Fears of delay to teacher pay deal after DfE misses deadline

Fears have been raised of a delay to the 2018 teacher pay award because the government has not been able to submit its evidence to the pay review body on time, it has been revealed. The original deadline for submissions to the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) was moved back because the Department for Education was unable to …

More North East schools below floor standard in Key Stage 4 results

More North East schools are below floor standard in Key Stage 4 results, however commentators have urged caution over this year's data in light of significant curriculum and assessment changes that have impacted Progress 8. The DfE’s publication of revised KS4 results yesterday showed that: The North East has the most schools of any English …

Funding, training and finding a good Clerk are main concern for Chairs at SCHOOLS NorthEast Chairs of School Governance conference

Funding, training and governor recruitment were among the main concerns for over 100 school Chairs attending a major governance conference in the region. On the 16th January 2018, SCHOOLS NorthEast held its inaugural Chairs of School Governance conference at Hardwick Hall, Durham. Following on from the success of the Regional Governance conference in March 2016, …

North East teachers inform DfE project to recruit talent to challenging areas

SCHOOLS NorthEast has facilitated a series of focus groups for the Department for Education (DfE) looking at the issues around recruiting teachers into challenging areas and schools. The focus groups brought together 22 teachers from 11 schools across the North East who had taught in a range of schools in both disadvantaged and more affluent …

David Meller resigns from DfE board and his following Presidents Club allegations

David Meller, the co-chair of the controversial Presidents Club charity dinner that has been rocked by allegations of sexual harassment by guests, has resigned from the Department for Education’s board. He has also taken a 'leave of absence' from his own academy trust. Anne Milton, an education minister with responsibility for the board, announced in …

Primary schools given help to support pupils’ mental health

The Duchess of Cambridge has spoken of the pressure on teachers which leaves them unable to find time to help children as much as they would like. The Duchess, who has two young children and is expecting her third in April, said teachers were best placed to help pupils through mental health and emotional issues, but do not …

Free infant lunches policy doubled take-up of school meals

The introduction of free lunches for all infants has more than doubled the take-up of school meals, new research shows. However, it also says almost a third of school leaders (31 per cent) said the introduction of universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) had led to fewer parents registering for free school meals, reducing their …

North East Education News, w/c 22nd January 2018

http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/15887475.Primary_school_expanded_as_town__39_s_population_set_to_increase_rapidly/ - Darlington & Stockton Times, Catterick Garrsion primary expands as town’s population increases. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/vote-no-confidence-kenton-schools-14197545 - Chronicle Live, ‘Vote of no confidence’ as Kenton School’s academy trust to lose 43 staff amid financial turmoil. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/what-happening-gosforth-academys-new-14190378 - Chronicle Live, What is happening with Gosforth Academy’s new Great Park school and when will it open? https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/what-could-happen-troubled-haydon-14185562 - …

Big rise in teachers relying on handouts to pay rent

Teachers are also applying for grants to cover their transport costs and utility bills. Hundreds of teachers are asking for charitable handouts to keep them from homelessness, because they can no longer afford to pay their own housing and transport costs. The number of teachers asking for help with these costs has risen by 40% in the last …

Flagship social mobility programme risked ‘overloading’ schools, DfE official reveals

The government’s flagship scheme to improve social mobility in 12 'cold spots' in England risked overloading schools, a Department for Education official has revealed. The disclosure came as new education secretary Damian Hinds signalled his commitment to his predecessor Justine Greening’s Opportunity Area programme by approving the delivery plans for six of the areas. The …