Top education news stories

1. DfE sets out how it expects schools to run SEND inclusion bases

Guidance reveals detailed plans for support and specialist inclusion bases in schools – but heads’ leaders fear the funding falls short, writes Tes.

These definitions will replace the current system of resourced provisions, SEN units and schools running their own informal support units.

To implement this, schools will receive a £3,000 lump sum, plus per-pupil funding and extra cash for pupils with low prior attainment. Primary schools will get £16 per pupil and £79 for each eligible low-prior-attainment pupil, and secondary schools will receive £14 per pupil and £88 for each eligible low-prior-attainment pupil.

But Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “We are not convinced that the government has allocated enough money to deliver the massive expansion of SEND support in mainstream education it envisages.”

Furthermore, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “It is clear that the new Inclusive Mainstream Fund will not be a silver bullet in addressing the current crisis and is only a small step towards properly resourcing schools to deliver these reforms and further improve inclusivity.”

Source: DfE sets out how it expects schools to run SEND inclusion bases (Tes.com)

2. NFER: ‘Clear link’ between school disadvantage and falling rolls

Most disadvantaged schools see largest fall in pupil numbers, writes Schools Week.

NFER looked at whether schools with higher rates of disadvantage – using free school meals (FSM) eligibility as the measure – have seen the largest fall in pupil numbers since 2018-19. It found that across all schools in England “there is a clear correlation”. The least disadvantaged schools have seen pupil numbers drop by just 3.3%, while the most disadvantaged saw pupil numbers fall at more than twice that rate, with an overall drop of 7.3%.

NFER also looked at areas of the country with the highest falls in pupil numbers, and found the differences were even more stark. Across the 10 London boroughs that have experienced the largest drop, the most disadvantaged schools saw a 21.5% drop in pupils.

Julia Harnden, deputy director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, said “Falling pupil rolls means less funding, and while schools will do everything they can to mitigate the impact on pupils, the stark reality is that they will have fewer resources. These are exactly the schools which we particularly need to ensure are well-supported in their vital role of improving lives.”

Source: NFER: ‘Clear link’ between school disadvantage and falling rolls (schoolsweek.co.uk)

3. Heads ‘overwhelmingly negative’ about new Ofsted inspections

100 leaders share experience of revamped Ofsted inspections in new survey, writes Schools Week.

Leaders whose schools achieved expected standard across the board were among those who recorded negative comments. It comes ahead of separate independent research commissioned by the watchdog, set to be published next year.

Leaders from 100 schools described inspections as “brutal”, and “relentless and gruelling”. Only 30% agreed their inspection had positively impacted their school, while half disagreed with this. The report states heads comments on the new framework were “overwhelmingly negative”. Eight reportedly said they plan to quit before facing another inspection.

Wellbeing of heads and staff “remains at risk and requires urgent attention”, the authors concluded and added that a fully independent complaints system should be introduced “as a matter of urgency”.

The authors also concluded that the inspection framework “is deficient in a number of respects and is not considered an improvement on its criticised predecessor”. They highlighted “particular concern and a deep sense of unfairness” from those leading schools in the most challenging circumstances.

Source: Heads ‘overwhelmingly negative’ about new Ofsted inspections (schoolsweek.co.uk)

4. Enrichment benchmarks: no government commitment on funding for schools

The government’s long-awaited enrichment benchmarks for schools have finally been published, encompassing areas such as civic engagement, the arts, nature and sport, writes Tes.

DfE has, however, clarified that Ofsted will not inspect against the benchmarks when they are introduced this September, meaning the benchmarks will not be as strictly applied as schools had feared.

A new government programme called Every Child Can will fund activities within schools and also in local communities and during school holidays. The DfE has provided schools with a full list of government-funded organisations that can provide support on enrichment.

And the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in partnership with the DfE, will also invest £22.5 million over three years to create a tailored enrichment offer in up to 400 schools.

Source: Enrichment benchmarks: no government commitment on funding for schools (Tes.com)

5. Social media ban cautiously welcomed by school leaders

Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X will all be inaccessible to under-16s under government plans, but messaging apps such as WhatsApp will be permitted, writes Tes.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of ASCL, said: “The vast majority of social media use takes place outside school time, but schools routinely see the harm caused by these platforms.”

While headteachers’ unions reacted with cautious optimism, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU teaching union, was more positive about the policy. He said the decision to ban under-16s is a “turning point in the fight to protect children online” and a sign of “meaningful action”.

Source: Social media ban cautiously welcomed by school leaders (Tes.com)