In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

More than a quarter of students taking GCSEs this summer have been persistently absent this year, according to new data. Nearly half of disadvantaged GCSE students missed 10% or more of sessions during the first 2 terms of the year [Tes Magazine- registration required]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge : Understand the rules on pupil absence and the legal requirements for admission and attendance registers, parent penalties and authorised absence.

Nearly a third of parents believe school funding cuts are negatively affecting their child’s education. A majority of parents also say they’d prefer to see school spending increased rather than having their taxes cut [Tes Magazine- registration required]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Get to grips with how to monitor and scrutinise the budget in finance committee meetings using our questions. 

Sustainability: new study shows that teachers don’t believe enough time is being spent teaching about climate change. Cambridge University Press and Assessment have called for an independent review on climate education [Schools Week].  

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Find out how to carry out your role as a sustainability link governor effectively.

This week's headlines

Schools Week

• Scouts to develop “teaching skills” in new government scheme to boost recruitment
• Teaching Schools Hub Council loses funding
• Exam board Pearson wins £180m SATS contract from Capita
• MATs should create new director of SEND role according to National Foundation of Education Research (NFER)
• Confederation of School Trusts (CST) outlines 4 proposed reforms for “fairer” school funding

Tes Magazine - registration required

• Most schools running optional Key Stage 1 SATS this year
• DfE to recruit cost-cutting advisers for schools
• Only 1 in 10 pupils excluded at primary school 'pass' GCSE English and maths
• Only 1% of primary teachers say pupils have financial skills
• Teachers should promote their own profession, according to former government advisor
• Schools now “biggest source of food aid” for families

BBC News

• Rise in malicious WhatsApp groups affecting primary school pupils
• Call for government to continue free period products in schools
• Muslim student loses prayer ban case

GOV.UK

• Schools need to add depth to their RE curriculum, according to latest Ofsted subject report

The Guardian 

• 'Gender toolkit' used by many schools in England and Wales could put them at risk of legal action by parents/carers
• Falling pupil numbers could result in £1bn loss for schools by 2030 
• MATs have higher secondary-level teacher turnover than local authority schools
• UK housing crisis impacting pupil health
• Wellbeing benefits for at-risk pupils to be gained from football-based mentoring

Upcoming dates

Monday 22 April – Earth Day

Monday 22 April – Passover begins at sundown

Monday 22 April – Stephen Lawrence Day

Tuesday 23 April – St George’s Day

Get your weekly reminder

Sign up to the news briefing email