Tuesday
Reading for pleasure: 5 key challenges
Year 8 reading tests, GCSE English shortcomings, and the tricky balance between grammar and reading enjoyment were among the issues raised at an MPs’ committee today
Why life skills are a core focus for all our schools
A research project drawing on insights from ISP schools around the world proves the value of embedding key life skills into the curriculum, says the group’s Camilla Woodhouse
Catholic MAT to grow by 50% as mergers gather pace
The trust will take on 10 new schools if plans are approved this month, amid a wider consolidation of Catholic academies
Monday
Why too many classrooms are designed wrong
A school leader who took a sabbatical at a classroom-design company explains the benefits of a few simple design fixes
Heads warn of ‘unsafe’ role of school staff in medical care
Headteachers’ leaders call for an ‘escalation route’ when a school decides a pupil’s needs cannot be safely met by education staff alone
Friday
Why is teacher workload still so high?
Despite government efforts to reduce workload, teachers report they are still working many hours of overtime. Leaders from across the sector tell us why
Smartphone bans must not ignore students’ medical needs
A phone is a vital medical accessory for some, and this must be considered in phone ban legislation, writes Alice Gregory
School insurance claims set to hit £180 million
Experts and unions warn the increase in school insurance claims is a ‘concerning’ sign of the deteriorating condition and resilience of school buildings
Thursday
School system ‘failing by design’ to prepare pupils for work, review finds
The national curriculum and exam-based assessment approaches are big factors in many students being ‘effectively set up to fail’, finds government-commissioned review
How schools can tackle rising Neet numbers
As the Milburn report warns that nearly a million young people are not in education, employment or training, this headteacher offers advice on making sure that students leave school with ambition and a sense of direction
Maximum temperature limit in schools is essential, DfE told
Warnings from teaching bodies come as England sees record-breaking temperatures this week, prompting concerns about the impact of extreme heat in classrooms
Girls far more likely to take languages at A level, data shows
FFT Education Datalab analysis also finds that students from poorer backgrounds are less drawn to languages A levels, and identifies large gaps in entries between different ethnic groups
