In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

Inquiry announced following schools funding blunder. Having underestimated the number of pupils in schools, the DfE’s original plan of a 2.7% increase per pupil for 2024/25 has now been revised to 1.9% [BBC News]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Get to grips with what you need to know about the national funding formula (NFF) with our overview, so you’re clear on how your school is funded. 

Labour party rejects the ‘status quo’ of ‘outdated curriculum’. Sir Keir Starmer promises that an incoming Labour government would reform the curriculum with a ‘greater emphasis on creativity and resilience’ [Schools Week]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Remind yourself of your role in monitoring the curriculum, and how to answer questions about curriculum from Ofsted. 

Governors call for long-term staff pay plan. The National Governance Association has published a manifesto for education policy calling for incentives and pay improvements to fix recruitment and retention problems [Tes Magazine - registration required]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Remind yourself of the ins and outs of the pay and progression process, and your role in teachers’ pay progression. 

This week’s headlines

 Schools Week

• Labour’s school 'dentistry duty' plans fail to hit the mark with leaders' union
• Only 58% of schools plan to use the government’s national tutoring programme (NTP, according to the Confederation of School Trusts 
• Headeatcher turnover figures remain higher than pre-COVID
• Robots being used to help anxious pupils get back into the classroom
• Overall spend on teacher incentives for 2024-25 still £54m below pre-pandemic level

Tes Magazine - registration required

• Longer term funding needed for NTP according to school leaders
• Country-wide MAT growth plan in the DfE pipeline
• RAAC: Ministers promise to discuss exam disruption fears

BBC News

• Significant drop in number of secondary-age girls that like PE, Youth Sport Trust study suggests

The Guardian 

• Increase in cases of disruptive behaviour in schools since COVID-19, says outgoing Ofsted head
• Thousands of COVID-19 generation under-5s excluded from schools
• Labour announces 'phonics for maths' scheme in proposed curriculum review

Upcoming dates

Monday 16 October - World Food Day

Tuesday 17 October - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Wednesday 18 October - Anti-Slavery Day

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