In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

Unions plan for co-ordinated strike action in the autumn. Leaders’ and teachers’ unions prepare to re-ballot members over pay, funding and workload, as the NEU’s industrial action saw half of schools partially closed on Tuesday [Tes Magazine - registration required and BBC News]. Remind yourself who needs to be told about new strike days, and see our questions to ask your headteacher about how they’re talking to staff about strikes. 

NHS pledges to fund school mental health support schemes for another year. Funding is available for around 500 teams supporting pupils with mild to moderate mental health challenges [Schools Week]. Don’t forget about staff wellbeing alongside pupils - take a look at our questions to ask about wellbeing to help you monitor staff welfare strategically. 

National Leaders of Governance scheme to end. DfE scraps review programme to support schools and trusts with ‘weak’ governance [Tes Magazine - registration required]. Take a look at our governing board self-evaluation resources to consider your board’s strengths and find out where to focus your development.

This week’s headlines

• DfE partners with the Eden Project to send wildflower seeds to all primary schools in honour of King Charles III’s coronation [GOV.UK]
• Education unions launch legal challenge over supply staff covering strike days [Tes Magazine - registration required]
• More than 11,000 additional school nurses needed to deal with pupils’ complex needs, research finds [The Guardian - free registration required]
• NAHT calls on headteachers to withdraw from Ofsted inspection work and vote in favour of inspection reform [Tes Magazine - registration required]
• Free air-quality monitors available for schools who take part in new study [Schools Week]
• Charity, Diversify, criticises DfE advice to not discuss Andrew Tate in schools [The Guardian - free registration required]
• Parliamentary education committee calls on ministers to delay plans to scrap BTEC qualifications [Schools Week]

Dates for next week

Monday 8 May - Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III

Monday 8 May - Victory in Europe (VE) Day

Tuesday 9 May - Key Stage 2 SATs begin

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