Parent contact is 'unmanageable', say nearly a fifth of teachers Schools should not be 'call centres', warns teaching union as research reveals that nearly half of SLT staff spend more than 30 minutes a week calling parents

Parent contact is ‘unmanageable’, say nearly a fifth of teachers - @cerysturner.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Disadvantaged schools more likely to be graded down on achievement Heads in deprived areas warn that grades awarded by Ofsted for its new achievement category are ‘demoralising’ and fail to take their challenging circumstances into account

I analysed almost 500 inspections to see if schools with disadvantaged intakes are performing worse on pupil outcomes.

The findings show that it's disproportionate. Heads say it's demoralising as they urge Ofsted not to confuse achievement & attainment.

Could ditching smart uniforms help schools to be more inclusive - both to pupils with SEND and those from lower income families?

Or does a strict dress code help to raise standards, define school culture and avoid “fashion pressures” as one leader puts it?

Deliver on SEND or lose services, ministers warn councils SEND reform plans are needed by June - and government will withdraw services from failing authorities, local officers have been warned

NEW: Wes Streeting & Bridget Phillipson have written to LAs to warn them that those who fail on SEND could have services removed.

It's not landed well with councils, with one senior official warning it has "everybody’s backs up".

Excl @johngroberts.bsky.social 👇

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Ofsted chief will ‘not downplay’ disadvantaged schools’ outcomes Analysis of the watchdog’s report card system has shown that disadvantaged schools may be ‘unfairly penalised’

Ofsted's chief warns that he won't “downplay disappointing outcomes” in Ofsted’s grading of disadvantaged schools.

This is despite analysis for Tes showing schools in deprived areas may be “unfairly penalised” for their achievement outcomes.

Ofsted chief will ‘not downplay’ disadvantaged schools’ outcomes Analysis of the watchdog’s report card system has shown that disadvantaged schools may be ‘unfairly penalised’

Ofsted's chief warns that he won't “downplay disappointing outcomes” in Ofsted’s grading of disadvantaged schools.

This is despite analysis for Tes showing schools in deprived areas may be “unfairly penalised” for their achievement outcomes.

DfE estimates of schools’ costs ‘disingenuous’ Leaders say the government’s claim that schools can afford teacher pay rises ignores their growing costs, including the prospect of energy price hikes due to the Middle East conflict

Great analysis from @jabedahmed.bsky.social on DfE cost projections, compared to what schools are actually experiencing in reality.

For the past three years, the DfE has underestimated the actual cost pressures mainstream schools are facing... by a fair amount.

tes.com/magazine/new...

Excl: According to DfE calculations, schools won't need any extra teachers from next month until 2029.

This is despite teachers taking on new responsibilities for SEND, a curriculum overhaul, & the govt's ever-shifting policy to hire 6.5k new teachers.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

‘The SEND reforms are not a recipe for inclusion, but for disaster’ A lack of clarity and not enough funding will endanger well-intentioned reforms, argues shadow education secretary Laura Trott

The shadow education secretary writes for Tes about her concerns over SEND reforms:

- Risks piling on more pressure on to state schools
- Inclusive mainstream funding only equals £24k per school, per year
- Additional money doesn’t fill the £6bn black hole

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

Schools White Paper: all you need to know Tes has gathered all of the key information from the Labour government’s first schools White Paper

Second all the details of the White Paper proposals from @cerysturner.bsky.social - including all schools in trusts, retention bonuses for new heads, funding reform... www.tes.com/magazine/new...

How is Labour planning to reform SEND? The DfE sets out proposals for schools to produce statutory support plans for pupils with SEND and for new national inclusion standards. Here’s everything you need to know about its reform plans

So we finally have the White Paper and SEND documents - @tesmagazine.bsky.social has all you need to know.

First, the SEND reform proposals - including EHCP restrictions/standardisation and new individual plans for schools to create - from @johngroberts.bsky.social

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Excl: Many schools haven't received AI attendance targets the DfE said it had set "every school" last year. @ascl-uk.bsky.social calls the rollout a "botched exercise". @tesmagazine.bsky.social

SEND crisis ‘harder to fix’ with schools outside strong MATs Government inclusion adviser Tom Rees speaks to Tes ahead of the publication of the schools White Paper and SEND reform plans

Important interview by @charlottesantry.bsky.social with the DfE's inclusion advisor ahead of the WP next week.

Some interesting signals about the future of schools not in academies and the pace of upcoming SEND reform.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Just four months after the DfE cut multiple subject bursaries, the impact is already starting to show.

Subjects fear that it has not just led to lower recruitment but created a wider sense that subjects now have to compete to prove their worth.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Suella Braverman is Reform UK’s new education and equalities spokesperson.

She says that she would “restore” authority to teachers, and would “absolutely ban” all social and gender transitioning in schools.

Schools face wait for ‘urgently needed’ medical guidance Minister says new guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions won’t be published until the spring after MPs warn of young people being left ‘exposed’

Crucial guidance for schools on supporting children with medical conditions is now delayed until spring.

It was due to be published last autumn as the govt was urged to “clarify roles and responsibilities” for both healthcare professionals & schools.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Revealed: What CEOs are paid at the biggest MATs Tes’ annual review of the salaries of chief executives at the largest multi-academy trusts reveals that a quarter of them had a bigger percentage pay rise than teachers

💷32 multi-academy trust CEOs earned at least £200k in 24/25, with salaries exceeding that of the prime minister.

A quarter also had a bigger percentage pay rise than teachers, @Jabedahmed.bsky.social reveals in Tes' annual analysis of salaries of chief executives:

Social transition requests should be treated with ‘caution’, DfE says The government will embed gender guidance for schools within Keeping Children Safe in Education, including guidelines to ensure that single-sex spaces are protected

The DfE has finally published long-awaited guidance for schools on gender questioning children:

- Social transition requests should be treated with caution, esp from primary pupils.
- Separate toilets will be mandatory for boys and girls aged 8 and over.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Revealed: What CEOs are paid at the biggest MATs Tes’ annual review of the salaries of chief executives at the largest multi-academy trusts reveals that a quarter of them had a bigger percentage pay rise than teachers

💷32 multi-academy trust CEOs earned at least £200k in 24/25, with salaries exceeding that of the prime minister.

A quarter also had a bigger percentage pay rise than teachers, @Jabedahmed.bsky.social reveals in Tes' annual analysis of salaries of chief executives:

Social transition requests should be treated with ‘caution’, DfE says The government will embed gender guidance for schools within Keeping Children Safe in Education, including guidelines to ensure that single-sex spaces are protected

The DfE has finally published long-awaited guidance for schools on gender questioning children:

- Social transition requests should be treated with caution, esp from primary pupils.
- Separate toilets will be mandatory for boys and girls aged 8 and over.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Ofsted ‘needs to urgently review’ inspections over grade disparity Headteachers’ union experts raise concern about difference between primary and secondary ratings and watchdog’s approach to grading achievement

Analysis from 200 + inspection reports published by Ofsted under a new framework has revealed concerns about the proportion of schools being graded as needs attention on achievement and on disparities between primary and secondary schools in other areas. Full story here www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Revealed: Corporate donations to British politics have tripled Influential Labour committee chairs call on government to clean up politics as our new analysis finds record £42 million in company donations ahead of last election

🔴 Exclusive: Corporate donations British parties tripled over last three elections

But here's key thing: almost none is from FTSE500/listed companies

It's almost all companies controlled by super-wealthy individuals, or small, opaque firms

New on D4S: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-c...

DfE expects every secondary school to have an inclusion base The government’s 10-year estates plan includes the goal for all secondaries to have dedicated spaces that bridge the gap between mainstream and specialist provision

All secondaries will need inclusion bases under DfE 10-year estates plan.

Will those that don’t already have one be in a position to repurpose/add space?

Plan for primaries is less clear 🤷🏻‍♀️

DfE expects every secondary school to have an inclusion base The government’s 10-year estates plan includes the goal for all secondaries to have dedicated spaces that bridge the gap between mainstream and specialist provision

DfE expects every secondary school to have an inclusion base as part of its ten year estates plan. These will comprise of support bases set up by trusts and schools and specialist bases commissioned by councils. @tesmagazine.bsky.social story here : www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Ofsted: Heads question fairness of combining attendance and behaviour Tes analysis shows most schools graded as ‘needs attention’ were only criticised over attendance and not behaviour

Ofsted has been urged to reconsider its decision to evaluate attendance and behaviour as one area.

Our analysis shows that schools are being marked down for attendance levels, despite a positive impact on behaviour.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Ofsted: Heads question fairness of combining attendance and behaviour Tes analysis shows most schools graded as ‘needs attention’ were only criticised over attendance and not behaviour

Ofsted has been urged to reconsider its decision to evaluate attendance and behaviour as one area.

Our analysis shows that schools are being marked down for attendance levels, despite a positive impact on behaviour.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

NEW: The govt is writing off 90% of council SEND deficits up to this year.

Buried in the local govt financial settlement, it means existing deficits could be cut by £300 million by 2027/28.

Cash-strapped councils’ spending on private special schools soars Local authorities with the biggest SEND deficits see their spending on places in independent special schools rise by up to 58 per cent, Tes analysis shows

Excl: Councils with the largest SEND deficits are spending over £200m on private special schools this year.

With just weeks until the DfE publishes the schools white paper, independent specialist settings are set to be a hotly contested area of reform.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Revealed: How much the biggest MATs make from investments The largest multi-academy trusts are generating millions by investing surplus cash, but sector leader warns this must not replace core funding

"It’s great for us, and not necessarily equitable for the sector as a whole."

@jabedahmed.bsky.social reveals the investment returns of the 20 biggest MATs in 2024-25.

www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/how-much-money-do-mats-make-from-investments