In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

Funding and SEND the biggest challenges for governors, according to the National Governance Association (NGA)’s annual survey. Financial difficulties are a bigger worry for nursery and primary schools [Schools Week]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Find a selection of grants available to schools across a range of areas, and details of freebies your school can access.

King's speech: Labour government to introduce a “children’s wellbeing bill” in the next year. It will include multi-agency child protection arrangements and free breakfast clubs in every primary school [Schools Week]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Get to grips with what a Labour government means for the education sector.

Pay decision and funding allocation announcements delayed. The education secretary has confirmed that pay awards won’t be decided this week, despite most schools breaking up for the summer holidays [Schools Week]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Staff might be worried or upset by this delay. Find out how your board can support staff wellbeing.

This week's headlines

Schools Week

• School leaders believe Ofsted “not fit for purpose”, according to ‘alternative big listen'
• Schools minister to take on SEND responsibility
• University application personal statements replaced with 3 questions 
• Graduates still interested in teaching, but aren't applying for roles
• 1 in 4 young teachers would sacrifice generous pension for better pay
• Bridget Phillipson to help lead child poverty taskforce
• Phillipson addresses education sector for first time
• Former schools minister Nick Gibb to advise Education Development Trust

Tes Magazine – registration required

• Trusts urge Labour to save languishing primary schools
• Balancing the school budget the biggest challenge for governors
• Alternative provision (AP) staff funding at risk
• GCSE English “not fit for purpose”, according to expert panel
• Exam body OCR set to call for curriculum and exams overhaul

BBC News

• Starmer against “simply banning” children's smartphones
• Ofsted criticised for “macho” judgements following death of headteacher Ruth Perry

The Guardian

• Leaders urge Labour to maintain national tutoring scheme funding

Upcoming dates for the summer

Tuesday 30 July – International Day of Friendship

Monday 12 August – International Youth Day

Monday 26 August – Summer bank holiday

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