Academies Conference 2020

Over 250 academy leaders heard from the Education Secretary, the Rt Hon Gavin Williamson, at the Schools North East Academies Conference on 30 January in Newcastle upon Tyne, with academy leaders from nearly every Multi Academy Trust in the region attending.  We were delighted to welcome the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon …

Opportunity North East delivery plan released

A year after the initial announcement of the Opportunity North East programme, the delivery plan for the £24 million investment in the region has been finalised.  The Secretary of State for Education chose the Schools North East Academies Conference at St James Park to publish the Opportunity North East (ONE) delivery plan setting out a …

Schools North East challenges Education Secretary to adopt positive narrative on North East Education

Schools North East called on Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to adopt a positive narrative around North East schools and education at Academies 2020. Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, addressed over 250 Academy Leaders and Head Teachers at Schools North East’s annual Academies Conference at St James Park on the morning of Thursday 30th January. Before introducing …

Regional Links w/c 27/01/20

Education secretary unveils plans to drive up North East school standards in £24 million programme (Chronicle Live) Rob lands new role in national further education sector (Northern Echo) Cramlington school handed award for mental health work (Chronicle Live) Universities Minister urged to lobby Government to invest more in region on Durham visit (Chronicle Live) Vulnerable …

Ofsted annual report reinforces false narrative on North East Schools

Reinforcing the myth that the North East's secondary schools are underperforming, Ofsted's Annual Report 2018/19 looked at the last year of results under the old Education Inspection Framework. The report showed that the number of secondaries judged good or outstanding, is at 58%, well below the national average of 76%. This is compared to primary …

Regional links W/C 20/01/20

Majority in our poll want higher salaries for new teachers – Shields Gazette Fall in number of South Tyneside secondary schools rated good or outstanding – Shields Gazette Gazette readers reject a call for an end to use of isolation booths in schools - Shields Gazette Sacked head teacher set to take South Tyneside Council …

Curriculum is important and not just because of Ofsted

Our first Curriculum Conference saw over 200 delegates attend the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough to hear from local schools and curriculum gurus sharing best practice. Now a focus of Ofsted's new Education Inspection Framework, curriculum is once again at the forefront for school leaders, as seen from this sold out event. However, it was clear …

Does new Ofsted EIF affect outcomes for disadvantaged pupils?

The debate about the effect of the new Ofsted Education Inspection Framework and it's impact on disadvantaged students is well under way. Last week leading CEOs Sir Dan Moynihan, Harris Federation, and Martyn Oliver, Outwood Grange Academies Trust, labelled the framework 'middle class', and claimed it would 'damage outcomes for disadvantaged children'. These comments were …

Regional links w/c 13/01/20

South Tyneside Sacked headteacher set to take South Tyneside Council to industrial tribunal (Shields Gazette) School children enjoy delayed Children in Need fundraiser after Jarrow primary reopens following norovirus closure (Shields Gazette) South Tyneside parents welcome return of longstanding lollipop man amid road safety fears (Shields Gazette) Hartlepool Hartlepool teacher in line for top award …

Ofsted plans to reinspect all ‘Outstanding’ schools by 2025

Plans announced by the Department for Education will see Ofsted inspecting all 'Outstanding' schools in the next five years. This would end the exemption introduced in 2012 which has meant that Outstanding schools would not be inspected unless there was specific cause. The exemption has resulted in some schools not being inspected for over a …