Weekly round-up: GCSE students hit and MAT fears

Catch up on all your must-read Tes news and analysis:

• GCSEs: Deprived schools worst hit by teacher absence
  Teacher absence has disrupted students taking GCSE exams in more than half of the most disadvantaged schools this year, according to research.
• Concern as MAT growth advisory meetings halted
  Meetings of regional advisory boards to advise on decisions about academy moves and sponsorship are on hold during the pre-election period, the Department for Education has confirmed.
• General election: what are the three main parties’ education policies?
  With the general election rapidly approaching, Tes looks at the main political parties’ plans for schools if they win power.
• Most teachers consider leaving due to Ofsted stress
  Nearly three-quarters of teachers have considered leaving the profession because of the “negative impact” of Ofsted, a poll by the NEU teaching union reveals.
• ‘Protect schools from this surge in parent complaints’
  School leaders are suffering because it’s too easy for parents to raise highly disruptive complaints with Ofsted, writes headteacher Patrick Cozier.
• Students in England less likely to say creativity is valued
  Secondary students in England feel less able to express ideas at school or take part in creative activities than their peers in many other countries, according to a major Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) report.
• Pisa tests ‘prove creativity can be taught’
  The first-ever international Pisa tests for critical thinking show that creativity can be taught and assessed, which raises questions for UK policymakers, writes Professor Bill Lucas.
• Sexual harassment and sexism ‘rife’, say support staff
  One in 10 female support staff in secondary schools say they have been sexually harassed, mainly by male students but also by male colleagues, according to a Unison report.
• DfE ‘robs’ schools of £1.9 billion for crumbling buildings, say unions
  Schools could have an extra £36,000 each on average to spend on buildings if the Department for Education reallocated unspent capital budgets, unions have claimed.
• Middle leader tips: how to build your budget
  Budgeting is an important skill for school middle leaders. The latest instalment in Tes’ Middle Leadership Essentials series brings you expert advice on how to get to grips with it.

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