HEP Talks

Monday 21 March - Top stories include: On the 17th of March, the government published its response to the Sewell Report. The Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review found that safeguards were bypassed and race was likely to have been an influencing factor in the strip-search of a young Black girl. The EEF is looking for schools with promising initiatives to increase attendance for a new grant-fun...

Monday 14 March - Top stories include: Most councils were unable to say how many children missed school while waiting for a placement or how many are educated at home or in private schools. Some school leaders are seeking to end gas contracts with Russian firm Gazprom. The government is giving a new UK-wide online curriculum contract to the remote learning provider Oak National Academy. Only 29% o...

Monday 7 March - Top stories include: Full inspections of Early Career Framework and National Professional Qualification providers are being delayed until next year, says Ofsted. This year has not seen the usual surge in pupils applying for state secondary school places, allowing more families to gain their first choice of schools. Women have experienced greater negative social and economic impact...

Monday 28 February - Top stories include: DfE published new advice on testing and self-isolation for education settings. TES has reported that new special schools aren’t being built quickly enough to cope with the rising demand for places. DfE attendance survey data estimates that on-site attendance has risen to above 90%, but staff absences remain high. The Prince’s Trust NatWest Youth Index, rel...

Monday 21 February - Top stories include: The DfE has extended its Covid workforce fund for schools Ofsted has extended the grace period for bringing the curriculum in line with the new framework until September 2022 Schools following the DfE’s proposed new behaviour guidance could end up breaking the law New government guidance to support teachers in tackling sensitive issues in the classroom in...

Monday 14 February - Top stories include: Unions have launched legal action against the government for pre-approving plans to academise. Student Covid-related absences have fallen, but teacher absences due to Covid have risen. Initial Teacher Training applications have dropped by almost 25% compared with January last year. GCSE results entered early in the last two years will not count towards sch...

Monday 7 February - Top stories include: Critiques of the National Tutoring Programme New DfE guidance on behaviour Judging schools on inclusion metrics Wales trialling longer school days This week’s deep dive: The Levelling Up White Paper - what has it got in store for schools? We see a focus on development outside London, and a hint at the DfE's preference of schools joining MATs. We’ll also tel...

Monday 31 January - Top stories include: Nadhim Zahawi’s plans for the education sector The DfE trials a daily attendance tracker in schools Ofsted returns to a full team of inspectors This week’s deep dive: The debate over phonics has returned with a new study from UCL’s Institute of Education. HEP takes a look at the study and the arguments for and against phonics and asks, what is the most effe...