In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

Prime Minister wants to replace post-16 qualifications with ‘Advanced British standard’. Proposed plan would see A-levels merged with T-levels to form a new single qualification that will involve studying 5 subjects, including some form of English and maths [Schools Week]. 

Gillian Keegan calls on headteachers to ban pupils from using mobile phones during the school day. New guidance, to be issued ‘shortly’, won’t be statutory, and most schools already have some form of mobile phone ban in place [BBC News]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Find out how to review your mobile phone policy with confidence, including what questions to ask to make sure it's robust.

Schools need to do more to avoid unconscious bias against working-class pupils. A professor of social mobility has suggested celebrating working-class achievement and role models in lessons [The Guardian]. 

Support from GovernorHub Knowledge: Find out how to take your first steps in discussing unconscious bias confidently as a governing board, so you can develop a culture of inclusion at your school.

This week’s headlines

 Schools Week

• Ofsted reverts back to exam results 'as a starting point'
• Attendance ‘action alliances’ to be trialled in bid to improve ‘stubborn’ attendance figures
• Tutoring spend return form to be reopened following 'difficulties'
• SEND apprenticeship pilot attracts just 3 recruits
• Education secretary yet to consult any LGBT+ groups on forthcoming trans guidance

Tes Magazine - registration required

• MAT leaders query consistency of Ofsted judgements
• Exam board AQA proposes new type of universal on-demand assessment for maths
• Over half of teachers using Oak National Academy resources yet to see cut in workload, says new survey
• Maths to 18 plan could ‘overwhelm’ already struggling schools, warns former DfE advisor

GOV.UK

• Most schools understand the need to promote technical and academic routes to students, Ofsted review finds

The Telegraph - registration required

• Number of 7-year-olds with poor reading skills has doubled since the pandemic, according to new research

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