In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

“Early adopter scheme” for breakfast clubs is set to begin in April 2025. Up to 750 schools will be confirmed early next year as part of the DfE’s plans for free breakfast clubs in every primary school in England [Schools Week].

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Stay up to date on changes in education for this academic year, including the introduction of free breakfast clubs.

Ofsted should not reform itself, is the warning from unions. This comes after headteachers report that inspections are still distressing staff, despite changes to the inspectorate this term [The Guardian].

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Read our summary to be clear on the changes Ofsted has made to its inspection handbook, in force from September 2024.

Chair of the new curriculum review panel warns the current system is failing 1/3 of pupils. Professor Becky Francis has launched a call for evidence, as the review reveals that disadvantaged pupils are disproportionately impacted at GCSE level [Tes - registration required].

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Refresh your knowledge of your role in monitoring your curriculum, including questions Ofsted might ask you during an inspection.
 

This week's headlines

Schools Week

• Falling rolls crisis hitting local authority (LA) schools hardest, according to study by the National Foundation of Educational Research
• Bridget Phillipson delivers her first speech as education secretary at the Labour party conference
• Skills England to support schools on careers education

Tes Magazine – registration required

• Government urged to fast-track measures to tackle recruitment and retention crisis
• Education secretary defends choices for curriculum review panel

The Guardian

• Schools reluctant to take teenage asylum seekers who arrive after the start of the school year
• Calls for breakfast club scheme to be extended to special schools and alternative provision settings

Upcoming dates for this week

Tuesday 1 October – Black History Month begins

Wednesday 2 October – Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown 

Thursday 3 October – Autumn school census day

Friday 4 October – Rosh Hashanah ends at nightfall

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