General
Wednesday
History and geography ‘downturn’ predicted after Attainment 8 changes
Analysis of likely ‘winners and losers’ from A8 changes also forecasts reduced uptake of triple science and a boost for creative subjects, while languages would see a smaller increase
Pupils steered away from ‘risky’ creative subjects at school
Girls from lower-income backgrounds face a ‘double disadvantage’, University of Cambridge research shows
Tuesday
Suspensions rise in primary but fall in secondary
Year 4 saw the biggest increase in exclusions and suspensions last term, data submitted by more than 9,000 schools indicates
Parent contact is ‘unmanageable’, say nearly a fifth of teachers
Schools should not be ‘call centres’, warns teaching union as research reveals that nearly half of SLT staff spend more than 30 minutes a week calling parents
International Baccalaureate sets out AI stance
Schools are ‘navigating AI under real pressure’, says the IBO, as it publishes five draft AI design principles to provide schools with ‘a clear, values-led foundation’
Major funding squeeze risks teacher training quality, providers warn
Financial pressures are already forcing teacher training providers to close subjects and move training online, NASBTT research warns
Monday
Attendance target not ‘ambitious’ enough, government warned
Children’s commissioner is among those calling on ministers to restore absence to pre-Covid levels
Dame Alison Peacock: Use AI to test oracy skills
Assessing oracy through AI would put ‘no increased burden’ on teachers, says the head of the Chartered College of Teaching
Friday
International group grows in Greece with EYFS-primary plans
Forfar Education announces plans for a new British curriculum primary school in Thessaloniki and the acquisition of a pre-school near the city
Disadvantaged schools more likely to be graded down on achievement
Heads in deprived areas warn that grades awarded by Ofsted for its new achievement category are ‘demoralising’ and fail to take their challenging circumstances into account
What will it take to get all schools into trusts?
ÌÇÐÄVlog investigates the challenges of achieving the White Paper target of bringing every school into a strong trust – and the incentives that could be necessary to fulfil it
NEU: Reform would make education ‘hostile place’ for many children
General secretary Daniel Kebede, speaking ahead of his union’s annual conference, warns that Reform is pushing ‘divisive messages’ – while Reform says ‘unions are driving down standards’
