Ofsted warns North East Heads over soaring exclusions

The Regional Director of Ofsted, Cathy Kirby, has written to secondary Head Teachers in two North East local authorities to raise concerns over the rates of fixed-period exclusions. Ms Kirby said it was "difficult to understand" why exclusion rates should be significantly higher in some areas than others. She said inspection teams would be "asking …

National Audit Office report shows difficulties matching schools to sponsors

A National Audit Office report Converting maintained schools to academies has pointed out considerable regional variation in the availability of academy sponsors located near underperforming schools. The key finding of the report are: The Department has matched some academies with sponsors some distance from the school. At January 2018, 242 sponsored academies were more than 50 miles from …

Warnings grow that three-year QTS could be ‘disastrous’ for teacher recruitment

Plans to award qualified teacher status (QTS) after three years of training could have a “disastrous” impact on recruitment, school-based teacher trainers have warned. The National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT) also said that moving to a three-year QTS could “devalue” the status of current teachers. The Department for Education is currently consulting on proposals for “strengthening QTS”. …

Damian Hinds visits North East to find out concerns in region’s schools

The Secretary of State, Damien Hinds, visited the region on the 14th February to meet with schools and children in the region to discuss issues faced by education establishments in the North East. Arranged by MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Simon Clarke, school leaders and governors were able to quiz the Education Secretary …

Lord Agnew: No MAT boss should get a bigger pay rise than their teachers

No multi-academy trust boss should receive a larger pay increase than their teaching staff, the Academies Minister has said. Lord Agnew also said that MAT chief executives should have their pay cut if there is a downturn in the performance of their schools. In a letter sent to MAT chairs today, he said: "Eileen Milner, the new CEO …

Eight out of ten academies running at deficit, says new report

Eight out of ten academies are running at a deficit as they battle to hold on to their dwindling resources, according to a report co-authored by a North-East expert in school finance. Chris Beaumont, a partner at Clive Owen LLP based in Darlington, part of the Kreston network that act for over ten per cent …

MPs seek school views on impact of social media and screens on children

The Commons Science and Technology Committee has announced an inquiry into the impact of social media and screen-use on children and young people's health. The committee says it wants to hear the views of young people themselves, as well as of teachers and youth workers. To submit your views, written statements need to be sent …

North East Education News: Quick Links w/c 19th February

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/education/education_news/16036077.Academic_staff_prepare_to_strike_over_pension_row/?ref=mac – The Northern Echo, Academic staff at Durham and Newcastle universities prepare to strike over pension row. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/education/education_news/16033521.Pupils_sent_home_for__showing_too_much_ankle__in_uniform_row/?ref=mac – The Northern Echo, Consett Academy pupils sent home for ‘showing too much ankle’ in uniform row. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/education/education_news/16033536.Councillor_s_petition_calls_for_gender_equality_across_the_school_curriculum/?ref=mac – The Northern Echo, Bishop Auckland councillor’s petition calls for gender equality across the school curriculum. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/education/education_news/16033532.Ofsted__39_s_concern_over_high_rates_of_school_exclusions_____and_Middlesbrough_tops_the_league/?ref=mac – …

Deputy RSC to join the Northern Education Trust, it has been understood

It is understood that Jane Wilson, Deputy Regional School Commissioner (RSC) for the North, is to join the Northern Education Trust as their Deputy CEO, according to information given to SCHOOLS NorthEast. Ms Wilson, the former Executive Principal of Brambles Primary Academy in Brambles Farm and Dormanstown Primary Academy in Middlesbrough, took the deputy RSC …

Zero-tolerance behaviour policies exclude more vulnerable children, MPs told

Increases in exclusions are being driven by “shaming” school behaviour policies backed by the Department for Education, experts have warned MPs. Jane Pickthall, chair of the National Association of Virtual School Heads, which oversees children in care policy at local authorities, told the parliamentary education committee that humiliating classroom control techniques made schools “less inclusive” …