In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

Schools should end exam “tunnel vision” and increase the focus on wellbeing, according to Bridget Phillipson. Schools need to foster a sense of belonging to combat the attendance crisis and help turn pupils into happy and healthy adults [The Guardian]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Understand what a strategic focus on wellbeing looks like and how to use it to create a culture of wellbeing in your school or trust.

New intervention model announced to support schools on a regional level. The DfE is set to roll out regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) teams from January 2025. The teams will RAG rate schools for support and draw up local area priorities [Schools Week]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Show your board’s impact on school improvement by understanding your school's objectives clearly and using evidence effectively.

Local-tier MAT governors are unclear about their role and responsibilities, a new report from the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) finds. It highlights that communication is often poor between governance tiers in MATs, and local governors are left confused about their role [Tes Magazine - subscription required]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Make sure your local governing bodies (LGBs) understand their role and access training and development, so they become effective players in your trust.

This week's headlines

Schools Week

• The Independent Schools Council takes legal action over VAT
• Academy conversion grant abolished with “no plans” for more trust capacity funding
• “Tough choices” result in academy grant cuts, plus other findings from education questions
• GCSE maths pass bar “unachievably high” for some pupils, with foundation course suggested as alternative to maths resit
• Honesty demanded in new Ofqual principles for exam boards
• Call for clarity on accountability over school improvement team plans

Tes Magazine - registration required

• Maths anxiety a significant barrier for many pupils 
• “Ofsted has lots more work to do”, says Sir Martyn Oliver
• Increased national insurance costs to be covered in school funding
• A third of MATs anticipate their reserves dropping below the required level
• 90% of teachers advocate financial education to extend beyond maths, according to new poll
• Phonics screening checks don’t enhance reading skills, according to new research by the Education Policy Institute
• Unauthorised absences remain “stubbornly high” despite increased fines
• Greatest challenge for teachers is “a lack of respect”, says PM
• Education system needs a long-term plan: report

BBC News

• Fixing problems in schools is a marathon, not a sprint, according to education experts

GOV.UK

• Ofsted inspector training materials published

The Guardian 

• Boost in maternity pay and increased flexible working offered in a bid to stem the tide of female teachers leaving the profession across England
• “Shocking and dispiriting” fall in children reading for pleasure, new report by the National Literacy Trust reveals

Upcoming dates for this week

Monday 11 November – Anti-Bullying Week begins

Monday 11 November  – Armistice Day

Wednesday 13 November – Autumn term GCSE exams period ends

Thursday 14 November – World Diabetes Day

Friday 15 November – BBC Children in Need

Friday 15 November – Birthday of Guru Nanak

Friday 15 November – Deadline for ordering Key Stage (KS) 1 and KS2 test materials

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