Sponsor capacity to need ratio in the North amongst the lowest, report finds

The North of England RSC region has one of the lowest available sponsor capacity to need ratios and finding new sponsors could be a challenge, a new report by the National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) found. The ratio in the region is second lowest at 1.1 to 1, with Lancashire and West Yorkshire having …

Free school policy ‘incoherent and poor value for money’

The Public Accounts Committee has strongly criticised the Government's spending on new free schools, as well as its grip on providing much needed school places. The Government has pledged to open 500 more free schools by 2020 and has recently announced the biggest wave yet (which includes two in the North East), saying this will give …

SCHOOLS NorthEast analysis brought up in Parliament funding debate

School funding in the North East of England was the topic of a House of Commons Debate led by Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson on Wednesday. Figures published by SCHOOLS NorthEast as part of a campaign to drive positive change in funding allocation for the region were mentioned, as well as some of our …

Academy at Shotton Hall announced as one of six new research schools in England

The Academy at Shotton Hall has been named as one of six new ‘research schools’ in England. The Outstanding-graded Peterlee secondary school has been selected to receive £200k of funding to help improve the quality of teaching in the region by getting more teachers to use academic research in ways that make a difference in …

Reasons to be angry

It is not often as a jobbing Head Teacher that you get to talk to those who are actually devising and enacting education policy at the heart of government. But what is great about SCHOOLS NorthEast is that if you go along to their events, the calibre of their speakers means that you can get …

Mental health commission announces first regional conference

The UK's first and only schools-led commission into the mental health of pupils will hold its first conference on 8 June.  This will be a full day event on mental health in schools, where school leaders and other professionals will receive practical advice on how to improve pupil wellbeing and mental health in their schools. BOOK …

New wave of free schools includes two approved in the North East

The Government announced its biggest wave of new free schools yet, with two out of a total of 130 nationally set to open in the North East. The Department for Education said the new schools will give "more parents the choice of a good school place for their child". The two approved for the region …

EEF publishes findings on pilot projects for innovative teaching and learning

Three evaluation reports have been published by the Education Endowment Foundation looking at pilot programmes designed to find out if innovative approaches to teaching and learning can be delivered in schools in a practical way. Spaced Learning, developed by the Hallam Teaching School Alliance and run by Notre Dame High School, builds on evidence from …

Government officially launches apprenticeship levy

The apprenticeship levy that will require employers in the UK to fund apprenticeships has officially come into force today. All public sector employers, including schools, will need to consider how they can increase the number of apprentices in their workforce. The way in which the levy applies to schools depends on the type of schools …

Spring-term Ofsted briefings: Concerns around off-rolling pupils

The spring-term Ofsted briefings organised by SCHOOLS NorthEast took place on Wednesday 5 April at two locations North and South of the region. This term's briefings had a focus on careers guidance and Ofsted's National Lead for economics, business and enterprise, Adrian Lyons, gave advice to school leaders from across the North East. Senior HMI …