This week I report on NASUWT industrial action short of a strike which will commence from Monday next week, confirmation of a series of Language hubs across the country to help boost languages in schools and the endorsement of Sir Martyn Oliver as Ofsted’s next chief inspector.

NASUWT industrial action short of a strike starts next week
Many members of the NASUWT will be commencing industrial action short of strike action in schools in England from Monday 18 September. The action includes refusal to undertake certain activities, such as undertaking any work-related tasks outside of contracted working hours. The NASUWT has published details on what the industrial action will entail alongside a searchable database to find out each school’s result from the ballot.

Language hubs confirmed as part of new programme to boost languages in schools across the country
The government has named the first 19 schools that will run its new network of language hubs across England. Ministers last year announced a £14.9 million expansion of their previous language hubs pilot. It aims to spread best practice in language teaching to other schools and boost exam entries.

The scheme will be managed by the National Consortium for Languages Education, a consortium of UCL, the British Council and the Goethe-Institut.

Nineteen schools will work together on the first 15 hubs, four of which are led by two schools. A further 10 lead schools will be selected in a second recruitment round in January, meaning there will be 25 in total. Each hub is expected to work with up to seven secondary schools, meaning the scheme will reach a maximum of 175 schools (5% of those nationally) and the first language hub in the North East is Cardinal Hume Catholic school in Gateshead.

The Education Select Committee endorses the appointment of Ofsted’s next Chief Inspector
Following a hearing, the Education Select Committee has endorsed the appointment of Sir Martyn Oliver as Ofsted’s next chief inspector and will commence in his role on 1 January 2024 subject to ratification.