Very proud and happy to welcome school number 20 to our Trust, and the fourth new school we’ve opened in 5 1/2 years. West Riding Academy officially opened on 1 April 2026, a new special school we have co-constructed with Barnsley Council.

So councils have the legal duty to assess and determine the best place for a child in our long established school system, but Whitehall expect LA officers to deliver what they want, regardless of the legalities, for the promise of a handful of sweaty cash? Isn’t there a word for that…?

A picture that perfectly sums up the sporting prowess of my two boys… 🤣🤣

Amongst so many other things: I am always really grateful for the (literal and metaphorical) perspective my job has given me over the last decade. A warm and bright day in Manchester. 🙏🏼 🙏🏼 🙏🏼

But we have all that budget headroom to draw on 🙄🙄🙄

Support staff turnover hits record high, report warns Report recommends government action to help schools recruit staff

Three-quarters of school leaders are struggling to recruit teaching assistants, while support staff are leaving at the highest rate since records began, a report has warned

schoolsweek.co.uk/support-staff-turnover-h...

We’re all super proud of our amazing Abbey School for winning the“empowering young leaders” award at the 2026 @youthsporttrust.bsky.social annual conference. What a team!

The SEND reforms are out - now the real tests begin The government has finally announced its plans for special educational needs provision. Tes’ SEND and inclusion editor John Roberts assesses the challenges to come

Few people have as much expertise and policy knowledge of SEND than @johngroberts.bsky.social -
@tesmagazine.bsky.social SEND and Inclusion Editor.

This piece on the SEND reforms is critical reading for all and the very personal final section is incredibly important

www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

My thoughts on the strategy to leak details of such an important white paper for so many families and professionals, and why there’s still hope for what comes next week, despite this…

DfE warned on lack of state capacity for private SEND pupils Leaders raise concern that the government's fees plan could lead to 'catastrophic' loss of independent special school provision

There is not enough capacity in state special schools to take on pupils with SEND if a clampdown on private school fees leads to providers leaving the market, the government is being warned

Why should it be ok that special & AP schools aren’t included in the “all primary schools will get a library” initiative? Why is it ok we aren’t in any investment plans?

This absence means our schools - and the children & families we serve - are perpetually left out and left behind.

I noticed this when looking at special school report cards and thought it was bizarre. Why would you compare a special school's intake to a mainstream school?

Of course their EHCPs will be 'well-above' average!

@warrencarratt.bsky.social also flagged with Ofsted - now they may remove it

Education estates strategy The strategy sets out the government’s 10-year plan to improve the education estate in England to deliver a decade of national renewal.

Not a single commitment in this 10 year strategy to support and invest in the over crowded, crumbling special & AP school estate. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I’m not surprised anymore, but I wish I could move beyond the chronic disappointment this still yields

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Didn’t we get new RSHE statutory guidance two years ago…?

Help raise £800 to Sheffield Children's Hospital Snowflake Appeal – JustGiving Crowdfunding Iʼm raising money to Sheffield Children's Hospital Snowflake Appeal. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

We’re almost at our target for our annual Christmas appeal as we sponsor a snowflake at the @sheffieldchildrens.bsky.social hospital. Please help share, and please please donate - whatever you can - to this worthwhile cause

www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

5 questions for school leaders on the Budget's implications for SEND The Budget was light on detail on plans for SEND, but presented critical questions for school leaders. Trust leader and SEND expert Warren Carratt provides some answers

The Budget was light on detail on plans for SEND, but presented critical questions for school leaders. Trust leader @warrencarratt.bsky.social looks to provide some answers

Superb analysis from @warrencarratt.bsky.social that tells schools leaders what they need to know about the fallout from the Budget regarding SEND.

"Reforms will all require, in the short term, more funding, not less, if we are to turn this system into one our country can be proud of"

OBR documents (somehow!) published ahead of the Budget announcement say all SEND provision costs are to fall within DfE spending limits by 2028-29 and warn that if this is fully funded within the core schools budget, this implies a 1.7 per cent fall in mainstream school spending per pupil.

Focus on disadvantaged boys to hit school-ready target, DfE told Successive governments have failed to tackle entrenched inequalities in early years outcomes for boys from low-income backgrounds, IfG report warns

Two stories out today on the impact of poverty on education. The government will need to tackle the disadvantages that boys from low-income families face if it is to meet its new school-readiness targets, the Institute for Government has warned. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Trump is making international leaders walk onto a stage to him and shake his hand, as he stands behind a giant “peace” sign. 🤣

Such an exploitative, narcissistic and desperate act.

Would make a lot more sense without the grammatically incorrect spelling of the sign…

Interesting session with colleagues from across the sector and the office of the @childrenscomm.bsky.social, exploring a better way of working for AP and special schools. Thanks to Wasim Butt and @ormistonacads.bsky.social for hosting. Wish I could have stayed for the tour.

At a time when special schools have never been under more pressure and there’s an urgent need for capital investment, we get priority being given… to school libraries. You know, that endemic issue that school leaders everywhere have been campaigning for 🤦🏻 #HowOutOfTouch?

Special schools fear ‘subjective’ Ofsted judgements Inclusion focus risks ‘danger’ for schools directed to take on pupils whose needs they cannot meet, warns leader

Is Ofsted’s inclusion measure fair to over-capacity special schools directed to take pupils whose needs they’re not equipped to meet?

Lots of concern from the specialist sector here inc from @simonknight100.bsky.social and @warrencarratt.bsky.social

Great reporting by @johngroberts.bsky.social

A convicted liar, a cheat, a serial creator of false statements & unsubstantiated claims. He imposes tariffs on partners & welcomes Putin back onto the world stage. He and his VP repeatedly criticise the UK. He is, at best, a satirical figure. Yet the Daily Fail & Express back him. Wow. 🤦🏻

Really excellent article @johngroberts.bsky.social with dangerously sensible points from @jonnyuttley.bsky.social @jarlathobrien.bsky.social @warrencarratt.bsky.social and others.

The inclusion element of the new Ofsted toolkit is dangerously tokenistic and not looking at intake makes it pointless.

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Well done to all the Y11s finishing school today, and especially those across our family of schools - many of whom have been with us since primary stage.

Today is the end of a long and rewarding journey - with a fresh chapter starting from here. You should all be so very proud.

It’s warm, it’s a Sunday, I have a glass of Côtes-de-Rhône Villages in hand, and Test Match Special is on the radio. What more can a boy ask for?

Very proud to see our respective Chairs taking the lead on this so publicly. Our Trust communities are so fortunate to have such bright and capable volunteers leading governance like this.

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The countdown is on…

Pay special school staff as ‘consultants’ for mainstream, MPs told Catholic Education Service tells SEND inquiry that special schools should be recognised as centres of excellence, with 'consultant' staff given extra pay, like in medicine

Special school staff could be given extra training and pay to act as consultants supporting mainstream schools, MPs have been told