HEP Talks

Monday 6 June - Top stories include: Schools Week reported almost one in four pupils in England were persistently absent from school last autumn. As fuel prices hit record levels, pupils are missing out on experiences outside of the classroom. A new poll by T E S has revealed that 4 in 10 teachers would not go back into the profession if they had the chance. The schools bill will potentially requi...

Monday 23 May - Top stories include: Chartered College Chief, Dame Alison Peacock, says the DfE left teachers isolated and at risk during COVID. The EEF published new research that shows younger children were most affected by Covid lockdowns. The Key for School Leaders has published top tips for improving attendance. School pupils have been warned by Ofqual about peddlers of “fake exam papers”. Th...

Monday 16 May - Top stories include: On the 12th of May, the government published the Schools Bill. An education charity has lodged a High Court legal challenge against Nadhim Zahawi. The Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition has announced an inquiry into behaviour and mental health in schools. This week’s deep dive: The Early Career Framework We’ll also tell you what’s happening at...

Monday 9 May - Top stories include: Exams watchdog Ofqual has released a new three-year vision plan. Much of Ofqual’s new plan is focused on the use of technology in exams. Schools may be forced to hand back late catch-up cash. Half of secondary pupils continued to wear face masks in school. This week’s deep dive: The IEA and UNESCO Responses to Educational Disruption Survey We’ll also tell you wh...

Tuesday 3 May - Top stories include: Female, non-white and part-time staff are significantly less likely to be promoted to headteacher roles, according to new research from the DfE. The cost of the SEND system has hit a total of £1.3 billion this year as the places crisis bites and flaws in the system become more visible. The government has called issues with ECF “teething problems” and said they...

Monday 25 April - Top stories include: A new poll by the NASUWT teachers’ union confirmed a significant culture of sexual harassment and misogyny in classrooms. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi expressed his views on education in front of Parliament. Schools are facing logistical issues around exam season due to the end of free COVID testing and unclear government guidance. Polling by Teacher Tap...

Episode Summary Monday 19 April - Top stories include: More than 1 in 3 teachers have no mental health training despite mental health ‘crisis’ among children Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson faced heckles and chants New data shows secondary school teacher vacancies are at a five-year high Teacher unions call for reintroducing free COVID testing after new government guidance T...

Monday 28 March - Top stories include: Over one in five secondary schools in England are now full or over capacity. Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has pledged £150 million for every school in England to gain access to high-speed internet by 2025. The DfE unveiled its first set of digital and technology standards for schools. Chancellor Rishi Sunak leaves schools out of funding plans as poverty...

In this episode of HEP Talks, Neetha Atukorale from HEP's Governor Services talks to Karen Tate, governor at South Harringay School about the school's most recent Ofsted inspection. Topics covered include Ofsted preparation, the inspection process, and choosing the right team for the job, among others.  We hope this HEP Talk provides valuable insight into the Ofsted process for school leaders...

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...