Three special free schools announced for North East

The North East will see three new special schools bringing over 200 places to the region for students with social, emotional and mental health needs. The schools will be due to open in September 2022. The new schools were announced by Gavin Williamson earlier this month as three of 35 special free schools to be …

National Audit Office launches investigation into FSM scheme

The NAO has announced that it will be investigating the Free School Meal (FSM) Voucher Scheme. The scheme has been widely criticised, and school staff and parents faced huge challenges.  The scheme was introduced at the end of March when the Government recognised that partial school closures meant that many of the 1.4 million students …

Proud year for Schools North East supporting the fourth emergency service

End of term typically comes with celebrations, fun, special assemblies, sports day and of course, reflections. However, you certainly don’t need us to tell you that this year has been anything other than typical! More than any other year, the current circumstances offer a great opportunity for reflection, both on the long term issues that …

Improvement for a new look Norham High School

Terry Conway, Head Teacher of Norham High School was kind enough to share with Schools North East the journey which the school has been on from September and the changes which have been made to aid school improvement. A new Head Teacher, Deputy Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team was brought in for the new term …

Though apart, a part and a partnership of something bigger in Wallsend

The ongoing situation and school closures as result of Covid-19 have a number of different implications for the education sector. We want to dig deeper into these issues, with help from the experts. This week, Emma Barker, Community Coordinator of Wallsend Children's Community, looks at how community and collaboration has helped local schools through the pandemic.  …

Ofqual directors attend Roundtable with North East School Leaders

Julie Swan, Executive Director for General Qualifications, and Richard Garrett, Director of Policy and Strategic Relationships for General Qualifications, joined over 100 North East Head Teachers to discuss changes to secondary exams next year.  Opening the roundtable Julie Swan gave a general overview of Ofqual’s consultation on this issue and what the proposed changes are, …

Schools North East asked to lead the way with a national network for School Business Professionals in Special Schools and Alternative Provision

Schools North East is delighted to have been commissioned by the Department for Education to deliver a national network of Special Schools and Alternative Provision for School  Business Professionals. The vision is for all School Business Professionals in maintained, free and academy AP and Special Schools to have access to an effective support network.  The …

North East school leaders give their views on exams next year

As schools begin to prepare for September, we asked school leaders what their biggest concerns were about the Government plans for next year, specifically the plans to reintroduce accountability measures. Exams and KS5 and KS4 We first asked what ‘catch-up’ changes schools would like to see to KS5 and KS4 exams. The most popular response …

Dealing with Post Covid Trauma in school

The ongoing situation and school closures as result of Covid-19 have a number of different implications for the education sector. We want to dig deeper into these issues, with help from the experts. This week, Lynn Miles, from Centre for Social Innovation, at Teesside University, looks at dealing with Post Covid Trauma in school. Covid-19 has …

Jumping Over Hoops And Through Walls

Head Teacher Andrew Ramanandi, from St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blaydon, considers the reintroduction of accountability measures next academic year and what it will mean for his school. As the Christmas holidays were coming to a close, I braced myself for what I knew would be a challenging two terms. OFSTED were coming to inspect …