Covid-related absences in North East schools highest nationally highlights insufficient “catch-up” plan

FFT education datalab has released figures which show that North East schools have been hit the hardest in terms of Covid-related absences. This challenges the Government’s belief that their one size fits all £1bn “catch-up” plan will be sufficient to enable schools to move forward post-pandemic. As we enter into the last couple of weeks …

Baroness Berridge announces that DfE will continue to support National Network of Special Schools for School Business Professionals

This year saw the inaugural National Network of Special Schools for School Business Professionals (NNoSS) conference which was held virtually. The conference was a great success with keynote speakers who focussed on motivation and energising the attendees as they go into their final push towards the end of term.  The day started with opening remarks …

Trade Unions give evidence to MPs on the impact of Covid

Representatives of the major trade unions gave evidence this week to the education select committee, on the impact of Covid on education. Chair of the committee Robert Halfon MP began by asking about the removal of restrictions in school settings. Geoff Barton, General Secretary of ASCL, said that while bubbles were introduced for good reasons, …

North East Schools Celebrated at Lord Glenamara Awards

This year’s Lord Glenamara Awards were held virtually on 12th July 2021 to celebrate education in the North East. The Lord Glenamara Prize is part of the Government’s commitment to level up and raise aspirations for children in the North East through the Opportunity North East (ONE) programme. The programme was launched in October 2018 …

A hat trick of award bodies recognise outstanding Sedgefield College

Sedgefield Community College, one of seven schools within the Laidlaw Schools Trust, has been recognised for the third time in recent weeks for its outstanding level of teaching, learning and overall achievement. Having recently won two TES Awards for ‘Best Secondary School’ and ‘Best Science, Maths and Technology Team’ and a Silver Award for ‘Making …

Relief as Government’s Step 4 plans to remove bubbles in schools

The Secretary of State for Education has announced the removal of bubbles in schools as part of their step 4 plan which is intended to begin on 19th July. It looks likely that this will be sustained for the new school year as the narrative of “no going back” is being pushed from the Prime …

Children and young people at the heart of decisions, says new Ofqual Chief Regulator

On Tuesday, the government’s preferred candidate for Chief Regulator of Ofqual, Jo Saxton, faced a pre-appointment hearing with the House of Commons’ Education Select Committee. Chair of the committee, Robert Halfon MP, began by asking about grade inflation, noting that ‘baking in’ grade inflation did nothing to close the disadvantage gap. Jo Saxton responded by …

Inspirational Sunderland school honoured in prestigious UK celebration of teaching

Selected from thousands of nominations, Hudson Road Primary School has been honoured as one of 102 Pearson National Teaching Silver Award winners across the country. Hudson Road Primary School was honoured with a Silver Award in The Award for Making a Difference - Primary School of the Year for their outstanding commitment to changing the …

Thomas Walling secures ‘Good’ Ofsted judgement

Thomas Walling Primary Academy, a member of the Laidlaw Schools Trust, has been  judged as ‘Good’ following the previous judgement of ‘Inadequate’ in 2019.  The school, which is in Blakelaw, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was described as ‘warm and  welcoming’ by Inspectors, who also acknowledged that students rise to the challenge of  working hard and being respectful.  Due …

Newcastle Schools Achievement Awards 2021

The annual NSAAs held on 22 June and were a little different to the events run over the past 15+ years.  In the pre-COVID times the Banqueting Suite in the Civic Centre would be filled with around 300 students, parents/carers, teachers as well as some local authority staff, to celebrate the achievements of children and …