In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

Most parents say it’s fine for children to miss school for holidays. ParentKind’s latest annual survey revealed worrying findings around school absence, home education and pupils feeling safe at school [Schools Week]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Understand how to evaluate your school’s attendance and absence figures. 

Growing calls to make mobile-free schools in England law. Education experts and unions are both supporting a bid to push a smartphone-free schools law through parliament to stop children ”doomscrolling for hours a day” [BBC News]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Learn how to review your school’s mobile phone policy. 

Dates announced for the curriculum review national roadshow. 11 events have been scheduled this autumn for you to have your say [Schools Week].

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Find out how to monitor the curriculum as a link governor.

This week's headlines

Schools Week

• Capital’s leaders dominate Ofsted and curriculum adviser panels
• Schools stuck been government pressure and parental opposition around attendance 
• Nearly 50% more pupils leaving schools in large academy trusts than expected 
• Government’s SEND inclusion push faces backlash and legal threats  
• Councils allowed to skirt minimum funding rules to prop up SEND 
• Attendance mentors move into 10 new areas
• Showdown expected over support staff pay in academies   
• £1.6m Key Stage (KS) 1 SATs paper opt-out scheme binned 
• Phonics results remain below pre-pandemic levels 
• Labour MP seeks to make school phones ban compulsory 
• Around 400,000 children waiting for autism or ADHD diagnosis appointment 
• ”Complicated” school maintenance funding system to be reviewed 
• 6 key findings from the biggest annual parent survey 
• Deadline for results checking service extended after tech issue 

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• Russell Hobby to step down as Teach First CEO 
• English teacher trainee bursaries halved
• DfE’s attendance mentor scheme explained 
• Impact of the Employment Rights Bill laid out 
• Progress 8 undermines inclusion, according to MAT leader 
• Financial reserves 5 times lower at all-primary MATs than at MATs with no primaries 

BBC News

• Government’s flagship re-building scheme letting down over 400 schools
• Wellbeing of children and young people at risk from cost-cuts to local services 

The Guardian 

• Private faith schools lobby for VAT exemption on fees under £7,690

Upcoming dates for this week

Friday 18 October – Anti-Slavery Day 

Tuesday 22 October – International Stammering Awareness Day 

Wednesday 23 October – Sukkot ends at nightfall

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