General
Wednesday
‘The status quo is not working,’ says Gilruth as reforms reach milestone
If Scotland’s national bodies are weak then education is weak, ministers told in education bill debate, which was preceded by announcement of Centre of Teaching Excellence’s location
Quarter of secondaries record a weapons incident
Poor pupil behaviour is affecting the wellbeing of most teachers and school leaders, DfE research shows
Just third of teachers say Ofsted can accurately inspect in 3 days
Teacher Tapp poll also finds that 4 in 10 teachers do not think inspectors can accurately assess a school, no matter how long an inspection lasts
Tuesday
Schools minister refuses to rule out trust pay cuts
Catherine McKinnell would only say that teachers with pay deals outside of national guidelines should not face ‘detriment’ due to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: key information for schools
After the bill proposed a raft of changes for schools, we asked the Department for Education to clarify the key details
‘Failing’ schools won’t have to academise under Labour bill
All teachers to have same ‘core pay and conditions’ under Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, being brought to Parliament today
Monday
Ofsted criticises curriculum ‘barriers’ for SEND pupils in mainstream
Some mainstream school leaders focus on ‘meeting school accountability measures’ when developing SEND curriculum offer, watchdog says
First parents’ assembly report flags lack of education reform awareness
Survey finds 70 per cent of Scottish Assembly of Parents and Carers members do not feel informed about flagship education Bill
Friday
David Laws appointed AQA board chair
Former schools minister appointed to country’s largest exam board with immediate effect, after Anne Spackman stood down
Falkirk plans to cut pupil learning hours will not go ahead
Controversial plans to save money by reducing time pupils spend in school are shelved, in same week as Scottish government said councils had agreed to freeze learning hours
Education committee backs Sir Ian Bauckham for Ofqual chief
Sir Ian told MPs that he will stand down from his role as chair of Oak National Academy ‘when practical to do so’ if he is appointed as Ofqual chief regulator
Unions: Workload pressures at ‘crisis point’
In joint evidence to School Teachers’ Review Body, education unions also call for reverse to real-terms pay cuts
