper
SEND appeals hit record high
The latest data shows that 99 per cent of SEND tribunal cases found in parents’ favour, as the government sets out its aims for SEND reforms
