In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) confirms pay scales for teachers and leaders from September 2023. It includes the previously agreed 6.5% pay increase for all teachers and leaders [Schools Week]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Make sure you know what the teacher pay ranges and TLR payments for 2023/24 are, as well as how your school needs to apply them.

MPs to hear evidence about Ofsted experiences at an official inquiry next week. They’ll talk to representatives of teaching unions, parents/carers, pupils and governors [Tes Magazine - registration required]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Read about how to stay Ofsted-ready as a governor so you’re confident when Ofsted arrives. 

Pupil absence 60% higher than pre-pandemic levels. According to the DfE, 1 in 50 pupils in maintained schools had an unauthorised absence in the first term of the school year [The Telegraph]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Read our tips on monitoring and challenging your school’s attendance figures. 

This week’s headlines

 Schools Week

• Former government special advisor to lead quality assurance process review of £370m national funding formula (NFF) error
• Most effective headteachers add 2 GCSE grades, landmark study reveals

Tes Magazine - registration required

• 1 in 5 primary teachers don’t have the funds to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), according to new data
• Schools minister rejects union call to restore £370m NFF funding allocations
• MAT inspections “inevitable” but potentially carry “huge risk”, MPs told
• Without more funding the SEND crisis “will spiral”, MPs warn
• Israel-Hamas conflict: calls for any political expression from pupils in response to conflict to be sensitive

BBC News

• Digital exams for some subjects to be introduced by 2030, according to AQA

GOV.UK

• Sir Martyn Oliver confirmed as next Ofsted chief inspector

The Guardian 

• Grunge and rap to feature in new lesson resources for music teachers

The Telegraph - registration required

• Transparency around sex education lessons in schools demanded by MPs
• Ofsted language needs to be “more supportive”, National Education Union argues

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