Williamson Rebuffs Own Council's SEND Cash Plea
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'Are you not entertained?' Head gives A digital newspaper determined to get Ofsted thumbs up past the bluster and explain the facts. Page 24 Ofsted says It’s back! Schools ‘I’m still that sorry to Harris Week’s annual CEO ranty man!’ pay league tables P5 P7-10 P15 SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK | @SCHOOLSWEEK FRIDAY, MAR 13 2020 | EDITION 207 Going viral: is edtech up to the coronavirus test? PAGE 21 Williamson rebuffs own council's SEND cash plea Education secretary's LA among 22 banned from shoring up high needs funds Councils warn of soaring deficits and diminishing support for vulnerable pupils 9 in 10 requests to move cash from general funds refused as Gav gets tough INVESTIGATES FREDDIE WHITTAKER | @FCDWHITTAKER Page 11 fantastically functional. Choose NCFE’s Functional Skills in English and maths as an amazing alternative provision for your school. visit ncfe.org.uk/functional-skills email [email protected] @SCHOOLSWEEK EDITION 207 | FRIDAY, MAR 13, 2020 Meet the news team John Dickens Laura McInerney JL Dutaut EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR COMMISSIONING EDITOR @JOHNDICKENSSW @MISS_MCINERNEY @DUTAUT [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Freddie Whittaker Samantha Booth James Carr CHIEF REPORTER SENIOR REPORTER SENIOR REPORTER @FCDWHITTAKER @SAMANTHAJBOOTH @JAMESCARR_93 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] THE TEAM Designer: Simon Kay Nicky Phillips Shane Mann Sales team leader: Bridget Stockdale HEAD DESIGNER MANAGING DIRECTOR Sales executive: Clare Halliday PA to managing director: Victoria Boyle @SHANERMANN@GELVETICA @SHANERMANN [email protected]@FEWEEK.CO.UK [email protected] JO BS THIS WEEK’S TOP AVAILABLE JOBS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR. TO ADVERTISE YOUR VACANCY WITH EDUCATION WEEK JOBS AND SCHOOLS WEEK PLEASE CALL 020 81234 778 OR EMAIL [email protected] KENT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP – EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL - COMPETITIVE AND TBD IN LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS HTTPS://HTTPSLINK.COM/Q82Q RUDHEATH SENIOR ACADEMY – HEADTEACHER – COMPETITIVE SALARY HTTPS://HTTPSLINK.COM/77YD DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION - REGIONAL SCHOOLS COMMISSIONER (X3) - UP TO £110K PER ANNUM HTTPS://HTTPSLINK.COM/KGTO NUTGROVE METHODIST PRIMARY SCHOOL – HEADTEACHER - GROUP 2 ISR (L8-L21), £48,808 - £66,517 HTTPS://HTTPSLINK.COM/0HBD TO ADVERTISE YOUR VACANCY WITH EDUCATION WEEK JOBS AND PLEASE CALL 020 81234 778 OR EMAIL [email protected] 2 Contents EDITION 207 The budget: what’s in it for schools? Alternative Provision needs an alternative perception PAGE 26 PAGE 16 Labour’s leadership contenders lay out their schools policy plans PAGE 13 Michael Fordham reviews Debra Kidd's 'A Curriculum of Hope' Review: Do teachers need to read original research PAGE 30 papers? PAGE 28 Disclaimer: If you wish to reproduce an article from Schools Week is owned and published either the digital paper or the website, both by Lsect Ltd. The views expressed within the article’s author and Schools Week must the publication are those of the authors be referenced (to not do so, would be an ADVERTISE WITH US named, and are not necessarily those infringement on copyright). SCHOOLS WEEK IS PROUD If you are interested in placing a TO BE A MEMBER OF of Schools Week, Lsect Ltd or any of its Lsect Ltd is not responsible for the content product or job advert in a future edition employees. 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SUBSCRIBE For an annual subscription to Schools Week for just £50 visit www.schoolsweek.co.uk and click on ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. schoolsweek.co.uk or call 020 8123 4778 to subscribe or click here. @SCHOOLSWEEK EDITION 207 | FRIDAY, MAR 13, 2020 DO YOU HAVE A STORY? News CONTACT US [email protected] Covid-19: UK government decides against school closures FREDDIE WHITTAKER @FCDWHITTAKER Closing schools at this stage in the spread of the coronavirus epidemic could do “more harm than good”, Boris Johnson has warned. The prime minister yesterday reiterated advice that schools “should only close if they are specifically advised to do so”. It comes after the government’s emergency Cobra committee agreed to move from the “contain” to the “delay” phase of its response to the pandemic. However, the government is advising schools to call off any international school trips they have planned. Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, said that while it’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson “true that there’s some effect in closing schools” the effect is “minimal”. Guidance states travel insurance may [they must] provide clear expectations “Actually, you’d have to do it for 13 to 16 cover non-refundable cancellation costs, to families and staff of what work will be weeks or longer, and you don’t have to be a but leaders should check their policy. carried out,” she said. very advanced mathematician to work out The spread of the disease has “For staff, consider any additional that the chances of keeping children not also prompted the cancellation or infrastructure, equipment and speaking to each other or playing with each postponement of a number of education advice needed for those adjusting to other over 13 to 16 weeks is zero,” he said. sector events. homeworking, including appropriate “Therefore, you have to be very careful to The Big Bang Fair, a science and working hours and use of equipment, login make sure you take the right measures that engineering event for thousands of pupils details and remote access.” will stop this, rather than things that might due to be held at the Birmingham NEC this The National Governance Association end up with children, for example, going to week was called off, and organisers of the has also issued guidance for its members, stay with grandparents at a time when they Schools and Academies Show in London in stating that the “best and most appropriate might be most vulnerable.” April have announced it will be postponed. way for governing boards to support Dr Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, A conference for exam boards organised their school leaders is to allow them to also said it was important to “do the right by exams regulator Ofqual for March 19 has manage the school’s response without things at the right time. This is going to also been cancelled. the involvement of the board, unless it is be a long haul. It’s critical we do not start However, at the time of going to print, requested”. things in advance of need.” the ASCL annual conference, due to start Any decision to close schools will The move to the “delay” phase of the in Birmingham today, was still due to go undoubtedly lead to questions about the government’s response comes after the ahead. The leadership union has also issued impact closures will have on emergency number of cases in the UK rose to over 450. advice for headteachers on preparing for service workers and other essential The government warned earlier this coronavirus. personnel with children. month that this phase of its plans could Writing for Schools Week, Hayley Dunn, There are also questions about how include school closures. The Republic of ASCL’s business leadership specialist, disadvantaged pupils will receive free Ireland announced earlier this week that urged leaders to check their emergency school meals. all of its schools would close. Italy, Japan plans, revise or draft risk assessments Vic Goddard, the principal of Passmores and parts of China made similar decisions and consider designating a liaison and Academy in Essex, said he had asked the earlier this month. communications role “for keeping up to Department for Education whether his New guidance advises against overseas date with information and fielding inquiries school could issue a supermarket voucher trips for under 18s, whereas trips for over within the school”. to families of eligible children in lieu of a 18s "can continue". “In the event of a partial or full closure, hot meal at school. 4 @SCHOOLSWEEK EDITION 207 | FRIDAY, MAR 13, 2020 DO YOU HAVE A STORY? News CONTACT US [email protected] 9 in 10 like new Ofsted inspections, statistics show SAMANTHA BOOTH @SAMANTHAJBOOTH Nearly nine in ten respondents to a post- Ofsted re-rates Harris inspection survey after Ofsted brought in its new framework said they were satisfied with school, admitting the visit. Statistics released yesterday (Thursday) error in report show that 88.6 per cent of 1,336 responses strongly agreed or agreed with the They added the evidence from the inspection statement that they were satisfied with how JAMES CARR also suggested the curriculum in place supported the inspection was carried out. @JAMESCARR_93 EXCLUSIVE a ‘good’ judgment in ‘quality of education’ “without In the same category, 7 per cent either the need to factor in transitional arrangements”. disagreed or strongly disagreed while 4.3 Ofsted has amended the report of a school run by A spokesperson for the inspectorate added: “Our per cent neither agreed or disagreed.