revealed: bye-bye academies: workload baseline battle or principles tests baulk? Pages 15 & 24 Page 10 Page 3 SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 | EDITION 63 PA/WIRE See page 8 and 9 66 76 How much (10%) (11%) 208 a superhead (31%) TOTAL 672 322 costs us all (48%) 18 LAURA MCINERNEY Exclusive @MISS_MCINERNEY OFSTED: THE SPRING TERM £100k (at least), but results dip when they go Fewer schools inspected, but what £11.8 million to ‘clean up the mess’ “Superheads” recruited to quickly turn plummeting scores and financial black did they get? around failing schools boost results in holes when they leave a few years later, the short term but leave schools with a new study shows. See page 7 THE FESTIVAL OF SUMMER 2016 Over 150 speakers now confirmed. JUNE 23-24, 2016 @EDUCATIONFEST FESTIVALOFEDUCATION.COM 2 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 EDITION 63 NEWS SCHOOLS WEEK TEAM You can be free of chains, says Morgan Editor: Laura McInerney FREDDIE WHITTAKER he feared the promise would not protect the majority of primary schools. Deputy editor: Cath Murray @FCDWHITTAKER “I don’t think Nicky Morgan’s promise Head designer: Nicky Phillips Successful schools will not be forced to join is worth very much, because of the Designer: Russell Hardman multi-academy trusts, Nicky Morgan has qualification [she made] about schools confirmed, but they will have to start one or being ‘capable of operating alone’. Designer: Zuleika Testone provide support to weaker institutions. “That won’t apply to the vast majority of Sub editor: Jill Craven However, a qualification made by the primary schools… so [the government] will education secretary that this will only be for want them in a trust.” Senior reporter: Sophie Scott schools “capable of operating alone” may The Department for Education updated Senior reporter: John Dickens mean small, rural schools are not covered. its application forms for academy Morgan told a heated debate in the House conversion a few hours before the debate. Senior reporter: Freddie Whittaker of Commons on Wednesday that schools Labour MPs attempt to intervene in Morgan’s speech It included, for the first time, an Reporter: Billy Camden would not be forced to “join up in a trust” education at right-leaning think tank Policy explanation that new academies would be with others, under her plans to convert Exchange, told Schools Week he understood expected to either join or form a trust. Photographer: Ellis O’Brien them all into academies by 2022. single-academy trusts would still be an Schools must indicate which trust they Cartoonist: Stan Dupp The statement was supposed to bring option for schools, but “high-performing will join, or which schools will join a trust comfort to backbenchers who criticised the converters will be expected to play a wider led by them, or name at least one school Financials: Helen Neilly government’s plans throughout the debate. system support role”. that will receive “support” from them. Victoria Boyle In particular, Conservative MPs worried He said “schools capable of operating A department spokesperson said smaller schools in rural constituencies alone” referred to those that would be supporting a “weaker school” was a Sales manager: Hannah Smith would be forced to join larger trusts which financially “sustainable”. Sir David Carter, condition of academy status: “It is for Sales executive: Wallace Williams might then merge them or force closures. the national schools commissioner, has them to decide what the most effective Morgan was adamant multi-academy previously said schools with about 1,000 arrangement will be, but the support should Administration: Frances Ogefere Dell trusts would not be forced on to schools. children are likely to meet the sustainability have a measurable impact on standards as She told parliament: “Schools will not level. a result.” Contributors: Toby Salt be forced to join up in a trust with other Of the 16,766 primary schools counted in During the debate, organised by schools. the most recent government figures, only the Labour Party’s leadership, shadow Ross McGill “As it happens many schools want 87 had more than 800 pupils. It is unclear education secretary Lucy Powell accused Kiran Gill to join a trust because they can see if the smaller schools, mentioned the government of wasting resources as the benefits. Two thirds of current by backbenchers, would well as headteachers’ energy and time on Emma Mattinson-Hardy academies have chosen to be part therefore be covered. an “unnecessary £1.3 billion top-down of multi-academy trusts, and, of Kevin Courtney, deputy reorganisation of the education system”, course, outstanding schools can set general secretary of and claimed the Conservatives’ up their own multi-academy trusts. the National Union of “obsession with school structures” had Managing director: Shane Mann “But to be absolutely clear we will Teachers, said “completely missed the point”. And tweet us your thoughts @schoolsweek or never make any successful school, At the end of the debate, Labour’s with the hashtag #schoolsweek large or small, that is capable of motion, which called for operating alone, join a trust.” a halt to the plans, was subscribe Jonathan Simons, head of defeated. Jonathan Simons Lucy Powell 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. SCHOOLS BAN PUPILS FROM TOUGHER LEARNING MATERIALS www.schoolsweek.co.uk or call 020 8123 4778 to subscribe clear expectation in the new curriculum “My kids didn’t like being slowed down SOPHIE SCOTT that children really securely understand the at first, but their ability to fully understand, @SOPH_E_SCOTT ADVERTISE WITH US content they’ve met before moving on. explain, conceptualise and explain place “That comes from the work of people value has increased enormously as a result If you are interested in placing a product or job advert in a future edition please click on Primary teachers and parents say that such as Tim Oates on highlighting the of the additional time spent on it.” the ‘advertise’ link at the top of the page on schools are insisting pupils not be taught problems with levels: people were so quick Tidd agreed. “Of course, as always, some schoolsweek.co.uk or contact: material above their expected level. to rush forward to reach a new level’s people interpret the messages such as E: [email protected] Discussions on social media this week content that they would often neglect some depth before acceleration as being a ban T: 020 81234 778 reveal that children with higher reading of the fundamental building blocks of on moving through the content, which is levels have been stopped reading books earlier levels.” definitely not the case. Disclaimer Schools Week is owned and published by Lsect Ltd. The views that are more advanced than their peers Oates chaired an expert panel review of “However, it’s a good rule of thumb for expressed within the publication are those of the authors can manage. the national curriculum, which produced teachers to look at the full breadth of the named, and are not necessarily those of Schools Week, Lsect Ltd or any of its employees. While we try to ensure that the Parents blamed the recent shift in a report in 2011 praised international current year group curriculum before information we provide is correct, mistakes do occur and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of our material. the national curriculum to “depth” of education systems focused on “fewer looking to accelerate to the next. The design of the printed newspaper and of the website is understanding and mastery of key things in greater depth”. “There will always be some high attainers copyright of Lsect Ltd and material from the newspaper should not be reproduced without prior permission. If you concepts rather than “breadth” of subject Jonny Walker, a primary teacher in east who have already secured everything, and wish to reproduce an article from either the printed paper or the website, both the article’s author and Schools Week matter. London, said learning was not “sufficiently would be well advised to move on to new must be referenced (to not do so, would be an infringement on Michael Tidd, deputy headteacher at a deep” in some subjects and the curriculum content, but for the majority, a really secure copyright). Lsect Ltd is not responsible for the content of any external Nottinghamshire primary school, said he should improve teaching in those cases. understanding of the relevant year group’s internet sites linked to. Please address any complaints to the editor. We are fully was aware schools were instructing staff Walker (pictured) said: “While in some criteria will stand them in much committed to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of not to use higher level objectives, but did cases, this approach to depth may better stead.” Practice. 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