In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

 MPs call on government to create a mental health absence code. There are also calls for a full review of mental health services, CAMHs, to combat soaring waiting lists. The Parliamentary education committee’s recommendations to tackle absence rates include mandatory daily attendance data collection [Schools Week]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Be clear on what’s included in school attendance guidance and what’s expected from you when it comes to improving school attendance.

Prime Minister considering major reform of A-levels. Proposed changes include replacing A-levels with a new ‘British baccalaureate’, which could include the compulsory study of maths and English up to the age of 18 [BBC News]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge:  Understand your role in monitoring the curriculum and how to know if your school is good.

Notable rise in number of Ofsted reports amended following formal complaints. After mounting criticism over its response to complaints, consultation has taken place over its complaints process [Tes magazine - registration required]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge:  Keep abreast of developments with the latest updates from the world of Ofsted, which we review whenever we hear something new. 

This week’s headlines

 Schools Week

• School leaders fear financial impact of pupils being withdrawn over RAAC
• 1.75m children would benefit from free, small-group tutoring if Lib Dems elected
• Half of London councils face shortfall under free school meal (FSM) scheme
• Home Office and Youth Endowment Fund to finance £5.8m trauma-informed practice research
• Mainstream schools would be £3,000 better off under Lib Dem plan to halve schools' SEND funding contribution
• Chris Russell retiring as Ofsted's national director for education

Tes Magazine - registration required

• Secondary schools 'expected to report careers provision progress’ under proposed changes to guidance
• No plans to cut education, health and care (EHC) plan numbers, insists minister
• Wealthier pupils saw 'steepest fall' in mental health during the pandemic, according to new research
• Rise in COVID-19 related absence in schools seen this autumn

GOV.UK

• 400,000 pupils set to be supported by attendance hubs

The Guardian 

• Significant rise in number of cases of depression and poor mental health among secondary pupils during the pandemic, study shows
• Additional £4.4bn a year requested by unions to fix England’s crumbling schools
• Fine parents for pupil absence as a last resort, MPs urge

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