Friday
More than a third of girls say periods prevent them doing PE
Anxiety over periods is a major issue for girls, as Youth Sport Trust survey highlights gender divide in PE and physical activity participation levels
5 strategies to close the literacy disadvantage gap
A researcher shares lessons from a study of seven schools where disadvantaged pupils beat national averages for reading and writing at the end of key stage 2
How can schools weather England’s constant policy churn?
It may feel as though change is the only constant in education policy, but looking to predictable undercurrents could help schools to pre-empt the next political shift, writes Loic Menzies
DfE takes nearly 6 months to decide senior pay case
The experience of colleges with government pay controls suggests academy trusts will be left in limbo waiting for executive salaries to be approved, leader warns
Ofsted: ‘We hope new report will dial down the temperature of debate’
An independent report into the new Ofsted framework offers positive signs that inspections are doing what they were designed to do, despite identifying areas to improve, argues Lee Owston
Nearly 9 in 10 schools say Ofsted inspection impacted staff mental wellbeing
Despite Ofsted welcoming findings from an independent evaluation of its inspections, heads’ leaders question Sir Martyn Oliver’s claim that the watchdog is ‘on the right track’
Is Ofsted on the brink and is there a way back?
Amid fierce criticism of its school inspections, Ofsted has been asked by education secretary Lucy Powell to go ‘back to the drawing board’. John Roberts assesses whether it can find a path out of this crisis
Thursday
MAT Tracker deep dive: the future of special-school trusts
Trusts running specialist schools come in a range of shapes and sizes – but how are they evolving and what role will they play in the government’s SEND reforms?
GEMS plans AI-led learning in schools from 2027
The programme, called GR8 School, will use an interactive learning platform to track pupil progress, with teachers – ‘human mentors’ – stepping in to support when required
Phonics test results finally return to pre-Covid level
Wide disadvantage gap has not shifted but the proportion of pupils with SEND meeting the phonics standard reaches new high
To profit or not to profit? How a new model is changing international schools
International schools have historically been not-for-profit institutions set up to serve expats, but the schools now being opened overseas by UK private brands are different, says this experienced head
Why toilets and isolation are key barriers to Year 7 belonging
Feeling overwhelmed and high levels of distrust have also been identified as core challenges in a new study into primary to secondary transition, finds Jasmine Norden
