Will parents be able to select the best expert assistance for SEN children?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by dchan

Fears of draft legislation will see many children removed from the special education register altogether. Continue reading →

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Posted in Parents, SEN | Leave a comment

Schools prioritise exam results over pupil development

Posted on May 16, 2012 by dchan

Children are failing to pick up traditional values at school as teachers increasingly prioritise exam results over the development of pupils’ “character”, according to a leading headmaster. Continue reading →

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Posted in Assessment / Exams, Head teachers, Pupil health, Teachers | Leave a comment

Bright children should start school at six, says academic

Posted on May 16, 2012 by dchan

Formal schooling should be delayed by at least 12 months because an over-emphasis on the three-Rs at an early age can cause significant long-term damage to bright children, according to a leading academic. Continue reading →

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Posted in Assessment for Learning, Early Years, Gifted and Talented | Leave a comment

Teachers’ performance pay ‘does not raise standards’

Posted on May 16, 2012 by dchan

There is no clear link between performance pay for teachers and raising standards in schools, says an international survey. Continue reading →

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Posted in Survey, Teachers, Teachers professional development / careers | Leave a comment

Teacher joblessness doubles in five years

Posted on May 15, 2012 by dchan

38,000 were unemployed in 2011, despite ‘golden age for schools’ Continue reading →

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Posted in Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Teachers, Teachers professional development / careers | Leave a comment

Heads told: stop blaming parents for failings

Posted on May 15, 2012 by dchan

Headteachers need to stop “blaming parents for everything” and should instead “treat them as partners – not merely consumers – in education”, the leader of the biggest heads’ union has warned. Continue reading →

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Posted in Head teachers, Ofsted, Parents | Leave a comment

Summer school for less well-off primary pupils

Posted on May 15, 2012 by dchan

Thousands of children will get ‘top-up’ classes to prepare them for transition to secondary school. Continue reading →

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Posted in Funding, Government Policy, Primary Schools, SEN | Leave a comment

Nick Clegg: ‘pupil premium offers once in a generation chance’

Posted on May 15, 2012 by dchan

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg tells schools they have the freedom to spend the pupil premium but says the Government “will be watching what you achieve” with it. Continue reading →

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Posted in Funding, Government Policy, State Schools | Leave a comment

9 out of 10 academies sell “Banned junk food”

Posted on May 15, 2012 by dchan

Nine out of 10 academies are selling pupils junk food such as crisps, chocolate and cereal bars that are banned in maintained schools to protect children’s health, research has revealed. Continue reading →

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Posted in Academies, Government Policy, Parents, Pupil health | Leave a comment

More financial control for parents with SEN children

Posted on May 15, 2012 by dchan

Parents are to be given more financial control over support for children with special educational needs, in a major shake-up of the system in England. Continue reading →

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Posted in Ofsted, Parents, SEN | Leave a comment

Vice chancellor criticises ‘back door route’ in to university

Posted on May 14, 2012 by dchan

The Government’s former schools chief has attacked university admission rules which give preferential treatment to poorer applicants because of their background. Continue reading →

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Posted in A-Level, University | Leave a comment

Special needs children on the rise…

Posted on May 14, 2012 by dchan

The £5 billion budget for pupils with learning difficulties is rising fast – but is the money being used to cope with a new tide of poor parenting and failed teaching? Continue reading →

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Posted in Funding, Philosophy for Children, SEN | Leave a comment

Schools face ‘talent drain’ as morale of teachers dives

Posted on May 14, 2012 by dchan

Poll shows thousands are thinking of quitting as former Ofsted chief warns of widespread disillusionment. Continue reading →

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Posted in Ofsted, Secondary Schools, State Schools, Teachers professional development / careers | Leave a comment

Examiners: limit GCSE entries to avoid ‘exam overload’

Posted on May 14, 2012 by dchan

A strict cap should be placed on the number of GCSEs taken by schoolchildren amid claims that exam overload is damaging pupils’ education. Continue reading →

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Posted in Assessment / Exams, GCSE | Leave a comment

Clegg: Schools ‘should compete’ for £10,000 pupil premium award

Posted on May 14, 2012 by dchan

Schools which find the most effective ways to help children from poor backgrounds could win £10,000, Deputy Prime Nick Clegg has announced. Continue reading →

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Posted in Awards, Funding, State Schools, Teachers | Leave a comment

Headteacher caught re-writing pupil’s A-level papers.

Posted on May 14, 2012 by dchan

A private school headteacher has been banned from handling exams after being caught re-writing a pupil’s A-Level papers. Continue reading →

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Posted in A-Level, Assessment / Exams, Head teachers | Leave a comment

MPs demand more robust school spending checks

Posted on May 11, 2012 by dchan

A committee of MPs says it fears the system for checking school spending in England is not robust enough. Continue reading →

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Posted in Funding, Government Policy, Head teachers | Leave a comment

Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw: Teachers don’t know what stress is

Posted on May 11, 2012 by dchan

The outspoken head of Ofsted has hit out at teachers who complain their jobs are “too stressful” and make excuses for poor performance. Continue reading →

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Posted in Ofsted, Teachers, Teachers professional development / careers | Leave a comment

Multiple-choice questions ‘could make comeback in A-levels’

Posted on May 11, 2012 by dchan

A-levels could feature more multiple-choice questions as part of a major shake-up of the gold standard qualification, according to Ofqual. Continue reading →

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Posted in A-Level, English Baccalaureate, Ofqual | Leave a comment

Gove attacks low expectations for England’s poor children

Posted on May 11, 2012 by dchan

Education Secretary Michael Gove has attacked an English culture that accepts poverty limits the achievements of poor children. Continue reading →

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Posted in Assessment for Learning, GCSE, Parents, Philosophy for Children, Teachers | Leave a comment