Tuesday
Schools lack scope to cut exam time as most pick shorter papers
Ofqual says schools can cut exam times by choosing different awarding bodies, but Tes analysis reveals that, in most cases, this isn’t an option – and school leaders are now calling for the number of exams to be reduced instead
Sam Gibbs: ‘It is possible to be a good leader and a good parent’
In our How I Lead series, we ask education leaders to reflect on their careers, their experience and their leadership philosophy. This month we talk to Sam Gibbs, curriculum and development lead at Greater Manchester Education Trust
Let birthday pupils skip lunch queue to cut absence, schools told
Schools will be provided with new tools highlighting absence patterns over the year, and new communications guides to improve engagement with families
Monday
Inspired takes ‘significant step’ with Caribbean expansion
The group has acquired Island Primary and Island Montessori in Grand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands
Government to review screen time in schools
Consultation will result in guidance on children’s screen time in and out of school, and the government is also planning safety certification for AI products for schools
We need to look harder for our ‘invisible learners’
All teachers know the signs of children who are slowly disengaging in school, but what we’re not good at is stepping in to support them before they reach crisis point, says Gloria Dalafu
Parent complaints ‘contributing to school staff quitting’
Research comes amid a rise in the volume and complexity of complaints faced by schools, including an increase in AI-written grievances
Friday
Ofqual ‘closely monitoring’ A-level maths paper that sparked petition
Around 23,000 people have signed a petition calling for ‘unusally difficult’ exam to be reviewed, but Pearson Edexcel says the paper was ‘rigorously checked’
Experts at Hand guidance calls for ‘innovative’ staff deployment
DfE advice seeks to allay fears that severe shortages of staff such as educational psychologists will put the brakes on its Experts at Hand service, on same day as it reveals members of key SEND panel
Extra in-service days promised by new Scottish education secretary
EIS teaching union sees more in-service days as crucial in helping teachers to adapt to the Curriculum Improvement Cycle
Why private schools are rethinking their commercial strategies
With many independent schools under financial pressure, more are looking at ways to diversify their income streams
The tricky art of satisfying parents’ expectations for school events
A leader with experience in the UK, China and now Nigeria reflects on why leaders have to be flexible over the different ways communities host and engage with parent-focused school events
