Government to respond to consultation on ‘secure fit’ writing test model

Changes are expected to be announced soon following the governments consultation on the current assessment system. Since 2016, reforms to the Sats have seen ‘secure fit’ marking system where all pupils are required to reach all of the criteria set out by government in order to reach the expected standard. This system is seen to …

EBacc target reduced to 75% following consultation

In 2015, the government pledged that 90% of pupils would be entered for the full slate of EBacc subjects by 2020. Responding to a 2015 consultation on the EBacc published this week, the government is now aiming for 90% “starting to study EBacc GCSE courses” by 2025, meaning that they would not achieve the original …

Year of firsts for SCHOOLS NorthEast

SCHOOLS NorthEast broke fresh ground in a range of new areas in 2016/17 on behalf of the region’s schools. The UK’s first and only schools-led regional network delivered new activity in leadership, governance and support for mental health in line with the new three-year strategy, Shaping Our Future, which was launched at the SNE Summit …

Former Schools Minister announced for SNE Summit

ONE of the most ardent critics of the Government’s proposed grammar schools expansion programme has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the SCHOOLS NorthEast Summit this October. Rt Hon David Laws, Executive Chairman of the Education Policy Institute, has been vociferous in calls for greater levels of school funding and in exposing the dearth …

£1.3billion diverted into core funding over next two years

THE Government has announced that £1.3bn will be diverted into core school funding from other pots including money earmarked for new free schools and the ‘healthy pupils’ programme. Education Secretary Justine Greening announced the funding switch as she confirmed the Government’s commitment to deliver the national funding formula in 2018. The £1.3 billion, in addition …

Commission makes six key recommendations to tackle educational inequality

Recommendations from the Commission on Educational Inequality, led by Nick Clegg, include housing subsidies for teachers working in deprived areas. The commission was set up by the Social Market Foundation and is chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. He is joined by Dr Becky Allen from Education Datalab, Sam Freedman from Teach First, …

Halfon elected Chair of the Education Select Committee

Former Apprenticeships Minister Robert Halfon has beaten five other Conservatives to be elected to the influential post. Halfon was sacked by Theresa May in the cabinet reshuffle that followed June's snap general election and has been critical of the Prime Minister and the way in which the Conservative campaign was fought. In the election yesterday, …

SCHOOLS NorthEast welcomes new Trustee

Hilary French, Headmistress at Newcastle High School for Girls, has been elected as the new Trustee representing independent schools. Trustees have legal responsibility for the Charity and, much like school governors, are responsible for setting the strategic direction of our charitable work, ensuring we are financially sound and compliant with charity law. One of our …

Have your say on Ofsted short inspections

SCHOOLS NorthEast would like your views on the changes that Ofsted has proposed and would appreciate it if you took the time to fill out this very short survey. As we reported a few weeks ago, Ofsted is proposing two key changes to the short inspection process, which were introduced for "good" schools in 2015: At …

Year of exciting changes at SCHOOLS NorthEast topped off with office move

We are delighted to announce that we have moved office to accommodate an expanding team able to provide more support to schools in our region. The past year has seen SCHOOLS NorthEast step up a gear, providing more support to schools and an even broader programme of events. This has included Jobs in Schools | …