Today
Wealthier pupils benefited most from ‘gifted and talented’ scheme
A now-defunct government programme for ‘gifted and talented’ students could have ‘inadvertently reinforced educational inequalities’, say researchers – but they still want to see the idea revived
War’s impact on schools puts future peace in jeopardy
IB chief Olli-Pekka Heinonen reflects on how wars rob children of a normal childhood and disrupt learning, but says we must hold faith in the purpose of education
Will inclusion bases just become exclusion rooms?
If inclusion is not properly understood across the sector, there is a risk that the government’s planned inclusion bases will turn into a subtle form of exclusion, writes Thomas Keaney
Friday
Ofsted recruits unpaid inspectors as part of pilot scheme
Inspectors recruited under the scheme will not get an inspection fee, with Ofsted instead contributing to their employers’ costs
The missing middle: why we agreed to chair the KS3 RISE Alliance
Key stage 3 has been neglected in the drive for improvement – but now the government has launched an initiative to make it a more meaningful phase of education, write the co-chairs of the scheme
Phillipson launches KS3 commission
The Key Stage 3 Alliance will form part of the government’s universal RISE school improvement offer, education secretary tells ASCL annual conference
Small schools need to be central to government White Paper plans
The government’s plan for all schools to be in strong trusts is welcome – but only as a route to implementing the broader reforms the schools White Paper is calling us towards
Lack of space in schools could halt inclusion drive, DfE warned
The government’s SEND plans involve thousands of pupils being taught in new ‘inclusion bases’ - but many school sites don’t have space to create them, say leaders
Minister defends ‘indefensible’ DfE hike in advertising spending
‘Serious questions’ asked after the Department for Education’s spending on marketing approaches £50 million a year – up 43 per cent since 2022-23
Risk of unfunded pay rise ‘derailing’ reforms, ASCL boss warns
Pepe Di’Iasio also tells ministers that SEND reforms will need more investment to succeed
Thursday
Deliver on SEND or lose services, ministers warn councils
SEND reform plans are needed by June – and government will withdraw services from failing authorities, local officers have been warned
What’s happening with admissions in Scotland’s primary schools?
Scotland has many half-empty rural primaries and oversubscribed urban ones – and both scenarios prompt concerns about equitable access to education, argues Catriona Egerton
