Wednesday
ASCL to create ‘safe space’ for trust CEOs to ‘amplify’ their voice
New network aims to make government more aware of the challenges being faced by academy trust leaders
What Ofsted inspectors really think about inclusion
A union leader representing Ofsted HMIs says that, when considering inclusion, the views of inspectors must not be left out of accountability debates
How to create a better reader (hint: hard texts matter)
The curriculum review has sparked debate about which texts we should make space for in our classrooms, but how far does text choice really matter for improving reading? Tes speaks to US literacy researcher Timothy Shanahan to find out
Schools should ‘self-fund’ building projects, says ex-DfE property boss
Suggestion comes amid reports that school buildings funding will be diverted into defence budget
International SEND comparisons are not always what they seem
While nations such as Canada, Italy and Portugal are often cited as SEND success stories, a deeper look at the data and context tells a different story, says this trust CEO
Tuesday
Support-staff unions threaten industrial action over pay
GMB, Unison and Unite express ‘profound concerns’ over the direction of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body
DfE highlights Taylor Swift gig in crackdown on ‘one-off’ absences
Government publishes the research behind its plans to curb one-day absences, alongside a new parental communications guide for schools to help keep messaging ‘useful’
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
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
How strong financial education can lead to higher maths uptake
A focus on financial literacy is not just recommended by the curriculum review – it can also make students more likely to continue to engage with maths, writes Andy Codling
