WEIGHTED BLANKETS IN THE DARK: AN ALTERNATIVE TO ISOLATION BOOTHS? A digital newspaper determined to get past the bluster and explain the facts. P18 Christmas special: Damian Hinds: Fact check: how The year in don’t call them many free schools education MAT inspections! have actually closed P23-28 P15 P17 SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK | @SCHOOLSWEEK FRIDAY, DEC 14, 2018 | EDITION 161 Will Ofsted’s new framework shift the balance of power? PAGE 5 Council schools’ spending left unchecked for nearly 20 years 2,200 schools not audited for more than 5 years, with 3 last checked in 1999 LA schools broke rules over tax checks, pay rises and contracts, but no details Academies minister hatching plans to ‘level playing field’ on transparency P7 INVESTIGATES @SCHOOLSWEEK FRIDAY, DEC 14 2018 Meet the news team John Dickens Laura McInerney Cath Murray EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR COMMISSIONING EDITOR & HEAD OF DIGITAL @JOHNDICKENSSW @MISS_MCINERNEY @CATHMURRAY_ [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Freddie Whittaker Jess Staufenberg Pippa Allen-Kinross CHIEF REPORTER SENIOR REPORTER SENIOR REPORTER @FCDWHITTAKER @STAUFENBERGJ @PIPPA_AK [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] THE TEAM Head designer: Nicky Phillips SUBSCRIBE Shane Mann Designer: Simon Kay MANAGING DIRECTOR Photographer: Ellis O’Brien For an annual subscription to Schools Week Financials: Helen Neilly for just £50 visit www.schoolsweek.co.uk and Sales team leader: Bridget Stockdale click on ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. 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Please address any complaints to the editor. Email @Schoolsweek.co.uk with Error/Concern in the subject line. Please include the page number and story headline, and explain what the problem is. DON’T MISS THE ULTIMATE SCHOOLS WEEK IS PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF FESTIVAL OF EDUCATION LEARNING & SKILLS EVENTS, CONSULTANCY AND TRAINING LTD 161-165 GREENWICH HIGH ROAD LONDON SE10 8JA T: 020 8123 4778 20-21 JUNE 2019 | EDUCATIONFEST.CO.UK E: [email protected] @SCHOOLSWEEK FRIDAY, DEC 14 2018 News DO YOU HAVE A STORY? CONTACT US [email protected] EXCLUSIVE Requests to wipe GSCE scores rocket – but few are granted JESS STAUFENBERG HOW MANY APPLICATIONS FOR PUPIL REMOVALS WERE TURNED DOWN? @STAUFENBERGJ KEY STAGE 4 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 The government has refused No of applications submitted 7,641 12,076 12,221 nearly 7,000 requests from As % of all pupils 1.4% 2.3% 2.3% schools for their pupils’ GCSE No of applications approved 5,809 8,988 5,360 scores to be wiped from league tables after applications As % of all applications 76% 74% 44% rocketed following the introduction of Progress 8. worked under. schools are “accountable for the pupils removed from their Schools can apply for the “The DfE has taken the view performance of pupils across performance data, this is results of seriously ill pupils that the system is being abused the attainment spectrum, not only allowed in exceptional or those in police custody or and has tightened up the just at the level 3/4 or C/D circumstances. who are home-educated to be application process as a result,” border as they were previously”. “This is reflected by the fact “disapplied” from performance he said. A spokesperson added: “As a that despite there being a rise data, on the grounds that “But most schools don’t result schools are incentivised in applications, the proportion teachers cannot reasonably ‘game’ the system and we’re to consider the needs of pupils of successful applications for be held responsible for their concerned that perfectly regardless of their predicted disapplication has gone down.” outcomes. reasonable applications are grades. Whilst some schools, However the FOI data shows New data, obtained after a turned down.” appear to have responded primary school applications freedom of information request The government has by applying to have more have remained stable. by Schools Week, shows the altered its guidance this number of requests for year year so schools must now 11 pupils has ballooned from provide evidence to support 7,641 in 2015-16 (1.4 per cent of applications to disapply pupils pupils) to 12,221 last year (2.3 with “frequent or long periods per cent). of non-attendance”. Exciting Teaching However, the government For example. they must has got tough on approving provide supporting evidence of Opportunities Within applications – just 44 per cent their efforts to get the pupil to got the green light last year, attend. compared with 74 per cent in Some heads said the system 2016-17. was being abused. One claimed PRIMARY TEACHER RECRUITMENT FAIR The data backs up claims a school tried to disapply up to Monday 21st January 2019, 4 - 7pm, Holiday Inn, Sutton from headteachers, reported a quarter of its year 11s. by Schools Week in October, However, the crackdown has that more requests have been led to concerns over inclusive refused after updated guidance schools being clobbered. said schools must provide Kenton School academy, in Cirrus Primary Academy Trust was incorporated rigorous evidence. Newcastle, had disapplication in June 2015 as a multi-academy trust for One school had requests requests for 11 pupils rejected We have a number of teaching positions available refused for two pupils who were this September, despite two within the Trust for teachers at all levels of in police custody on the day of pupils being in police custody experience. There is no better place to develop your their exams, and for another during their exams. Sarah teaching career than Cirrus Primary Academy Trust. pupil who was sectioned under Holmes-Carne, the principal, We are passionate about everything we do and we the mental health act. said the government’s blanket strive to help teachers reach their full potential and go on to have long and successful careers. Once you Geoff Barton, general refusals were giving schools are a member of the trust, there is plenty of scope for secretary of the Association of like hers “less incentive to be career progression and specialised teaching. School and College Leaders, inclusive”. said the rise in applications The government admitted the Please join us at the Holiday Inn, Gibson Road, Sutton, SM1 2RF on Monday 21st January 2019. was “not surprising” given surge in applications followed Light refreshments available. the increasingly high the introduction of Progress 8 For details of upcoming open days at individual accountability stakes schools performance measures – where schools, please visit: jobs.cirrustrust.uk 4 @SCHOOLSWEEK FRIDAY, DEC 14 2018 News: Ofsted DO YOU HAVE A STORY? CONTACT US [email protected] Foundation subjects sidelined in primaries Ofsted study backs JESS STAUFENBERG up pledge to change @STAUFENBERGJ unfair grading of Nearly half of primary schools scored poorly in Ofsted’s latest curriculum study, poor schools although the watchdog has insisted it won’t “downgrade vast numbers” when its new framework is introduced in September. JESS STAUFENBERG Research published on Tuesday showed @STAUFENBERGJ that 15 of 33 primaries schools inspected “implementation”. scored either a 1 or 2 for their curriculum “Intent” will cover rationale, ambition and (based on a five-point scoring system, where Schools in the most deprived communities concepts, and “implementation” will cover 5 is the highest).