In the final week of the Autumn term I report on the Queen’s speech and the announcement of the DfE’s new northern MAT taking on its first struggling academy in Teesside.

Second Queen’s speech pledges nothing new for schools
There were no new policies for schools in yesterday’s Queen’s speech, with ministers focusing instead on existing pledges on school funding and efforts to tackle serious violence.

Under Boris Johnson’s plans, the schools’ budget will increase by £7.1 billion by 2022-23, and schools will receive new minimum per-pupil funding rates from next year of £5,000 for secondary schools and £3,750 for secondary schools (rising to £4,000 from 2021-22).

There was no mention in the Queen’s speech of plans to legislate for the full implementation of the Government’s proposed national funding formula. The speech also included no reference to plans by the Government to improve the lot of pupils excluded or otherwise moved from schools, despite pledges earlier this year to do so in response to the landmark Timpson review. The Prime Minister’s election pledge to trial no-notice inspections of schools was also not mentioned.

DfE’s northern MAT takes on first struggling academy
A new specialist academy trust which has been set up by the Government to take on struggling schools in the North of England has announced it’s taking on its first academy.

Falcon Education Academies Trust will take on Thornaby Academy, in Stockton-on-Tees, early next year, it was revealed yesterday. Thornaby Academy, an 11-16 school, is currently rated as inadequate by Ofsted and has just over 350 pupils, less than half its capacity of 750.

The Falcon Education Academies Trust has senior figures from three well established multi academy trusts in the North. The regional schools commissioner for the North of England Katherine Cowell has approved Thornaby Academy moving from Teesside Learning Trust to Falcon early in the new year, subject to a due diligence exercise.

This week I report on the impact the Conservative majority Government could have on the education sector and confirmation of the education MPs.

Impact on the education sector of the Conservatives majority
As previously reported the Conservatives’ manifesto provided commitments to back headteachers on issues such as discipline, building more free schools, raising teachers’ starting salaries to £30k and small grant funding pledges for PE teaching, the arts and wraparound childcare.

However, it did also include an ambiguous pledge to “ensure that parents can choose the schools that best suit their children”, which some have suggested could lead to the expansion of academic selection by the back door.

Following the release of the manifesto, Mr Johnson also pledged to trial no-notice inspections of schools by Ofsted, and to increase the length of inspections from two to three days.

With such a significant majority it seems likely that most of this policy platform is likely to be set in motion.

Confirmation of the education MPs
Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, was re-elected in his safe Conservative seat of South Staffordshire, while his opposite number Angela Rayner re-took Ashton-under-Lyne, albeit with a reduced majority.

Schools minister Nick Gibb returned as MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, as did shadow schools minister Mike Kane in Wythenshawe and Sale East.

Robert Halfon, the education committee chair in the 2017 to 2019 Parliament was re-elected in Harlow.

Gordon Marsden, the shadow skills minister, lost his Blackpool South seat to the Conservatives.

This week I report on the publication of the Pisa tests results and the UK’s improvement in the rankings and a Sutton Trust report analysing the GCSE reforms and the disadvantage gap.

Improvement in Pisa rankings but well-being falls
The UK rankings in reading, maths and science have risen according to the results of the Pisa tests released earlier this week.

For reading, the UK has risen to 14th, up from 22nd in the tests three years ago, whilst in science it progressed one ranking to 14th. Maths made the biggest gains moving from 27th to 18th, putting the UK in the top 20 for all three measurements.

The Pisa tests are run by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development every three years to test the ability of 15-year-olds in reading, maths and science. The tests are seen by some as an important measure of how the UK compares internationally.

Despite the positive outcomes for students’ achievements, the tests found that UK teenagers had some of the lowest levels of life satisfaction, dropping 13 percentage points from the last tests. Students were more likely to say that they felt ‘worried or miserable’ regularly and were less likely to see ‘meaning’ in their lives.

Sutton Trust report analyses the GCSE reforms and the disadvantage gap
Recent changes to GCSEs, including tougher exams and a new grading system, have led to a slight widening of the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their classmates, according to new research published by the Sutton Trust this week.

Making the Grade, by Professor Simon Burgess from the University of Bristol and Dave Thomson of FFT Education Datalab, found that during the period of the reforms, test scores for disadvantaged pupils fell slightly compared to their classmates, by just over a quarter of a grade across nine subjects.

This week I report on the publication of the Conservative party’s education pledges and updated information from DfE on the Buying for Schools service on securing supply, agency and temporary workers.

Conservative Party manifesto pledges
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched the Conservative manifesto for the 2019 General Election last weekend and the key pledges relating to education are detailed below:

• £7.1bn a year more for schools in England by 2022-23
• £250m a year, for at least three years, plus a £250m capital spending boost for “wraparound” childcare – meaning after school or during holidays
• £2bn for further education colleges and establish 20 Institutes of Technology
• A new National Skills Fund of £600m a year for five years
• Increase teacher starting salaries to £30,000 and overall teachers’ salaries

Surprisingly, yesterday Mr Johnson also announced he wanted to change the way in which schools were inspected with a pilot of ‘snap’ no notice inspections if the Conservatives form the next government.  At present, schools are notified of Ofsted’s intention to visit at around noon on the working day before the start of the inspection.

Updated information on DfE’s Buying for Schools service
This week the DfE updated its information on using the online service for securing supply, agency and temporary workers.  This is part of the DfE’s suite of information providing advice on buying goods and services for schools to help them get value for money.

This week I report on the publication of education pledges from two of the main political parties, on Sunday the Conservative Party is expected to publish its manifesto.

Labour Party manifesto pledges
The Labour manifesto for the 2019 election was launched in Birmingham yesterday and the key pledges relating to education are detailed below:

• A £10.5 billion increase in the schools’ budget by 2022-23.
• A fairer funding formula “that leaves no child worse off”.
• Maximum class sizes of 30 for all primary school pupils.
• Scrapping key stage 1 and 2 SATs and baseline assessments, refocusing assessment on “supporting pupil progress”.
• £175 million arts pupil premium to fund arts education for every primary school child.
• A review of the curriculum to ensure that it “enriches students and covers subjects such as black history and continues to teach issues like the Holocaust”.
• Bringing free schools and academies under the control of parents, teachers and local communities.
• Giving schools control over budgets and day-to-day decisions, overseen by “an accountable governing body with elected representatives”.
• Putting councils in charge of admissions and allowing them to open schools.
• Putting NES regional offices in charge of delivery and co-ordination of schools, including peer-to-peer improvement based on the London Challenge.
• A common rulebook for all schools, set out in legislation.
• Replacing Ofsted with a new body “designed to drive school improvement”.
• A teacher supply service to tackle wasted money going to private agencies.
• Making schools accountable for the outcomes of pupils who leave their rolls.
• “Proper regulation” of all education providers.
• Reform of alternative provision.
• Extending free school meals to all primary school children.
• Encouraging breakfast clubs.
• Tackling the cost of school uniforms.
• The return of the school support staff negotiating body and national pay settlements for teachers.
• Closing the tax loopholes that currently apply to private schools.
• Charging VAT on private school fees.
• Tasking the Social Justice Commission with advising on the integration of private schools and the creation of a comprehensive education system.

Liberal Democrats Party manifesto pledges
On Wednesday the Liberal Democrats launched their 2019 election manifesto and detailed below are their pledges relating to schools:

• Gender-neutral school uniforms – the party will require inclusive school uniform policies “that are gender-neutral and flexible enough to suit different budgets”. Training will be provided for school staff on how to review and improve their uniform policies.
• Abolish the Ebacc – the party will protect the availability of arts and creative subjects in the curriculum and “act to remove barriers to pupils studying these subjects”, including by abolishing the English Baccalaureate.
• Reverse school cuts and boost SEND funding – an “immediate emergency cash injection” as part of a £10.6 billion rise in the overall school budget will be provided and additional cash allocated to councils to halve the amount that schools pay towards the cost of a child’s education health and care plan.
• Boost teacher pay and CPD – a £30,000 starting salary for all teachers who will also get a guaranteed 3% annual pay rise if they form a Government.
• Scrap Ofsted, SATs and league tables – Ofsted to be replaced with a new “HM inspector of schools”, which will conduct inspections of both state and independent schools every three years. Replacing current league tables with “a broader set of indicators including information about pupils’ and teachers’ wellbeing, as well as academic attainment”.  End “teaching to the test” by getting rid of SATs and replacing them with a “formal, moderated teacher assessment” at the end of each phase of education “and some lighter-touch testing”.
• A ‘curriculum for life’ – rolling out citizenship and financial education to all schools including academies.
• Give councils more powers over academies – giving councils responsibility for admissions and exclusions at all schools. Multi-academy trusts will face full inspections and allow councils to open new community schools.
• Extend free school meals – extend free school meals to all pupils in primary schools and free meals to all secondary school pupils whose families receive universal credit.
• Boost pupil wellbeing – all teaching staff to be trained to identify mental health issues, and schools will provide “immediate access for pupil support and counselling”.  A specific individual responsible for mental health in all schools, which would in turn have a statutory duty to promote the wellbeing of their pupils.

This week I highlight two governance webinars and the appointment of the Interim Regional Schools Commissioner for the North of England.

Schools NorthEast Autumn Term Governance Webinar: Monday 18 November at 6pm
This first governance webinar from Schools NorthEast has been designed to provide governors with timely updates and practical advice. It will:

• highlight key sector updates and dissect what has been published by the DfE and Ofsted so far this term;
• discuss what have been the governance priorities over the first half term, actions that have been taken by schools and practical advice on best next steps.;
• horizon scan and look at what this means in real terms for governors;
• host a Q&A session.

Free webinar on Performance data in 2019
Governors for Schools is offering a free webinar on Thursday 28 November from 8 to 9 a.m. to introduce governors to the 2019 performance data published within Analyse School Performance (ASP) and Ofsted’s Inspection Data Summary Report (IDSR).

The webinar will focus on what to expect in these reports, how to spot trends and how to use the data to inform governors questions for the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team.

The webinar will be facilitated by Better Governor governance experts, Steve Barker and Linda Waghorn and will be a mix of input from them, together with the use of online polls and the opportunity to ask your own questions.

Appointment of Interim Regional Schools Commissioner for the North of England
Janet Renou left as North of England Regional Schools Commissioner in July and Katherine Cowell started in her role as Interim Regional Schools Commissioner the same month. Katherine is also the Senior Responsible Officer for the Opportunity North East Programme. Prior to this Katherine was Deputy Director within the North region from 2016.

This week I highlight the latest Governance update from the DfE, information from Ofsted on minor changes to Section 5 and 8 handbooks, publication of a non-statutory Character Education Framework and new School Security guidance to help schools to produce a security policy and plan.

Latest DfE Governance update
In September the DfE launched its new monthly Governance update designed to support those involved in the work of governing schools. The November edition has been published this week and provides information on:

• A new DfE Governance research project – the National Foundation for Educational Research has been commissioned to conduct a research project to look in greater depth at governance practice and the challenges faced in the governance sector.
• A funding fact sheet for governors/trustees – funding for each local authority will be updated in December with the latest pupil numbers. Pupil premium guidance has been updated and new templates provided to help schools plan how best to use it to support the children who most need it.
• Financial planning training – a fully funded short course on integrated curriculum and financial planning (ICFP) available for all school business professionals and school leaders, including governors.
• Teacher retention and retention strategy – the workload reduction toolkit has been updated with a section specifically for governors, a video on recruitment and retention, and flexible working resources, including case studies.
• Career guidance for young people – the Careers and Guidance Company’s Guide for Governors provides information for governing bodies on their responsibility to provide clear advice and guidance to help schools meet their statutory requirements on providing career guidance.

Ofsted Inspection update
The November edition from Ofsted is the first since the roll out of the Education Inspection Framework (EIF) and focuses on minor changes to Section 5 and 8 handbooks following the first two months under the EIF. Changes of particular note include:

Section 8 Handbook
*Para 24 – the clerk of governors or their delegate may also attend final feedback meetings for maintained schools to take notes.
*Para 53 – inspectors will always carry out a deep dive in reading; they may choose to carry out a deep dive in mathematics, but this is at the lead inspector’s discretion.’
*Para 79 – the school will now receive a report not a letter setting out what the school is doing well and what it needs to improve.
*Para 122 – removal of a potential section 5 re-inspection within 30 months after the publication of the previous section 5 report.

Publication of Character Education Framework
New non statutory guidance for school leaders and teachers considering the rationale for character education and personal development, and the practicalities of provision and delivery. The guidance will support schools as they consider:

• the 2019 Ofsted inspection framework
• the social, moral, cultural and spiritual development of pupils
• preparations for the introduction of ‘Relationships education’ and ‘Health education’ in primary schools, and ‘Relationships, sex and health education’ in secondary schools

The guidance provides schools with 6 benchmarking questions to support reflection and the self-evaluation of current provision.

School Security draft guidance
In November 2018 the DfE published a consultation on proposed new School security guidance for educational establishments in England. This week the DfE published its response to the consultation and new guidance which aims to provide schools with access to a range of information sources and tools that will help them to develop sensible and proportionate policies and plans to meet their security needs.

This week I report on the Government’s consultation on proposed reforms to the Early Years Foundation Stage, publication of the Education Committee’s SEND Report and the DfE’s updated guidance on food allergies in relation to school meals.

Consultation on Early Years Foundation Stage reforms
Yesterday the Government launched a consultation on proposed changes to the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. This includes proposed reforms to the learning and development and early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) assessment
requirements, as set out in the EYFS framework. In addition, it seeks views on an
amendment to the safeguarding and welfare section of the framework to promote good oral health. The consultation closes on 31 January 2020 if you would like to submit a response.

• Give the ombudsman more power over schools – legislate to allow the local government and social care ombudsman to “consider what takes place within a school”.
• Let schools report non-compliant councils to the Government – where LAs appear not to be complying with the law, parents and schools should be able to report them directly to the DfE. The DfE should also implement an annual scorecard for LAs and health bodies “to measure their success against the SEND reforms”.
• Make Ofsted issue a separate judgement for SEND provision – Ofsted “must deliver a clear judgement, and through this assurance to parents, that schools are delivering for individual children with SEND”. This should either be done through the current programme of inspections, or alternatively Ofsted develop “a separate type of specialised inspection focusing on SEND, with a particular focus on the school’s responsibility to deliver for pupils on SEN Support and that inclusive schools get the recognition that they deserve”.
• Look into the cost of forcing all schools to have a SENCO – special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) are sometimes part-time and can be “diverted from their SEND responsibilities by other duties, taking them away from supporting teachers and pupils”. The Government was urged to appoint an independent reviewer to “examine the cost implications of requiring all schools and colleges to have a full-time dedicated SENCO”.
• Appoint a neutral SEND ‘co-ordinator’ – concerns raised about “conflicts of interest, or challenges” that stemmed from councils holding both an assessor and commissioner role when it comes to SEND provision. The DfE is recommended to explore the potential for a neutral role, someone who would be allocated to every parent or carer with a child going through an assessment.
• Let LAs open new special schools – under current rules, councils’ ability to open new special schools is heavily restricted. DfE should, in the absence of “other plausible solutions”, enable councils to create new maintained specialist schools, including specialist post-16 provision “outside of the constraints of the free school programme”.

School Food Standards – updated guidance on food allergies
At the end of last week the DfE added guidance for schools on food allergies, particularly if schools were substituting items from their usual menus if certain items were in short supply. The guide lists practical advice and resources to help schools manage allergy risks.

This week I report on a free governor webinar on effective safeguarding, publication of the results of the Early Years Foundation Stage profile and provisional KS4 data for 2018/19.

Free Governors for Schools webinar on effective safeguarding on 24/10/19
Statutory safeguarding guidance for schools has recently been updated. This webinar provided by Governors for Schools on Thursday 24 October 2019 from 8 to 9 a.m. will set out what has changed, and how governors can make sure their school remains compliant.  It will also explore emerging themes and challenges in safeguarding and consider how governors can gain assurance that their school is addressing these.

The webinar will be facilitated by governance experts Steve Barker and Linda Waghorn of Better Governor. It will include live opinion polls and the opportunity to ask questions.  Please use this link to register.

EYFS profile for 2018/19
Yesterday the Government published the Early Years Foundation Stage profile results for 2018/19.  The information details the:

• percentage of children achieving each assessment rating in the early learning goals
• percentage of children achieving at least the expected level in the prime areas of learning and in the specific areas of literacy and mathematics (a good level of development)
• average total points score across all the early learning goals (the supporting measure)
• percentage of children achieving at least the expected level within the communication and language, and literacy areas of learning

Provisional KS4 data for 2018/19
The Government released provisional Key Stage 4 data yesterday that reveals how schools have fared in headline accountability measures. The data includes figures on progress and attainment 8 measures, and also provides an update on EBacc figures.

This week I highlight DfE confirmation of changes to statutory policies for schools, information on the new T Level study programmes being introduced from September next year and publication of a guide for primary headteachers on relationships education.

Confirmation of changes to statutory policies for schools
As you are aware a couple of weeks ago, the DfE updated its ‘Statutory policies for schools and academy trusts’ guidance to introduce new statutory policies, remove the statutory status of some policies, make some existing policies statutory for academies, and outline recommended review cycles.

Policies that are now statutory
The following policies have been added to the list of documents schools must have:

• Protection of biometric information of children in schools and colleges
• NQT
• Children with health needs who cannot attend school
• Designated teacher for LAC and previously LAC – only a requirement for maintained schools
• School exclusion
• First aid in schools

The DfE recommends that the policies are reviewed annually and has confirmed that schools should exercise their professional judgement in determining which policies are standalone and which can be combined within existing policies and documents.

Policies that are now also statutory for academies
The following policies are now statutory for academies as well as maintained schools:

• Capability of staff
• Register of business interests of headteachers and governors

Policies that are no longer statutory

• Home-school agreement – this requirement was removed in January 2016.
• Teacher appraisal – while the requirement to have a separate teacher appraisal policy has been removed, schools are still required to have a capability of staff policy.
• Freedom of information – while it’s no longer statutory to have a freedom of information policy, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, all schools must have a publication scheme.

Recommended review cycles
In the 2014 guidance, the review cycles of some policies were listed as ‘for the governing board or headteacher to determine’. While this is still the case, the DfE has clarified that they recommend an annual review cycle. This applies to the following policies and documents:

• Charging and remissions
• School complaints
• Capability of staff
• Staff discipline, conduct and grievance
• Allegations of abuse against staff
• Supporting pupils with medical conditions
• Sex and relationships education
• Behaviour in schools
• Behaviour principles written statement
• Premises management documents
• Governors’ allowances
• Instrument of government
• Register of business interests

Updated information on the introduction of new T Level study programmes
This week the DfE updated information about the new T Level study programmes that will be introduced from September 2020.  It sets out:

• what T Levels are
• how and when they will be introduced
• what they will cover
• how qualifications will be awarded
• how education providers can get involved in delivery

The information on the website was updated following the publication of the T Levels action plan 2019 and the launch of the new T Levels campaign.

Engaging parents with relationships education policy
From September 2020, relationships education will be compulsory for primary schools. The DfE had produced guidance for primary headteachers on engaging parents on this subject. It offers advice, tips and case studies on how to carry out effective parental engagement including where to go for help and the role governors and trustees can play in the engagement process.