💡 Powerful and important discussions on the SEND system took place yesterday at our panel event on the government's proposed reforms.
The event marked the launch of our research analysing the relationship between disadvantage and SEND in school admissions 🧵
A fascinating discussion this morning. I especially enjoyed the debate between where accountability should sit and how we change the narrative of 'different'.
Ultimately you can’t be inclusive within a curated community.
Inclusion. Starts. With. Admissions. (9/9)
5️⃣The government are right to say that we should especially look at Fair Banding. I have seen schools use this well and others not to so well. Again there is a balance here between giving schools flexibility in how they apply it and ensuring they are using it for the right reasons. (8/9)
4️⃣If we are looking for bold change there is much to be said about asking all schools to prioritise places for children eligible for the Pupil Premium. Details to be discussed… there are lots of ways to do this! (7/9)
This should undoubtedly involve some sort of consideration for how we hold schools to account, which still disincentivise schools from being as inclusive as possible. (6/9)
3️⃣Therefore, updating the SAC alone won’t be enough. It needs to be part of a wider cultural shift where admissions moves from being seeing through the lens of compliance to one of moral purpose and as demonstrable evidence of the inclusive nature of schools. (5/9)
2️⃣However, this is also its downfall. Schools can implement policies that exacerbate social segregation often due to lack of aware of the issue or of their options to mitigate it. (4/9)
1️⃣ IMO, the current SAC is in pretty good shape. It gives schools lots of options to write an admissions policy that works for them and their community. (3/9)
I am looking forward to getting stuck into the detail of the School Admissions Code and the consultation in due course, but some early thoughts from me. (2/9)
It hasn’t been talked about too much yet today but the education white paper also had some pretty interesting stuff in about school admissions and seeing the work I am involved with at The Sutton Trust referenced specially has been a career highlight! @suttontrust.bsky.social (1/9)
A huge thank you to @danfrancis02.bsky.social, @charleyo.bsky.social, @anyasizer.bsky.social and @danihpayne.bsky.social for a thoughtful and wide ranging discussion at today's @smfthinktank.bsky.social panel event on SEND reform.
Thanks for having us all! Great session.
🚨 EVENT TOMORROW🚨
On Wednesday, our panel will discuss how to fix our broken SEND system:
@beckymontacute.bsky.social
@alistrathern.bsky.social
@charleyo.bsky.social
@anyasizer.bsky.social
@danihpayne.bsky.social
See more here: buff.ly/DWaWiQG
Really looking forward to this event and chatting with the other panellists!
🗣️ "They're facing the disadvantage of their low-income and the potential challenges that brings, as well as having to navigate that SEND system."
@charleyo.bsky.social touches on the double disadvantage facing low-income pupils with SEND on BBC Woman's Hour 📻
This has been one of those reports that makes you feel worse and worse as you uncover the layers of a system that just isn't working. Change is desperately needed so that all children can thrive in education without having to rely on parents spending money they may not even have to get support.
This morning at Labour Party Conference, our panel is looking at the attainment gap and asking why disadvantaged pupils are behind their peers.
Chaired by @nickharrison73.bsky.social, we are joined by @sarahsmithlab.bsky.social, @childrenscomm.bsky.social, and @danielkebedeneu.bsky.social
Today we are at the Labour Party Conference to explore findings from the Sutton Trust's latest report, Elitist Britain.
We are joined by @lindseymacmillan.bsky.social, @peter4bracknell.bsky.social, @lewisgoodall.com, Lord David Evans, and our own @carlcullinane.bsky.social.
⬇️ Follow updates below
🆕 We recently polled almost 7,000 teachers with @teachertapp.bsky.social to better understand how the education sector sees the issue of school admissions.
Our Senior Schools Engagement Manager, @charleyo.bsky.social, discusses what we learned 👇
www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...
🔜 Next time: Bringing the data together to identify themes.
❓What information or data have I missed? ❓(7/7)
#SchoolLeadership #NewLeaders #EducationalLeadership #SchoolImprovement #MiddleLeaders
3️⃣Data isn't perfect
Every type of data has its pros and cons.
The key is not to rely on any single piece of data in isolation and be deliberate:
Think about what information you actually need.
Consider different methods of gathering it.
Reflect on how robust your conclusions will be. (6/7)
2️⃣Data Sources
You’ll likely be pulling information from:
Exam and assessment data
SEF and SIP documents
Stakeholder voice and surveys (students, staff, parents)
QA evidence (work scrutiny, lesson observations, reviews)
Behaviour logs
Financial data and budgets
Ofsted reports
Conversations (5/7)
1️⃣ Data Types
Not all data looks the same.
Hard Data : numbers, facts, and figures. It shows you the outcome.
Soft Data : - qualitative information about people or situations. It offers insight into the cause of an outcome.
You’ll need a mix of both to get a clear picture. (4/7)
The challenge? There’s a lot of information out there, and it can feel overwhelming to know where to start.
📚 Lets start with a list - that always helps! My New Leader Checklist (linked below) should help you get going.
But here are a few key things to keep in mind as you gather information: (3/7)
Day 1 - The first thing you need to do as a new leader is get your hands on some information.
Part of this is so you know how your new school functions. It's also the first step in being strategic. You can’t make decisions about moving forward until you understand your context. (2/7)
💫 The First 100 Days as a School Middle Leader💫
I love supporting and coaching new leaders. As we approach September, I hope to do a weekly post to support you in your first 100 days as a new leader. If this isn’t you, perhaps there will be still be something interesting along the way! (1/7)
"you’re a parent; you’re someone who likes to wear makeup but doesn’t have time; you’re a control enthusiast; you’re time-poor in the mornings; and you’d like fresh dinners, but don’t have time to cook them"
Yes to all, especially makeup! I dream of having the energy for makeup!
Great blog! @claireharley.bsky.social is so relatable and brings the 'Instagram Sunday Reset' into something we can all achieve ❤️🔥
I know GCSEs aren’t the only KS4 story, but this is where my expertise lies. Hopefully there is something for everyone analysing results this summer.
💫 What are your top tips for managing results day without the overwhelm? 💫 (8/8)
#GCSEs #GCSE2025 #EduSky #MiddleLeaders #GCSEResultsDay
