Weekly round-up: Labour sets out its plans for schools

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

• King’s Speech 2024: what schools need to know
  The new Labour government has set out its plans for schools - from free breakfast clubs to a register of children not in school - in a Children’s Wellbeing Bill announced in the King’s Speech.
• Phillipson keeps teachers waiting for pay decision
  The government’s decision on teacher pay for 2024-25 will be announced during the holidays or next term, after education secretary Bridget Phillipson said that no decision would be taken this week.
• EEF chief to lead DfE curriculum shake-up
  Professor Becky Francis, chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation, has been asked to lead Labour’s curriculum and assessment review, Tes understands.
• DfE curriculum and assessment review: seven key details
  It will focus on disadvantage and SEND, it will span all key stages, the role of exams will be “protected” - what we know so far about the government’s review of curriculum and assessment.
• What will the new ungraded Ofsted inspections look like?
  School leaders will be more involved in ungraded inspections from September, with Ofsted aiming to “reduce the burden” on subject leads.
• MAT growth decisions: key trends from 2023-24
  Many more primaries than secondaries convert to academies, new all-primary MATs created, the decline of single-academy trusts - Tes analyses the major trends in the MAT sector this year.
• Disadvantaged students “two years behind” by end of secondary
  The disadvantage gap has grown to its widest point since 2012 in primary and secondary schools, according to “devastating” new findings.
• GCSE English “not fit for purpose”, say experts
  The English literature and English language GCSEs are “not fit for purpose”, according to a group of experts who have warned that the qualifications have “let down” students and teachers.
• OCR review set to call for curriculum and exams overhaul
  The balance of exams and assessment at secondary school is “completely wrong” and the curriculum is “too backward-looking”, according to the early findings of a review set up by a major exam board.
• 250,000 more pupils in education by 2028 than expected
  New Department for Education projections on the decline in the pupil population offer some hope to schools worried about the impact on their funding, finds Dan Worth.
• Exclusive: AP facing staff funding cliff edge, Phillipson warned
  Alternative provision leaders are facing a funding “cliff edge” over the employment of “essential” specialist staff who offer “invaluable” support to vulnerable pupils, Bridget Phillipson has been warned.
• Middle leader tips: how to apply feedback and plan ahead
  As the school year comes to a close, the latest instalment of Tes’ Middle Leadership Essentials series offers expert guidance on using feedback to create a plan for the year ahead.
  
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