In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

Maths, history and reading chosen most often for Ofsted deep dives in primary schools. English is the most common subject chosen in secondary schools, with music, computing and RE among the least likely to be scrutinised [Schools Week]. Find out what questions Ofsted might ask governors during an inspection.

Government to delay new guidance on transgender pupils. The delay follows the attorney general’s warning that parts of the guidance may be unlawful [BBC News]. Read our summary of the legal rights of trans pupils, and find out what your school’s responsibilities are.

The 32.5-hour school week will now apply from September 2024. The DfE has delayed the expectation that all schools offer a 32.5-hour week from its original September 2023 target, due to ‘the pressures facing schools’ [Schools Week]. If your school is ready to make changes now, find out about the process of changing the length of the school day.

This week’s headlines

• Governors most concerned with balancing budgets and attendance, National Governance Association (NGA) survey finds [Tes Magazine - registration required]
• Rise in number of school staff seeking financial help, say wellbeing charity [Tes Magazine - registration required]
• DfE publishes sport and activity action plan [Schools Week]
• Schools in need of RAAC “crumbly” concrete repairs may have to wait years, school reports [Schools Week]
• National Education Union (NEU) leaders urge members to accept pay deal [Tes Magazine - registration required]
• Rise in school leavers choosing computing courses [BBC News]
• DfE confirms it won’t publish primary progress scores for the next 2 years [Tes Magazine - registration required]
• Gillian Keegan suggests headteachers could collect absent pupils to tackle attendance crisis [The Guardian]
• Most special schools predict budget deficits in the coming years [Tes Magazine - registration required]
• Use of agency workers to cover industrial action is struck down by the high court [Schools Week]
• National Professional Qualification (NPQ) take-up falls short of DfE target [Tes Magazine - registration required]

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