This week I highlight updated DfE guidance on handling strike action in schools, publication of a NFER report on transitioning to a MAT led system, confirmation that all schools in England without a defibrillator will receive one by the end of this academic year and publication of a parents guide to the government’s national music plan.

DfE guidance on handling strike action in schools
The DfE guidance has been updated to ask schools to prioritise vulnerable children and young people, children of critical workers, and pupils due to take public examinations and other formal assessments where they have no option but to restrict attendance due to strike action. Other updates include changes to regulation on engaging with agency staff, providing remote education where practical and reasonable to do so, and best practice on managing staff shortages.

NFER Report on transitioning to a MAT led system
A new report was published this week by The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) exploring the evolution of the schools system over recent years, looking at the progress and implications of a MAT-led system.

The findings highlight regional disparities, with some areas still minimally academised, and the overall picture of academisation slowing, advocating for a “slower transition” than currently envisioned, with support for LAs to establish their own MATs. This comes as the Labour shadow education secretary, speaking at the Schools North East academies conference, said that while she wasn’t interested in ‘wholesale structural reform’, the current system was ‘fragmented, opaque, and over-complex’ and a ‘mix and match landscape of maintained and academy schools’. As such, Labour would seek to ‘smooth the differences’ between academy and maintained schools.

All schools in England to have a defibrillator by the end of the school year
The DfE has announced that all state-funded schools in England, currently without a defibrillator will receive one by the end of the academic year. The rollout will supply over 20,000 defibrillators to nearly 18,000 schools. To give schools the tools and knowledge they need to use their new defibrillators including how to make them available to the community, leading charities have supported the creation of updated guidance. Awareness videos are being provided to show how simple defibrillators are to use, and schools are being encouraged to share these videos in staff meetings and assemblies.

Information for parents on the government’s national music plan
The government published its national plan for music education back in June last year. The DfE has now released a guide for parents which sets out what the plan means for children, how children can get involved in music in and out of school, and where parents can access support. The DfE has said that schools and music hubs might want to share the guide with parents and pupils.