Weekly round-up: New Ofsted chief’s plans and digital GCSEs

Catch up on your must-read Tes news and analysis from the past seven days right here:

• How Sir Martyn Oliver plans to fix Ofsted
  In his first interview since starting his role as chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver tells Tes how he plans to tackle the multiple challenges Ofsted is facing - starting by delaying the return of routine inspections.
• What should Sir Martyn Oliver prioritise as Ofsted chief?
  Leading education figures have their say on the issues that the new chief inspector should put at the top of his to-do list.
• Ofsted pause: Inspections to restart on 22 January
  Ofsted has said that inspections will restart on 22 January and it has committed to publishing its response to the coroner’s report from the Ruth Perry inquest on 19 January.
• Digital GCSEs live in 2025, says exam board
  Exam board Pearson Edexcel is aiming to give GCSE students the option to take all of its exams online by 2030, and plans to start with on-screen English exams in summer 2025.
• Digital GCSEs: How Pearson Edexcel will use them from 2025
  Pearson’s Hayley White explains why the organisation is pushing ahead with plans for more digital exams from 2025, and addresses some common questions teachers and leaders may have.
• IB results 2023: UK pass rate tops global average
  UK students have achieved a slightly above-average score but slightly below-average grade in the latest International Baccalaureate results published this week.
• DfE looks at increasing recruitment of overseas teachers
  The government is looking at how it could boost schools’ international recruitment to plug teacher gaps amid a deepening teacher supply crisis.
• DfE in bid to sign five new SEND bailout deals
  Five more local authorities are in talks to join a controversial Department for Education special educational needs and disability funding bailout programme, Tes has learned.
• Multi-agency safeguarding changes: key insights for schools
  Updates to guidance on safeguarding were issued just as schools broke up for the Christmas holiday. Here, Luke Ramsden explains what schools need to know.
• Teachers assaulted at work get £220K compensation
  The biggest teaching union in Scotland has revealed details of compensation claims made by teachers last year after they were assaulted by pupils, including one teacher who suffered a broken jaw.
• Four ways teachers can better manage their workload in 2024
  As the year gets underway, Jo Facer offers small tweaks to help you get on top of your workload and claw back more free time.
• What’s in store for education in 2024
  Former DfE adviser Sam Freedman offers his view on how the next 12 months will play out for schools - and what will likely happen after the general election.
• Why teacher appraisals need SMARTER targets
  Appraisal targets for teachers need to be more flexible - so here’s an alternative approach,