In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

Cross-party group of MPs calls for change to a “broken” SEND system. MPs detailed problems faced by schools and families in their own constituencies, as education secretary Gillian Keegan acknowledges there is a problem [Schools Week]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Understand what questions to ask your SENCO about your school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

New study reveals key drivers of absence in current attendance crisis. The research emphasises that there is no one-size fits all solution for schools, who need to analyse the drivers in their own settings [Schools Week]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Read our tips on monitoring and challenging your school’s attendance figures by questioning your senior leaders and benchmarking against national data.

DfE report on generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education calls for guidance for teachers to help them manage its use. The report also highlights the need for funding to support tools that can detect AI-generated content [Tes Magazine - registration required]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Understand how to monitor your school’s digital and technology provision against the DfE’s minimum standards. 

This week's headlines

 Schools Week

• Schools will need to report the number of pupils with Down syndrome in plans to improve opportunities
• Ofsted leader promises reforms following coroner's recommendations
• Permanent Oak National Academy board appointed, including ex-Labour education adviser
• Under new “adaptive pricing model” schools could be penalised for low T-level pupil numbers
• Consider sell-on clauses to raise more money when selling surplus land

Tes Magazine – registration required

• NEU to launch new indicative strike ballot
• Service-level rules during strikes could break law, Confederation of School Trusts (CST) warns
• 9 in 10 parents and carers believe schools need more STEM teachers
• Only 4 in 10 teachers found their last Inset day useful, but would choose effective CPD over small pay rise

BBC News

• Ofsted sorry for its role in headteacher Ruth Perry's suicide
• 'Ableist' government school attendance campaign criticised by parents
• Schools in urgent need of repair with buildings unfit for purpose, BBC Panorama reveals
• Ofsted: Headteachers can request mid-inspection pause as inspections resume
• Parents/carers taking children out of RAAC schools, ASCL warns

The Guardian 

• Every year spent in school or university improves life expectancy, new study claims

Upcoming dates

Saturday 27 January – Holocaust Memorial Day

Wednesday 31 January – Deadline for UCAS applications

Thursday 1 February – LGBT HIstory Month begins

Get your weekly reminder

Sign up to the news briefing email