brexit: how Head’s euro16 queen’s birthday will the result plan gets honours: winners affect schools? a red card (and no losers)

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SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 | EDITION 71 LORD STANLEY FINK LORD JOHN NASH the philanthro-philes who’s funding your schools?

SIR THEODORE AGNEW SCHOOLS TRUST: ARK SCHOOLS SCHOOLS TRUST: FUTURE ACADEMIES DAVID ROSS LORD PHILIP HARRIS HOW MUCH DONATED: £2 MILLION HOW MUCH DONATED: £2 MILLION TO SUPPORT WORK OF THE TRUST’S

SCHOOLS TRUST: INSPIRATION TRUST

SCHOOLS TRUST: DAVID ROSS EDUCATION TRUST HOW MUCH DONATED: £148,000 IN 2015 SCHOOLS TRUST: HARRIS FEDERATION HOW MUCH DONATED: £4.3 MILLION HOW MUCH DONATED: NOT KNOWN IN PAST TWO YEARS pages 7-10

Failing academies left to get on with it  Seventy per cent of ‘inadequate’ academies not rebrokered  ‘The good trusts are very picky about who they take over’

JOHN DICKENS languishing” under councils. @JOHNDICKENSSW Exclusive One of the key weapons in her argument for supporting the government’s academies The government has failed to rebroker more programme is that the new system enables than two-thirds of academies rated inadequate rapid improvement in failing schools, with the P5 by Ofsted, seemingly shooting down ministers’ government able to hand struggling academies to claims their academies revolution enables swift new academy sponsors to drive improvement. AMANDA SPIELMAN, intervention. But figures obtained via a parliamentary question Education secretary Nicky Morgan has reveal the government has decided against OFSTED’S NEW CHIEF previously been critical of how failing local intervention in 70 per cent of instances where an

authority-maintained schools were “left academy has been Continues on page 6 PA/IMAGES HEADTEACHERS’ ROUNDTABLE | THINK TANK 2016 An Alternative White Paper JULY 1, 2016 | 09:30 TO 16:00 | SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY

THINK TANK SEE PAGE 3 FOR INFO 2 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 EDITION 71 NEWS A point at a time: Carter’s health check for growing trusts SCHOOLS WEEK TEAM Editor: Laura McInerney FREDDIE WHITTAKER Features editor: Cath Murray @FCDWHITTAKER

Head designer: Nicky Phillips Growing academy trusts will have to show Designer: Russell Hardman how they cope with failing schools and demonstrate an understanding of the Sub editor: Jill Craven strength and weaknesses of their provision Chief reporter: John Dickens to meet a new “health check”. When he appeared in front of the Senior reporter: Sophie Scott education select committee on Wednesday, Political reporter: Freddie Whittaker Sir David Carter, the schools commissioner, Reporter: Billy Camden set out the detail for only the first of five points of a check that trusts hoping to take Together at last: Michael Wilshaw and David Carter Photographer: Ellis O’Brien on more schools will have to pass. great schools are and how weak [their] pupils received the backing of Ofsted Cartoonist: Stan Dupp Although he admitted that Nicky Morgan’s weakest ones are”. chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw, who plan to prevent expansion in trusts that Two prominent chains – E-ACT and appeared alongside him at the hearing. Financials: Helen Neilly could not demonstrate a track record Academies Enterprise Trust – have already Wilshaw said he wanted to see the Victoria Boyle of improvement could prove “counter- been told they cannot continue to expand prospects of poorer children improve “at intuitive”, standards and improvement will after fears were raised about their viability. least in line with national expectations, and . Sales manager: Hannah Smith be the first focus of the health check. But Carter told the cross-party group of . . above that”. Sales executive: Wallace Williams Carter told MPs that on top of a record MPs he would not rule out trusts having as But he also questioned whether there were Administration: Frances Ogefere Dell of improvement, trusts would also have to many as 60 schools, adding that trusts such enough good school leaders to facilitate the show how they coped with failing schools, as Reach2 could soon grow to that size. conversion of large numbers of maintained although they would not automatically be The commissioner, who is yet to release schools into academies, especially when Contributors: Amy Finch prevented from expanding if exam results details of the other four points of the check, schools faced potential “rebrokering” if they Tania Tirraoro of an Ofsted rating dipped in one of their said chains in which most schools had either failed within certain chains. Matt Hood schools. not improved or got worse would not be He said England had “one of the most “I’m not in the camp that says we should given more schools. autonomous systems in the world”, but Emma Mattinson-Hardy automatically stop that trust growing, but He said the check needed to be “rigorous” pointed to early findings of an Ofsted Naomi Ward we need to understand what its plan is to around improvement, but admitted: “That investigation seeking to find good trusts, improve that school,” he said. could be counter-intuitive because actually which had only identified “half a dozen” Andrew Clapham He warned that in some situations, what we need that trust to do is to take [those so far. “putting growth on pause” could deny some schools] there, but if they don’t have a track Wilshaw said: “There are very mediocre schools the opportunity to be helped by record of improving schools [in another trusts and the more rebrokering that’s taking others near by. area] there would be a huge risk to doing place, the more difficult David [Carter] will Managing director: Shane Mann Carter will also require a demonstration that.” find it to find a really good trust to take And tweet us your thoughts @schoolsweek or that trusts know “exactly how strong [their] Carter’s plan to focus on disadvantaged [schools] on.” with the hashtag #schoolsweek subscribe Teacher shortage now in Ofsted’s remit For an annual subscription to Schools Week for just £50 visit www.schoolsweek.co.uk and click JOHN DICKENS department where for a number of years If supply teachers were affecting the on ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. @JOHNDICKENSSW recruitment to that subject or position, quality of education then it was relevant www.schoolsweek.co.uk despite best efforts, has not yielded staff?” to the judgment, but she added: “How far or call 020 8123 4778 to subscribe Ofsted inspectors are judging schools Twickenham academy in west London recruitment is within the control of school on how well they are handling teacher was rated as inadequate last month, leaders is another matter.” shortages, with two schools rated as including in the “effectiveness of leadership Schools might now have to look at ADVERTISE WITH US inadequate found to have too many and management” category. Under that new ways of working, she said, including If you are interested in placing a product or job vacancies. heading Ofsted noted that the school engaging with initiatives to get people into advert in a future edition please click on the ‘advertise’ link at the top of the page on school- Joanna Hall, deputy director for schools “struggled to recruit the number of teaching and committing to training and sweek.co.uk or contact: at Ofsted, told the commons education permanent teachers it needs”. developing student teachers. E: [email protected] committee last week that inspectors would The report added: “The management of Hall told the parliamentary committee T: 020 81234 778 start asking leaders about teacher shortages temporary teachers does not place enough that under Ofsted’s new framework “one as part of inspections. emphasis on maintaining the quality of of the key questions inspectors might ask Disclaimer But Schools Week has found the watchdog teaching at a level that is at least good.” headteachers is about teacher supply”. Schools Week is owned and published by Lsect Ltd. The views expressed within the publication are those of the authors is already judging schools on how well they Worle community school, in Somerset, She said this might include how many named, and are not necessarily those of Schools Week, Lsect Ltd or any of its employees. While we try to ensure that the are coping with the recruitment crisis. was also rated inadequate last month. It subjects had temporary cover and how that information we provide is correct, mistakes do occur and we Teachers have criticised the practice, was told that it must “urgently improve affected the schools. It would fall under cannot guarantee the accuracy of our material. The design of the printed newspaper and of the website saying that they are doing their all to recruit the quality of teaching and learning by Ofsted’s leadership judgment. is copyright of Lsect Ltd and material from the newspaper should not be reproduced without prior permission. If you staff and that the shortage is not their fault. ensuring that the amount of supply cover is “In terms of how you manage your wish to reproduce an article from either the printed paper or The disclosure comes after a scathing kept to a minimum and that supply teachers workforce and deal with those particular the website, both the article’s author and Schools Week must be referenced (to not do so, would be an infringement on public accounts committee report last week have enough information, guidance and issues, one would hope that all leaders and copyright). Lsect Ltd is not responsible for the content of any external found that the government had “no plan” to support to be able to teach effectively”. governors have a clear picture of impact of internet sites linked to. deal with teacher shortages. In the “quality of teaching, learning and what they are facing. Please address any complaints to the editor. We are fully committed to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of The Department for Education was assessment” category, which was rated “Certainly in terms of good Practice. If you have a complaint which cannot be resolved by the editor, write to the Press Complaints Commission, Halton also criticised for a lack of “leadership or inadequate, Ofsted said “many pupils leadership and good high-quality House, 22—23 Holborn, London EC1N 2JD urgency” and was said to “not understand or are frustrated by the relatively high teaching, one would expect we show curiosity about shortages”. proportion of supply cover”. could see evidence of that and Learning & Skills Events, John Dexter, acting headteacher at Trinity Micon Metcalfe (pictured), a school how those subjects are taught, Consultancy and Training Ltd school, in Nottingham, told Schools Week business director who also trains even if it is not a subject 161-165 Greenwich High Road that many heads were “losing sleep” over other education leaders, said she was specialist.” London SE10 8JA recruitment. “surprised” Ofsted was reporting T: 020 8123 4778 “Heads are not trying to make excuses on a school’s recruitment E: [email protected] here, but is it fair to heavily criticise a struggles. SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 3 NEWS Red card for pupils’ time off to watch Euro16

BILLY CAMDEN time. He accused the school of “hypocrisy”. @BILLYCAMDEN But a department spokesperson said all schools have the autonomy to make Schools can choose to end their day early decisions about the “content, structure and for major sporting events, despite parent duration” of their school day. pressure prompting one head to U-turn on She added: “We trust headteachers to his decision to allow pupils to watch a Euro decide how best to structure their school 2016 match. day to support their pupils’ education.” Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, in The department also said that there were Southampton, last week abandoned plans no “specific legal requirements” about for pupils to leave school at lunchtime how long the school day should be, but all yesterday so they could watch England take maintained schools were required to be on Wales, following heavy criticism from open to “educate their pupils” for at least 380 parents. sessions (190 days) in each school year. But the Department for Education (DfE) Academy trusts are also free to make has told Schools Week all schools have, changes to term and holiday dates and are by law, the power to decide when the day not bound by the school day and school should end. A department spokesperson year regulations. said school leaders could decide how to Wales’ Gareth Bale and Slovakia’s Patrik Hrosovsky (left) battle for the ball during a Euro 2016, Group B match Golding’s change of heart was welcomed structure their day. at the Stade de Bordeaux Picture by: Martin Rickett / PA Wire/Press Association Image by Russell Hobby, NAHT general secretary, However, guidance from the National who said: “During the school day, children Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) “extremely seriously”. students have a real passion for football, should be at school. suggests that schools should only permit “On reflection of the concerns”, he said I will show the game during the last hour “School leaders have the power to grant time off in “exceptional circumstances”, such it was “more appropriate” for students to of school time for those who wish to time off in exceptional circumstances. In as for religious reasons or for bereavement. remain in class, with an option to watch a watch it so that they too can experience it our view, watching major sporting events The union stressed to Schools Week that screening of the game during the last hour together.” does not really count as exceptional.” major sporting tournaments, including the of the school day. Parents angry about Golding’s original Hobby also urged school leaders to not Euro 2016 football tournament, which kicked “National sporting events are a cause for decision to allow pupils time off for the “feel pressured” into allowing pupils and off last Friday, did not fall in that bracket. celebration and enjoyment, and something game included Jon Platt, a father who staff time off to watch sporting events. In a statement explaining his U-turn, that are, infrequently, suitable for students won a high court ruling last month after “Many will want to mark sporting events Ian Golding, principal at Oasis Academy to experience during school time. refusing to pay a £120 fine for taking his in different ways, and we must trust school Lord’s Hill, said he took attendance “As a community in which many of my daughter to Disney World during term leaders to deliver what’s best for pupils.”

Pupil premium used to plug budget holes THINK TANK BILLY CAMDEN decide how the cash is spent. @BILLYCAMDEN However, in the past Ofsted has criticised academy trusts for misusing it. Academy A growing number of schools are using their chain E-ACT, for example, top-sliced money pupil premium cash to offset budget cuts from its pupil premium cash, to fund its HEADTEACHERS’ ROUNDTABLE | elsewhere instead of using it to raise the central operations, until September 2013. attainment of disadvantaged students, new Ofsted said at the time it was “unclear THINK TANK 2016 research shows. how these deducted funds are being used to A poll of more than 1,500 teachers, improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils”. An Alternative White Paper published today by the Sutton Trust and the Dunford told Schools Week: “It is Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), recognised good practice to ring-fence JULY 1, 2016 | 09:30 TO 16:00 found 6 per cent of teachers used the extra the pupil premium budget within the cash to plug funding holes. Last year 2 per school budget in order to be able to track SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY cent of teachers said they used the premium expenditure through to impact.” elsewhere. A DfE spokesperson said it trusted schools Pupil premium was set up by the to use the money to “best meet the needs” government in 2011 as an additional pot of their pupils and was “pleased this report to help schools to raise the attainment of shows the vast majority The day will focus on the big question: “What should the Education System be like in disadvantaged pupils and to “close the gap” of school leaders feel 2020 and beyond?” It will seek to get attendees thinking and sharing views on the between them and their peers. they can target it future of schools policy and what the potential positive and negative end points of the current policy direction may be, given the government’s White Paper. Sir John Dunford (pictured), former pupil to support their premium champion at the Department poorest pupils”. Discussions will centre on three key themes: for Education (DfE), warned that it was a Sir Peter Accountability “dangerous strategy” for schools to not use Lampl, chair of Structures Retention & Recruitment the fund “legitimately”, but said the finding the Sutton Trust was “not surprising” given the funding and the EEF, said During the day there will be a series of short presentations, “think pieces”, audience pressures they now faced. the finding was discussions, debates, questions and, hopefully, some answers. Schools are required to publish details on “worrying”. Each of the key themes will be led by members of the Headteachers’ Round Table Core Group. their websites about how they spend their pupil premiums, For 20% off use the code: SCHOOLSWEEK20 and the impact it has on Register today at htrt-thinktank.co.uk attainment. But the EEF told Schools Week it is down to school Official Media Partner | leaders and governors to 4 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEWS

£10m ‘drop in OGAT announced in March it had formed a Trust chain looks “landmark partnership” with SPTA, where it the ocean’ for would be on hand to help the trust. It was revealed last December that SPTA Mandarin teaching for 88 job cuts would be stripped of three schools in Nottinghamshire following fears they were isolated from the rest of the organisation. SOPHIE SCOTT FREDDIE WHITTAKER new “Progress 8” performance measure. In March, chief inspector Sir Michael @SOPH_E_SCOTT @FCDWHITTAKER The measure rates schools based on Wilshaw name-checked the trust as one of A £10 million investment in expanding the A curriculum restructure at seven secondary pupils’ performance in the five English several academy chains that had “manifested teaching of Mandarin could be better invested schools in Yorkshire and the Humber will Bacculaureate (EBacc) subjects – English, the same weaknesses” as the worst- in language assistants and online courses, lead to more than 88 jobs cuts as creative maths, science, history or geography and performing local authorities. claims the former head of languages at CILT subjects are ditched in favour of a more languages – plus their three highest non- An SPTA spokesperson said the trust had an The National Centre for Languages. academic focus, warns the National Union EBacc grades. in-year deficit of £3.2 million last year and George Osborne announced the £10 million of Teachers (NUT). Subjects such as music can be included in was projecting a further in-year deficit of funding in September, while on a trip to China, As Schools Week went to press, the Progress 8, but are less likely to be prioritised £6.8 million this year. union planned to ballot staff at the schools by schools that focus more on routes for “We believe that students need a good grade saying it would enable 5,000 more pupils to over potential strike action following an pupils with subjects that can count across in both English and maths to be successful study the language by 2020. That’s £2,000 per announcement by the School Partnership any of the eight slots, such as triple science in accessing the next level of education, pupil. Trust Academies. or an extra humanities subject. training or employment,” he said. Twenty schools have been recruited to Schools Week understands the trust is Emma Forrest, a union organiser involved “These will be the priorities for our schools start the Mandarin excellence programme in seeking to make voluntary redundancies in negotiations with the schools, said the moving forward, alongside a broad and September, to be run by the UCL Institute of in at least 85 posts – 48 teaching posts trust’s response to disappointing results had balanced curriculum.” Education Confucius Institute. Each already and 37 support staff – and a further three been to “focus completely on Progress 8 to The trust said it had identified three has a track record of delivering the subject. compulsory redundancies as it reduces the detriment of other subjects”. potential compulsory redundancies But Carmel O’Hagan, the former head of the number of GCSEs that some pupils “It’s hard to pin SPTA down in terms of following work to “ensure that staffing languages at CILT and recent teacher trainer, study. the reasons for the restructure,” she said. structures reflect the academy and student said she did not think the £10 million went far It is believed that pupils wanting to study “They have always told us that this is about needs”. enough. “It is a drop in the ocean. It doesn’t subjects such as music will have to opt in finances, and now suddenly it’s not about The spokesperson added: “We recognise feel very strategic.” to after-school classes after the trust said finances. They have not mentioned that the trade unions are trying to protect Budget cuts meant language assistants, children were studying too many subjects over-staffing to us once.” their members’ jobs in a very difficult time, who were “very useful” for supporting young and schools were “overstaffed”. The structural changes are similar to those and we will continue to work with them people with learning a language, including The shake-up, first reported by the used by Outwood Grange Academies Trust supportively. However, the trust must take Mandarin, were being dropped, she said. Yorkshire Post, will require schools to (OGAT) – which recently received a slice of positive action to support and improve Online technologies appear to be a cheaper prioritise academic subjects so they can £5 million government funding to take over student outcomes and deliver value for alternative. An online Mandarin language perform better against the government’s schools in the north of England. money to parents and the wider community.” course with Rosetta Stone costs £209. The course provider does also offer Mandarin licences to 57 schools, but refused Leeds scraps free transport to parents’ favoured school to provide information about how much schools paid. SOPHIE SCOTT Batty, who said parents O’Hagan thought the approach would be @SOPH_E_SCOTT are now paying £9.50 a “a really good” idea if done alongside the week to send their children widespread return of language assistants. “I Parents are considering transferring their to Boston Spa, added: think we need to look at that type of learning children to a new school after a local “They [Leeds council] in these financially constrained times.” authority tightened up rules around free are trying to save money When asked in parliament how many transport to save costs – with a warning left, right and centre. It’s Mandarin teachers were in England’s schools, from the Local Government Association unfair on the parents and and the number of those training, Nick Gibb, that more councils could follow suit. means that some have the schools minister, said the department East Keswick parish council has lodged a considered pulling their “cannot identify how many” specifically teach complaint with Leeds city council after the children out of Boston Spa the subject. latter’s decision to scrap free transport to to go to Wetherby as it is But UCAS figures reveal that 20 people have Boston Spa secondary school. such a burden on them conditional offers to start a Mandarin initial Parents say they might move their financially.” teacher training course in September, out children because they cannot afford the Leeds council did not of 150 applications. This is less than half the nearly £10 weekly transport costs. provide a comment, but number who started in September 2015. The The move from Leeds is the latest in a pointed Schools Week to rights grants cut from £241,000 in 2014-15, series by local authorities trying to save the agenda for its council executive next to £117,600 for 2016-17. application rate also decreased by almost 50 money as grants from the government are meeting on Wednesday. Nationally, there has been a 25 per cent per cent. cut by up to 40 per cent. It read: “The implementation of the policy decrease in funding, from £25 million to Last year, just 1 per cent of all pupils took a Andrew Batty, chair of East Keswick, told has to date contributed to the intended £18 million, in the same period. GCSE in Chinese, with the majority of those in Schools Week: “Nobody wants to see their outcome of delivering a substantial Some local authorities have faced even private schools. children leaving their friends and their reduction in discretionary spending, thus larger cuts. Stoke-on-Trent, for example, Gibb said in a parliamentary question: teachers, but this might now happen.” ensuring money is spent wisely.” has had an 82 per cent decrease in extended “This programme will ensure that there is Leeds’ decision means parents in the Schools Week has previously reported rights funding, down to just £38,000. a sufficient number of teachers for these villages of both East Keswick and Bardsey similar decisions in North Yorkshire and The Local Government Association told [5,000] pupils.” will no longer get free transport to send Kent, which both axed free home-to-school Schools Week that budget pressures meant Leora Cruddas, director of policy at the their children to Boston Spa – rated good by transport for certain children. that decisions like those in Leeds would Association of School and College Leaders, Ofsted and historically the preferred choice Pupils are entitled to free transport to become more frequent. said: “We welcome the Mandarin programme in the area. their “nearest” school. In most cases, this is A spokesperson said: “Councils are because it is an investment in education and Instead they now only get free transport within a three-mile radius. working with schools and parents to in a modern foreign language. to Wetherby high school, a much smaller However, for rural areas this distance provide the best possible home-to-school “We are pleased that schools are signing school rated as requires improvement. is expanded to entitle them to transport transport. up to the programme and would be happy to Boston Spa and Wetherby are five miles to the closest school, and funded through “However, they have experienced publicise it to our members if the organisers from both villages, according to online “extended rights” grants from the significant reductions in government feel this would be helpful.” mapping services. But Leeds says their new government. funding that has meant having to make system shows that Wetherby is closer. Leeds city council has seen its extended difficult decisions.” SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 5 NEWS Academy devotee takes over at Ofsted First-choice secondary places SOPHIE SCOTT to making decisions, moving the watchdog @SOPH_E_SCOTT away from being a “vehicle for a single- stay stable minded visionary to transform schools”. The proportion of children getting a place Amanda Spielman, chair of Ofqual and a David Hoare, Ofsted’s chair, said her “wider at their first-choice secondary school has key figure in founding one of the country’s corporate background will bring a new remained stable, despite the number of largest academy chains, has been approved perspective to Ofsted’s work”. applicants increasing to an eight-year high. by the government as the next head of Spielman joined Ofqual in 2011. A year later Department for Education figures released Ofsted. she found herself caught up in the “GCSE on Tuesday show 548,006 children applied for Her appointment must now be accepted fiasco” of 2012, when English GCSE results a year 7 place this September – the highest by the education select committee before dipped dramatically after Ofqual pushed up number since 2008 and 2.8 per cent up on last she can take over from Sir Michael Wilshaw grade boundaries to stop what would have year. in January. been a dramatic increase in top grades. But schools still managed to offer roughly Schools Week understands she will meet The regulator fought a legal challenge the same amount of first preferences as last with the cross-party group of MPs on attitude to education that they place such against the changes, led by an alliance of year (falling slightly from 84.2 to 84.1 per June 29. little value on the experience of teachers and pupils, unions, schools and councils, all the cent). Spielman (pictured), as chair of the exams headteachers, that they would not consider way to the High Court, which eventually The number of children needing a secondary watchdog Ofqual, has most recently helped such a background necessary for the chief ruled Ofqual had acted lawfully. place is expected to increase 20 per cent over to oversee the implementation of the inspector’s role.” She was acting as interim chief executive the next eight years, as the past decade’s government’s qualifications reform. In a profile interview with Schools Week in of the regulator after Glenys Stacey stood bulge in primary school children numbers She is also education adviser at Ark December 2014, Spielman, who started her down in February. makes its way through the system. academy trust, which she helped to set up career as an accountant at KPMG UK, said she While the national picture looks stable, and expand to now run more than considered teaching later on, but felt at 39 CURRICULUM VITAE there are stark differences between local 30 schools. she was too old for the classroom. July 2011 – present chair Ofqual authorities in secondary place offers. Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, Instead she completed a masters in June 2011 – present education adviser, Ark London has the lowest proportion of said the 55-year-old Spielman had comparative education at the Institute of 2005 – 2012 Research and policy director, Ark 2002 – 2004 Consultant applicants receiving a first-choice offer “extensive experience at the frontline of the Education. 1996 – 2000 Strategy director, Nomura (68.8 per cent) with children in the north east education system, making her uniquely Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the International most likely to get into their first-choice school qualified to take up this important role”. Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), 1995 – 1996 Principal, Mercer Management (91.8 per cent). However, last Friday’s announcement said Spielman had a “record of agreeing with Consulting (Boston) At primary level, the offer rates were has not been welcomed by unions, who are and implementing” government policy and 1993 – 1995 Director, Bridgewater Business slightly higher across the board, with 88.4 per unhappy that she has never taught or held a would be “less troublesome” than Wilshaw. Analysis cent of children getting into their first-choice leadership position in a school. However Becky Allen, head of research 1986 – 1992 Manager in corporate finance, school, up 0.6 percentage points on last year. Kevin Courtney, acting general secretary group Education Datalab, told The Guardian Kleinwort Benson There were 641,572 primary applications of the National Union of Teachers, said: “It that the new Ofsted chief would bring an 1982 – 1986 Accountant, KPMG UK (formerly this year, up 0.8 per cent on last year. is a sad indictment of this government’s “analytical and evidence-based approach” KMG Thomson McLintock)

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You want more? Think OCR. ocr.org.uk/alevelmaths 6 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NEWS Tweeting law Most school business managers earn less than £40,000 firm loses

SEND contracts FREDDIE WHITTAKER 6 per cent looked after budgets of between A law firm representing local authorities (LAs) @FCDWHITTAKER Exclusive £10 million and £20 million. About 1 per at tribunals on children with special needs cent had responsibility for budgets of more has lost its contract with councils after it sent Two-fifths of school business managers are than £20 million. tweets “ridiculing” parents, writes Sophie Scott. Baker Small, a Milton Keynes-based firm, managing budgets of more than £5 million, Despite being in charge of such huge used the social media site to joke about parents despite more than half earning less than sums, a quarter of respondents said they who “thought they had won” at a tribunal. £40,000 a year. earned less than £30,000 a year, below the Tribunals are held when parents, or young A survey of 1,158 business managers, minimum pay for teachers in the upper pay people, disagree with decisions made by the LA bursars and finance directors by the range outside London. about their special educational needs (SEND) provision, such as the content of an educational, Association of School and College Leaders Another 28 per cent earned between x health and care plan. (ASCL) has revealed those in charge of £30,000 and £40,000, less than most A tweet posted on the company’s official schools’ finances are often paid less than leading practitioners would earn outside feed, on Saturday, read: “Great ABA [applied other non-management level staff, despite the capital. behavioural analysis] Trib [tribunal] win this presiding over budgets of tens of millions About 22 per cent said they earned week . . . interesting to see how parents continue to persist with it. Funny thing is of pounds. between £40,000 and £50,000, while 24 per parents think they won :)”. The union now warns that increasing cent fell into the £50,000 to £75,000 bracket. Social media users said the tweet, and pressure and stagnating pay could make Just 1 per cent of respondents said they subsequent tweets, “ridiculed” parents. business managers question the “moral earned more than £75,000 a year. Education Funding Agency, last year urged At least eight councils have ended or are purpose” of education and quit to take jobs The survey also found that just a third schools to place the same importance reviewing their contracts with Baker Small. The firm had council contracts totalling at least £1 in private finance. of respondents had a degree – although on balancing their budgets as achieving million. Val Andrew (pictured), ASCL’s business half had certificates in school business educational attainment. Tania Tirraoro, who runs the Special Needs management expert, said business management. But the ASCL survey found that just under Jungle blog, said: “[The user] erroneously managers, who were often qualified The lack of qualifications was said to be 50 per cent of respondents now worked thought other tweeters would also find accountants, could earn “completely a driver behind the National Association more than 45 hours a week. ridiculing parents fighting for their disabled child’s SEND provision, somehow amusing.” different salaries” in the private sector. of School Business Managers (NASBM) Sixty-one per cent of school finance Government reforms in 2014 aimed to make “You do find school leaders, not launching professional standards in professionals also said they did not feel they the SEND system more “joined-up” and, in necessarily just business managers, who November. earned a fair salary, up from 52 per cent in theory, lead to fewer disputes. will say ‘I should be getting a pay rise, but I Stephen Morales, chief executive of 2014. But Tirraoro questioned whether councils know the school can’t afford it’. NASBM, said the standards would help Andrew said the environment for business should still be permitted to spend taxpayer money “hiring expensive solicitors and “That would never happen in the private to offer more continuing professional managers was changing: “There is that barristers” as it could “undermine a system sector. It brings you back down to the development and provide a framework for potential. Using the health service as an that has been changed to stop adversarial moral purpose, to why we’re working in the development of qualifications. example, look what’s happened with the practice”. system, which is that we want the best for The drive for skilled-up finance staff junior doctors, they have been pushed to The company deleted the offending messages the young people.” comes as many schools feel the pinch of breaking point and many of them have had and “apologised unreservedly”. Mark Small, managing director, said: “Full and appropriate A third of respondents to the survey said a budget squeeze – with flat funding and to make that very difficult decision about action will be taken to address the matter.” they managed budgets of between rising costs. going on strike. Heaven forbid that should £5 million and £10 million, while a further Peter Lauener, chief executive of the happen in education, but it’s a real danger.” Expert view, page 18 DfE fails to rebroker 70 per cent of failing academies

JOHN DICKENS CONTINUED “They should also recognise that there The trust was told in December by Jennifer @JOHNDICKENSSW FROM FRONT simply aren’t enough good and outstanding Bexon-Smith, regional schools commissioner rated inadequate. sponsors to take on the number of schools (RSC) for the east Midlands and Humber, it A total of 277 academies were rated as they are talking about.” “lacks the capacity” to continue and would be inadequate from 2010 to 2015, but just 84 have Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw wound up. been rebrokered. echoed her view at an education select However, nearly six months later, the trust Labour said the figures showed the committee hearing on Wednesday. is still running both schools. The Department government was a soft touch with academies Wilshaw said there were “very mediocre for Education (DfE) would not say what the and questioned whether there were enough trusts and the more rebrokering that’s taking hold-up was, but said the RSC was continuing good academy sponsors in the system to place, the more difficult David [Carter, the to work on ensuring there was a “smooth takeover failing schools. national schools commissioner] will find it to transfer” to a new trust. Lucy Powell, Labour’s shadow education find a really good trust to take [schools] on.” A DfE spokesperson said it would “not secretary, said: “These figures show that the Carter admitted the availability of good accept low standards in any school, and government must be just as demanding on and outstanding schools and trusts to take on where students are not getting the high failing academies as on other types of schools failing schools was a “challenge”. quality education they deserve, will intervene. Lucy Powell so that children are not let down. Despite expressing a belief there were “RSCs seek to rebroker academies that “The government fixation that one type of enough good leaders in the system able The figures come as the rebrokering of two are judged inadequate, unless the existing school is better than another is not stacked to “step up” and run additional schools, he schools in the Sandhill multi-academy trust sponsor has capacity to improve the school up by evidence; academies can seriously admitted they were “not evenly spread”.. seems to have hit the buffers. and can show evidence of improvement.” underperform too.” Mary Bousted, general secretary of the In 2014-15, 92 academies were rated teachers’ union, the Association of Teachers Academic year Number of academies Number of academies not Per cent not re-brokered rated inadequate re-brokered to another inadequate; 69 of those faced no intervention and Lecturers (ATL), said while there also isn’t academy sponsor

(75 per cent). enough academy trusts to take over schools, 2010/11 5 4 80 That figure was slightly less in 2013-14, “the good ones are very picky about which 2011/12 27 21 78 with 61 of 94 failing academies escaping academies they take over. intervention (65 per cent). “All trusts have a limited capacity.” 2012/13 45 28 62

Powell added: “Rather than focusing, yet She added that the figures show that 2013/14 94 61 65 again, on another wave of academisation, challenges faced by local authorities are the 2014/15 92 69 75 ministers need to urgently address same challenges now being faced by the underperformance in schools, including government and trusts. “The whole argument Sept - Dec 2015 14 10 81 academies. [for academies] has been blown apart.” Total 277 193 70 SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 7

THE RISE (AND RISE) OF THE PHILANTHRO-PHILES

JOHN DICKENS to Ark’s 34 schools was more than the Other notable contributions found by L’Estrange and a partnership with the @JOHNDICKENSSW Investigates combined voluntary donations for Schools Week include £148,000 from Sir English Pocket Opera Company in which Academies Enterprise Trust, School Learning Theodore Agnew to the Inspiration Trust, pupils perform to international audiences, Tens of millions of pounds in Partnership and the Kemnal Academy Trust which he founded and which he now chairs. including a tour to New York last year. charitable donations are poured (three of the country’s largest trusts running A total of £40,000 was from personal A £500,000 charitable donation from the into schools every year from the 150 schools between them). funds and another £100,000 from the Public David Ross Foundation last year went on pockets of multi-millionaires. The David Ross Education Trust, which Interest Foundation, a grant-making charity enrichment programmes for pupils at the But where does this cash go runs 33 schools, received £4.2 million in the set up by Agnew, alongside Clare Agnew and trust’s schools, which serve some of the and what impact does it make? past two years from its sponsor, the David David Tibble. The latter is also a trustee at country’s most deprived areas. What influence do charitable Ross Foundation. The charity was set up by Inspiration. These programmes include an outdoor donations bring? And have they philanthropist David Ross, the co-founder adventure trip to Canada, sending two created an uneven playing field in of Carphone Warehouse, who is reportedly Where does this cash go and is it pupils to the Nasa-backed space camp in school funding? friends with prime minster David Cameron making a difference? Alabama, and plans for students to visit the A Schools Week investigation and former London mayor Boris Johnson. Caribbean island of St Vincent to support a delves into school finances and Alan Howard, the co-founder of one of The cash normally goes towards funding water aid project. questions education leaders to the world’s richest hedge funds, donated initiatives and activities for pupils – Sport, one on Ross’s passions, also plays establish whether charitable £5 million to the United Learning trust, examples found by Schools Week include an important part of the trust’s offering cash from philanthropists which runs 42 schools. sending youngsters to the Caribbean or to (Boris Johnson nominated him to sit on the is now propping up our Howard, estimated to be worth $1.6 billion, perform opera across the country. board of the London organising committee education system is a former director of the Conservative Allan Hickie (pictured), an academies for the 2012 Olympics). Friends of Israel and now lives in Geneva, specialist from accountancy firm A spokesperson for Ark said it Switzerland. UHY Hacker, says large donations raised funds to supplement its early £20 million in charitable Cameron described his donation as one of from sponsors are normally core finances and to offer a “better donations has been handed over to the most generous to schools ever in the UK. classed as “restricted income”, educational experience for the Njust 12 academy trusts in the past The cash is now held in the United meaning they should not be used children we serve. two years, a Schools Week analysis of annual Learning Partnership Fund, which donated to fund “core activities”, such as “This is especially important for accounts has found. £2.2 million to United Learning last year. paying wages. us, as our schools are all non- However, there were huge variations Harris Federation, which runs 37 schools For example, United Learning funds selective, and located in economically between trusts, with the largest donations, in and around London, is sponsored by Lord partnerships with independent schools, disadvantaged communities.” unsurprisingly, going to the chains founded Philip Harris, who founded the country’s described on the trust’s website as “among The spokesperson said the additional cash by wealthy donors who were some of the largest flooring retailer, Carpetright. the most prestigious in the country”. allowed the trust to offer better learning first to invest in the academies programme. It is not possible from the trust’s 2014-15 Teachers from United Learning materials, music lessons and enrichment The largest donation by some way was accounts to see whether Harris donated academies meet with peers from the opportunities. from the Absolute Return for Kids (Ark) money in the past academic year, although independent schools to share expertise, a The money is undoubtedly filtering charity to the trust it sponsors, Ark Schools. they do show the trust benefited from a Russell Group university entrance project through to change the lives of some of the Ark, set up to distribute donations £400,000 donation. Its source is not known. has been set up, sports ambassadors have poorest pupils in the country – offering from hedge fund financiers to improve When approached for comment, the spoken with more than 4,100 pupils, and them life chances that would not be possible the life chances of disadvantaged children trust said it did not comment on sources there is a national focus on music and without the donations. across the world, donated £3.6 million to of charitable donations, but that Harris had performing arts. But is it creating an uneven schools Ark Schools in 2015, on top of £4.7 million contributed significantly, both “financially This last project includes a paid-for music system? in 2014. and personally”, in supporting initiatives at and performing arts lead, an ambassador Put into perspective, the money given the trust. programme with composer Alexander CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE > 8 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 PHILANTHRO-PHILES

The school did not respond when parental cash can go in “unrestricted funds”, approached by Schools Week. which means it can be spent on core costs, UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD? Another school, previously featured such as new buildings. in Schools Week after unlawfully asking He says he has recently dealt with n 2014, Ark was rated by the Department parents. School leaders in affluent areas parents for donations, is the Grey Coat academies that want to hire professional for Education as the highest performing are able to call on support from wealthier Hospital School, in Westminster. fundraisers to expand their charitable Ilarge multi-academy trust on student parents to provide funding for better Attended by the daughters of prime activities and encourage more parents to progress measures. facilities, unlike leaders in less advantaged minister David Cameron and former donate. It is regularly cited by ministers as a schools, where “parents aren’t in a position education secretary Michael Gove, the Christine Bayliss, an academy trust leading light of its academies programme to help financially”. school recorded voluntary income of founder and former civil servant at the and is regarded as one of the country’s Parent donations are classified in annual “private fund donations and legacies” of Department for Education, says there is most successful sponsors. accounts under the “donations” section in £104,000 last year. In 2014, that figure already a “huge uneven playing field in But does Ark’s additional charitable “voluntary income” – however, other sums was £249,000. every town and city in the maintained millions give it an unfair leg up on schools such as legacy donations, can be included The West London Free School, in sector. “As a governor of a maintained without wealthy backers? in this figure. Hammersmith, headed by Toby Young, school in a deprived community . . . we The £3.6 million received by Ark last Examples of large donations found in also made headlines in 2014 after reportedly were always at a disadvantage to the year works out at nearly £106.000 for each our analysis include the London Oratory, securing almost £70,000 from parental school on the other side of town with lots school that it runs. the top Catholic school in Fulham, west donations in the two years since of middle-class parents who raised lots of This is at a time of squeezed school London, attended by Tony Blair’s children. its opening. extra cash for their school.” budgets, with funding for Donations totalled £152,648 for 2015. Annual accounts show its trust, Cash from multi-millionaires is one extracurricular activities among the Of that, £63,370 is classed as “schola the West London Free School way to rebalance donations. “At least Lord first to be chopped. donations”. This appears to be Academy Trust, received a healthy Nash sponsors a school that serves a Janet Downs, a state school donations linked to the school’s £42,268 of donations in 2015. disadvantaged community in Pimlico (in campaigner, says: “It’s inequitable. Schola Cantorum, a programme that Allan Hickie, of UHY Hacker, says central London) and I guess that if State education is supposed to be provides pupils with a choral the difference between he’s giving them additional charitable equal for all.” education and that has close parental donations donations that’ll be a lot more than it got Downs also raises the issue links to the University and large sums from from its parents/community as a failing of charitable donations from of Oxford. sponsors is that maintained school,” she said. Christine Bayliss Toby Young MONEY IS GOLDEN, BUT SHOULD THEIR SILENCE ALSO BE?

o what motivates successful business Harris says he set up the trust because he ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but of ‘how much?’.” says education is going the same way as people to hand over cash to schools? wanted children in London to have a better He told the publication: “If you are the NHS with “more outsourcing to the S Schools Week approached a number education than he did. fortunate to be able to pay high-rate tax, private sector”. of the trusts in our investigation in an Harris left school in his early teens to help then you can afford to give a bit more to She splits donors into three categories: attempt to ask benefactors directly. to run the family business after the death of charity. How much more is a matter for those motivated by the idea of giving Lord JUohn Nash’s Future academy trust his father. one’s own conscience.” back to society, those driven by prejudices did not respond to repeated requests for He says: “I want every child that comes Angela Kail, head of the funders team at (specifically that the private sector will do an interview. Ark said it could not provide through the door of a Harris academy to the charity think-tank New Philanthropy a better job of running schools), and those either its chief executive or any trustee for leave having grown as an individual, having Capital and author of a recent report into who see privatisation as a “commercial interview. enjoyed their education and being well- education charities, told Schools Week that opportunity, now or in the future. The Harris Federation said it did not placed for a successful and happy life.” most people give because they are asked. “There needs to be far greater scrutiny comment on sources of charitable income. In an article in The Jewish Chronicle, “The primary motivation is to make a over whose money is propping up the Inspiration Trust said Agnew did not want Lord Stanley Fink (at Ark) says his charitable difference. Education is seen as the silver school system and why.” to contribute to our piece. approach comes from his parents who had bullet – it is giving people life chances and A search of articles already in the public the philosophy of “if you were approached social mobility.” domain reveal further insights, though. by somebody you knew or a cause you had However, Tamasin Cave, book author and On the Harris Federation’s website, Lord a connection with, it wasn’t a question of founder of the Spinwatch website, WHO ARE THEY?

LORD JOHN NASH LORD PHILIP HARRIS SCHOOLS TRUST: FUTURE ACADEMIES SCHOOLS TRUST: HARRIS FEDERATION HOW MUCH DONATED: £2 MILLION TO SUPPORT HOW MUCH DONATED: NOT KNOWN WORK OF THE TRUST’S ACADEMIES DONATION VEHICLE: Future charity, where Nash 2010 to advise BACKGROUND: Harris took over his family’s of their earnings is chair of trustees how “government carpet business at the age of 15 before setting to charities, BACKGROUND: A barrister-turned-venture departments can up Carpetright, now one of the country’s largest including Great capitalist who set up private equity firm be run in the most floor covering companies with more than 450 Ormond Street Sovereign Capital, which invests in companies in effective and outlets. Hospital, Prostate healthcare and education. business-like After becoming one of the first philanthropists Cancer UK and Through Future charity, which sponsors way”. to set up a city technology college in 1990, Harris the National inner-city projects, Nash and his wife Caroline, He was began sponsoring schools through the Harris Society for the a stockbroker, in 2008 were chosen to sponsor made a life Federation. Prevention Pimlico academy, an inner London secondary. peer in January 2013 so he The trust now runs 37 schools, many of of Cruelty to Nash pledged £2 million to support the trust, could become a junior schools minister – them failing, in and around London. Of the 25 Children. and according to charity accounts, donated responsibilities include academies and free federation schools inspected so far, all have been £315,000 as part of that pledge in 2013, and schools, school capital and school governance. rated either good or outstanding. another £250,000 in 2014. His peerage was criticised at the time after it was Reports from 2014 said he had donated more Nash was also appointed by then education reported that he and his wife had donated nearly than £3 million to the Conservative party. Harris secretary Michael Gove as a non-executive £300,000 to the Conservative party. and his family are said to donate 20 per cent director at the Department for Education in Future Academies now runs four schools. SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 9

IS EDUCATION HEADING TOWARDS PRIVATISATION?

t was widely reported in 2013 that former for the system.” is involved to “promote better outcomes for education secretary Michael Gove was He also praises the links and capacity our children”. Iconsidering privatising academies, that directors of chains such as Ark have While it may not be a factor in motivation although no proposals were acted on. to other wealthy people who can donate to to donate, many academy sponsors have Ian Comfort, chief executive of change children’s lives. also received honours for their services to the country’s largest academy chain Another concern regularly cited is the education. Ark’s Paul Marshall was knighted Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), says: seeming rise in outsourcing of services. in the Queen’s Birthday honours this month “Is there a position in the future where the A recent investigation in The Observer – one of several academy leaders to get a private sector could make money out of newspaper looked at the Bright Tribe gong. academies? The government has said no. I academy trust, which the paper reported would say it may become an option.” had paid nearly £3 million to businesses

Frank Green, the former national Ian Comfort associated with the trust’s founder, venture schools commissioner, says the rise of capitalist Michael Dwan. business people in schools and their focus governance] board. A spokesperson for Dwan told The on the “bottom line” is “one of the most “Generally, looking at how headteachers Observer while he is aware “some will seek important things you can bring to a [school spend their money and why is a good thing to find ulterior motives for his actions”, he

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

DAVID ROSS SIR THEODORE AGNEW SCHOOLS TRUST: DAVID ROSS EDUCATION TRUST SCHOOLS TRUST: INSPIRATION TRUST HOW MUCH DONATED: £4.3 MILLION IN HOW MUCH DONATED: £148,000 IN 2015 PAST TWO YEARS

DONATION VEHICLE: David Ross Foundation Ross set up DONATION VEHICLE: Personal funds/the Public the same role at BACKGROUND: David Ross qualified as an the David Ross Interest Foundation the Ministry of accountant before co-founding mobile phone firm Foundation in BACKGROUND: Agnew built his fortune via a string Justice last year. Carphone Warehouse in 1991. 2006, which of companies – including, according to the Eastern He is reportedly a friend of David Cameron and now sponsors Daily Press, running a business cleaning flats in Boris Johnson – the latter nominating him for a 33 academies Australia that had been used as brothels. place of the board of the organising committee of under the David After moving back to the UK, Agnew founded the 2012 London Olympics. Ross Education business outsourcing firm Town & Country In 2008, he resigned from several high profile Trust. The Assistance, which went on to have annual roles after it emerged he had used a large chunk schools are based across revenues of £40 million. He reportedly pioneered of his shares in the businesses, such as National Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and outsourcing to India. Express, as security against personal loans Leicestershire. He sponsored Norfolk school Greenacre primary without telling the companies. Ross was in the running to become Ofsted chief before founding the Inspiration Trust in 2012. It now He was also chairman of the family business inspector in 2014, but missed out after conflict of sponsors 13 schools across Norfolk. Cosalt, a marine safety and leisure company in interest concerns, including that he had donated Agnew was also non-executive director of the Grimsby, before it went into administration in 2013. £220,000 to the Conservatives. Department for Education, before moving over to

LORD STANLEY FINK ALAN HOWARD SCHOOLS TRUST: ARK SCHOOLS SCHOOLS TRUST: UNITED LEARNING HOW MUCH DONATED: £2 MILLION HOW MUCH DONATED: £5 MILLION

BACKGROUND: TThe multi-millionaire hedge Former Labour DONATION VEHICLE: Alan Howard Foundation He has fund manager is a former treasurer of the Party leader Ed BACKGROUND: Howard donated £5 million to reportedly Conservative party and, with donations of more Miliband claimed United Learning in 2014 – dubbed by prime donated than £3 million, reportedly one of the top 20 in the House of minster David Cameron as “one of the most £116,000 to the biggest donors to the party. Commons in generous this country has seen to a schools Conservatives. According to a profile on the Philanthropy 2015 that Fink organisation”. Impact website, his largest gift was £2 million had sought to PA IMAGES Howard’s charitable foundation reportedly aims to Absolute Return for Kids (Ark) to sponsor the avoid UK tax. to support charities that support Jewish causes Burlington Danes City Academy, in west London. Fink – with a particular focus on Holocaust education Fink, who is said to give 30 per cent of his responded by and Israeli film annual income to charity, also sits on the board reportedly telling the London Evening He is worth an estimated £1.6 billion and was of Ark and the schools trust it sponsors, Ark Standard he did take “vanilla” tax listed as one of the 40 highest-earning hedge Schools. Annual fundraising dinners by Ark avoidance measures, adding: “The expression fund managers. reportedly raise up to £15 million. The Duke and tax avoidance is so wide that everyone does tax Howard is also a former director of the Duchess of Cambridge attended the charity’s avoidance at some level.” Conservative Friends of Israel group and now 10th anniversary gala dinner. lives in Geneva, in Switzerland. 10 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 PHILANTHRO-PHILES

SHOULD CASH BRING INFLUENCE?

he academies programme has pushed them to win approval for their bids. education up the philanthropy agenda, Ian Comfort of AET says that money is not Tsays Angela Kail of think tank New the reason benefactors support the academy Philanthropy Capital. movement. “People who set up a trust have Many academy sponsors featured here a big impact on how it’s run – whether they pledged their cash in the early days of the have put money in or not.” programme when the Labour government managers), Paul Dunning and Anthony The influence of hedge funders, with other asked benefactors to stump up at least Williams (both formerly of investment bank business professionals, into the running of £2 million per school. Goldman Sachs), Neil Woods (partner at schools follows a drive by the government. But cash also brought power. Lord Nash, professional services firm Deloitte) and Lucy Michael Gove appointed four new board for example, alongside his wife Caroline, are Heller (chief executive of Ark and former joint members to join the DfE in 2010. One was a members of the academy trust they set up, managing director of News International’s headteacher, Sue John, the other three were which means they have control over setting former education subsidiary, TSL Education). Nash, Agnew and lawyer Anthony Salz, an its strategic vision and the power to appoint or They set the overarching strategy of executive vice-chairman of Rothschild, one of

remove trustees. Paul Marshall the trust, approving its annual budget and the world’s largest investment banks. Nash is also chair of directors, and his making major decisions on expenditure. They Gove said at the time they would help the wife a director alongside five others. This are from the hedge fund industry and are delegate functions to the local governing department to run in the most “effective allows them to challenge and monitor school sponsors of Ark charity. bodies for each academy, but four of the and business-like way, by drawing on performance and manage the trust’s finances. Lord Fink is a director, as is the newly directors also serve as chairs of an individual the experience of what works outside Caroline Nash is also in charge of the trust’s knighted Paul Marshall, a hedge fund manager governing body. government”. curriculum. reportedly worth £300 million. The Liberal David Ross is also a member and director of This ethos is also now sought in school Nash was made a life peer in 2013 so he Democrat donor was appointed as a lead non- the trust he founded and was also appointed governance. Nash said in 2010: “The best could become a junior schools minister under executive director at the DfE in 2013. chair of trustees at the New Schools Network businesses have a skilful board of directors former education secretary Michael Gove. The other directors are Ron Bellor in April this year, the influential charity keeping them on the right path. I want to see Most of the directors of Ark Schools and Gerard Griffin (both hedge fund working with free school founders to help the same approach in schools.”

nly certain people are attracted to the In January, the charity gave £100,000 to many lives at low cost. I like to invest in what I “influence element” of donations, the Dixons trust, which runs schools in some call ‘transformational’ charities.” Oaccording to Kail. of the most deprived areas of Bradford. The Impetus-PEF also offers donors the chance THE SILENT She said: “There are an awful lot of people cash was to fund “ongoing strategic and to give shares, which means the gift will, who are quietly giving money to local schools operational support” so it could grow to take according to its website, be “exempt from INVESTORS with no interest in joining the board, let alone on more schools. capital gains tax, and you can also reduce making radical changes.” Andy Ratcliffe, chief executive of the your taxable income by the market value of For example, the Private Equity Foundation charity Impetus-PEF, says: “Donors are the shares”. (PEF) takes donations, normally from wealthy attracted by the charity’s pledge to develop A spokesperson for the charity said backers, and invests in other charities that fit high-impact services that produce clear and these tax benefits apply when supporting its “venture philanthropy” model. measurable, life-changing support.” any charity in the UK, adding: “We haven’t This means taking concepts and This seems a popular view. On the actually received many donations in the form techniques from venture capital and applying Philanthropy Impact website Lord Fink of Ark of shares, but it’s pretty common for other them for a social, rather than financial, return. says: “I look for efficiency, projects that affect charities.”

IS THIS FUNDING NOW PROPPING UP THE EDUCATION SYSTEM?

unding is now one of the biggest issues Simons, head of education, says charitable The source says his trust’s sponsor wanted That money is going directly to children and that headteachers face. Ian Comfort of donations do make it a “little bit easier for to create a “capital pot” that its schools could young people and we don’t want to stop that. I FAcademies Enterprise Trust says, for schools that have the cash to handle the make bids for. just wish we [AET] were in that position.” instance, that schools can no longer rely on budget squeeze”. However, this was pooh-poohed by the government funding as a single source of He says the extra money allows some department, and instead the pot was set up income. “If they do, they will run into financial schools to offer provision that private schools as an interest-free loan that schools must pay difficulty. The pressure on budgets is huge. more commonly offer – such as extra back over 15 years. You have to look at other sources of income – technology, new buildings and additional The DfE declined to comment when asked which might be charitable donations.” sports equipment. to confirm this by Schools Week. He says AET, which does not benefit from a But this is not an original aim of the Many of the academy chains are also clear wealthy backer, hires out its school premises academies programme, which Labour their aim is to become self-sustainable. and leisure facilities to make an income introduced when school budgets were rising A spokesperson for Ark Schools says its stream. year-on-year. business plan is to be “entirely financially But sponsors with benefactors will, he Simons says the original money sought self-sustainable in the future, but in the says, be facing the same pressure in terms of by government from sponsors was for new meantime we are lucky to have the support of how they allocate their resources. However, buildings – and to show their commitment. Ark to help us to support our schools”. charitable donations allow them to put more But one academy chain source says the Comfort is adamant that money into enrichment opportunities, Department for Education has been clear that charitable donations do something that he backs. trusts must become sustainable and not rely not make school funding At think tank Policy Exchange, Jonathan on their sponsor’s cash. unfair; “it’s the way it is. Jonathan Simons JOB SEARCH JOBS

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EDITOR’S COMMENT @miss_mcinerney | [email protected] SHOULD WE GO OR SHOULD WE STAY? Next week there will be an election would happen in education under hard, and schools almost always feel leadership. If you think Michael Gove on the European Union. As a former either scenario. For the Remain camp the repercussions. If trade becomes was a solid education secretary, then citizenship teacher, I can tell you life we have a thoughtful article from difficult because of pulling out of the this might push you towards Leave. It will be easier for those citizenship Amy Finch, a lead researcher at the EU, then some businesses will move. It would be a short-term move, though. teachers still out there if the country right-leaning think-tank Reform. For doesn’t need to be many. As someone recently pointed out, votes to leave. Pupils hate learning Leave, we struggled. We contacted The town where I grew up had a a problem for South Africa is that it about the EU, teachers hate teaching academics, fact-checkers, think-tanks, couple of call centres and a factory. wrote its new political rules around it. It’s abstract, and far away, and political experts. No one wanted to One of those folding would tip it the assumption that Nelson Mandela difficult to explain. So is the Second comment. Why? It’s not clear. People over the edge. If you think teaching would live forever. Likewise, too many World War. So is respiration. Both are were on holiday, they only knew about teenagers is rough, try teaching schools falter after realising their still important to teach, though, and so economic implications, there was ones who are watching their parents’ entire system was predicated on a is the EU. Like or loathe it, the impact no one with “sufficient expertise” to livelihoods charismatic headteacher and none is on daily life is as huge – even if as comment. fall apart. now available. invisible – as the war and the oxygen So herein lies the rub for Schools On the positive side, I’m told fewer Ultimately, you don’t need Schools in our lungs. Week. How can we present a series of restrictions on working hours and Week to tell you how to vote. Every At Schools Week we’ve always options when we don’t know what will employment can mean schools will other national newspaper, plus the taken a decidedly apolitical line. What happen next? become more innovative. But even noisy drinker in the pub, will tell you matters is that people have information There are some obvious points to be this rankles. It sounds an awful lot like that. But I am sorry we can’t tell you from which they can make their own made. that innovation involves teachers and more about what this referendum choices. Fewer people coming from the EU support staff working more hours and means for schools and, because of that, Our approach to the upcoming means fewer children in school. If having fewer protections. I’m pretty nervous. referendum has been no different. Leave wins, and free movement of There’s also the fact Gove doesn’t engender a great deal In recent weeks we looked people is stopped (not a certainty, that Boris Johnson of faith, either. His behaviour as dispassionately at issues such as but let’s assume), then the additional and Michael Gove are education secretary with regards to teacher visas and the need for more pressure on schools from migration seen as the leading the rules of democracy – his use foreign language teachers, many of will no doubt reduce. But so will the lights in the Leave of terror laws to pass legislation, whom are coming from within Europe. number of people moving here with campaign. Should his flagrant breaching of Teacher trainee figures are, for the first the language skills we need for they be victorious, information rules – makes me time, looking vaguely healthy this year, teaching. And if allowances are made political wisdom think he shouldn’t be trusted partly because of a 5 per cent increase to let teachers in (again, not a certainty, so far is saying one with untrammelled sovereignty. from teachers living outside Britain but but let’s assume) those teachers will or the other would But the noisy bloke in the within the EU. likely bring their children – and so the take over the pub might be worth What I wanted to present this week numbers continue. Conservative asking for a was a reasoned thought on what Job losses will hit certain areas party second opinion. SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 13

READERS’ WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU @SCHOOLSWEEK [email protected] email tweet facebook WEBSITE REPLY WWW.SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK If we join a MAT, will we lose our Ofqual promises new guidance on pupils’ individual identity? right to challenge grades Schools seek Russell group

Ian Taylor, Bristol Facebook - Lynne Holland graduates for £12,000 TA We need transparency. We need people jobs – others need not apply What about the option of not joining a actually qualified to mark and parity between multi-academy trust at all if you want to the exam boards. Our young people should not keep your identity and very existence as a school? have their futures at risk because of incompetence. When you are in a MAT your school loses all reply of the week separate identity. It becomes like a branch of @eleonorasfalcon Tesco. A branch of Tesco has no power to join How about they fix the quality of marking so David Barry, London Waitrose or have its own budget. If your school appeals and re-marks aren’t necessary? has a financial surplus at the end of the year, it can be given to another school in the MAT. The TA standards “nothing to do with us”, says The continuing increase budget belongs to the MAT, not to your school. Gibb – as unions publish report in the cost of housing in It is a one-way street. You can join another MAT if the trust chief executive or education secretary Facebook – Lisa Marie London – which makes renting decides to transfer you. And forget about Maybe there is secrecy over the teaching speaking the truth about what is really happening assistant standards because they’d have to even in shared accommodation in your MAT. This is definitely not on the table. If give us a proper pay structure, similar to that of you are lucky you might get a payoff through a teachers, whereas right now we tend to be “cheap dearer and the prospect of gagging agreement. labour”? getting a place on your own Jane Eades, London Facebook – Tanya Sokoloff de Diaz The government wants nothing to do with remote for any starting teacher I notice that there is no mention about this because it leads to raising salaries! I terms and conditions of employment mean, how dreadful would that be? Paying people – is shaping up to cause a of teachers and what the process will be for better for their professional commitment AND general recruitment crisis. recognising existing service. offering the status of recognised standards! It is also right to point out that whatever Unless, of course, that problem decision a school may make about joining a Inquiry submissions reveal how academy specific MAT, the secretary of state can take the chains want to be inspected is “solved” by the national school away from that MAT and give it to another one. Karen McCormack @mccormackehu funding formula prompting A school would also need to check how much “A peer review system would be preferred” the MAT takes in top slicing and what that covers. by multi-academy trusts – why would a such cuts in London that Although this may be less than the local authority, school-based Ofsted Inspection not work? it is also likely not to offer the same services. teachers are laid off rather than Schools deemed by Ofsted to be “inadequate” @IanMearnsMP or “requiring improvement” are better served by Many good local authorities have engaged recruited anyway. the local authority than they are by a MAT, given in peer review for years, but that did not that community schools improve faster than exempt them from the inspection regime. academies. Nikos Prokopiou @NikosProkopiou5 What is going on with deputy RSCs? If only all schools had a say in how they wanted to be inspected! Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, reply of the week Newcastle upon Tyne Are we heading towards a HExit? Is this just the DfE re-creating local receives a schools authorities’ resource in their own image? Kevin Pascoe @KevinPascoe When you see what this government is Quirky Teacher @iQuirky_Teacher doing to teachers and schools in England, I week mug! No money to pay exhausted teachers a bit thank God I am in Wales. more, but plenty sloshing about to pay this lot to swan about.

Charles Wright @CharlesWright57 DO you have a story? [email protected] Job creation in bureaucracy. Any However big or small, if you have information or a story you think our readers 020 3051 4287 estimates of jobs that could be lost under would be interested in, then please get in touch. For press releases make sure you email our news email account, and don’t be afraid to give us a call. all-academy plan? 14 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 PROFILE EMMA BRECKENRIDGE

“MATCHED- ABILITY

LAURA MCINERNEY @MISS_MCINERNEY TEACHING

Emma Breckenridge, headteacher of Kingfisher Hall primary academy and Enfield Heights academy, north WORKS HERE. London

n the first months of 1985, EastEnders started, I WON’T BE Gorbachev was elected, and Band Aid spent five weeks Iat No 1 with Do They Know It’s Christmas? It was also the year that Emma Breckenridge, CHANGING IT” headteacher of two outstanding primary schools in north London, was born. If your first thought is that superheads are getting younger and that you are getting much older, then spare a thought for how Sir Steve Lancashire – head of the vast Reach2 academy chain – must feel. He taught Breckenridge when she was in year 4. “Being taught by him was a laugh a minute,” she says, as we hide from a gigantic thunderstorm in her airy office your head high and remembering why you’re there is what at Kingfisher Hall free school in Enfield. “He’s a funny keeps you on track.” guy anyway and I love maths, but he made maths so fun. That phrase “remembering why you’re there” is repeated Everything was game-based, it always felt like we were often in the hours I spend at Kingfisher Hall. It’s a new playing. There was a lot of competition in his classrooms, building, beautifully designed, split across two levels, and it was always ‘let’s do it against the time!’ It was paced, it Breckenridge is clear about the purpose behind every was energy… it was goldfish as pets. All the little things that flooring choice, every wall position, every window. “We make schools brilliant happened in that classroom.” chose to have the classroom windows only overlooking The answer reveals Breckenridge’s characteristic green spaces because many of our pupils don’t have a enthusiasm – and her love of lists. Listening to her talk is garden,” she says. like being repeatedly punched with affection. Her journey to becoming a teacher began at the The Cuckoo Hall academy trust in which she works University of Leeds, where she studied education and has had difficult times. Served with a financial notice last social policy. Inspired by her mother who worked as an year, it had been investigated by the Education Funding advocate for children’s charities, she didn’t do a teaching What was she doing? “Giving the sheep some guidance Agency for allegations of bullying and staff harassment. undergraduate degree as she wanted to keep “the door on how to be more sheep-like,” she says, doing a fairly good Some processes were found not to have been followed at open”. But the more she learned about education, the more sheep impressions as she says it. one school in the trust (not the ones Breckenridge leads), she felt it was for her. Controversially, the school uses “matched-ability although the bullying allegations were deemed unfounded. She completed her PGCE at Leeds with two school teaching”. It’s a phrase Breckenridge uses a number of Amid these difficulties, both Kingfisher Hall and Enfield placements: one in an “upper-class” village school and times and is something the rest of us would recognise as Heights gained an outstanding rating from Ofsted. The other in a tough school in Dewsbury. “It was hard, but I “setting”. latter is particularly significant as it was a takeover from loved every minute of it, because even on the nights you Under the model, pupils are assessed each half term and CfBT academy trust who relinquished the free school after go home crying and thinking you can’t do it anymore, you then grouped for maths and English, depending on their it received a requires improvement rating in 2014. know you are making a difference.” current ability. Pupils from across the year groups are “For Enfield Heights, the turnaround was about bringing Moving back to London to be near her family, she took pooled: older ones sitting with younger ones as needed. As in an almost entire new team to a very small school her first job at Cuckoo Hall school, which later became the school fills to capacity the plan is to have children from community who were very, very close and making them Cuckoo Hall academy. After five years of teaching she across all year groups to continue blending. believe in us through results. We could stand there and applied to become a senior leader at Kingfisher which Breckenridge insists the model works well. “It means that say, ‘Oh, we’re great – look at me, I’m from down the road Cuckoo Hall, now an academy trust, was opening as a free progress is rapid, achievement is excellent, children get and I’ve been a deputy and we got an outstanding Ofsted, school. Rising to deputy, she then went to Enfield Heights, more one-to-one assistance, they get more time, targets I’m marvellous.’ and now oversees both. are sharper and learning more focused.” “But people don’t believe that. People want to see lots She credits her background in dance and drama with It also works for teachers, she says, as it means they get of time on the playground. Lots of time investing in giving her “natural” performance skills, which are helpful, an opportunity to teach across age ranges, and can deliver people. Being in the classrooms myself. I’m a firm believer though not necessary, in the classroom. “You don’t have to top sets in the subjects they feel most comfortable with. that if you go into a new school, get into the classrooms. to be a performer to be a great teacher – we’ve got many The idea that 11-year-olds sit with 5-year-olds is Don’t take someone else’s word for it, go in, see with teachers that are not showy and dancing around – but I controversial, with many secondary schools now your own eyes. can’t resist it … at Christmas, year 3 were preparing for their eschewing setting even within year groups. But “Having that pace, that vision, that very clear direction, performance and I went and poked my nose in, until the Breckenridge is nonchalant: “For us, in this area and in the they all come with challenges along the way, but keeping teachers told me to get out of the way.” school I work in, it’s an approach that really, really works SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 15 EMMA BRECKENRIDGE

IT’S A PERSONAL THING

What is your favourite book? Adult book? Corny, but Pride and Prejudice; I can spend a lazy Sunday watching the BBC version, all nine hours of it! It’s feelgood. If it were a children’s book, I love the Lemony Snicket collection. I’ve had many a happy hour grossing out year 3 children with those books.

If you could live in any historical period, when would it be? The Stone Age. Just because it was a simple life, wasn’t it? Lots of meat. And plants.

Can you describe a phone call that changed your life? When I was at university the phone call from my brother to say that he and his partner were having a baby. They now have two. I am an auntie to two marvellous girls and they have enhanced our whole family.

and it has been validated by Ofsted. So I won’t be changing Where is your favourite place to go to have 30 children of the same age in the classroom for on holiday? maths and English, because I don’t think these children will I have just come back from my mum and succeed in the same way as they do at the moment.” She exhales and looks ready for the next question. This is dad’s timeshare in Antigua. We were all there the end of that conversation. last week. It was lovely. Being there on the With decades in the sector stretching ahead, her future “With Ofsted, if it was the right thing for me at that point beach, no distractions, quality family time. possibilities are clearly huge. She has considered becoming in my life, I wouldn’t say no. I love being in schools and Rest. Good food. Early nights. Love it. a trust chief executive one day, and laughs when the role having children around me. Being able to step into an of Ofsted chief is mentioned: would she go for it when an early years’ classroom on a bad day is… wonderful. Within What is the best career advice you opening rolls around again in five years’ time? five minutes you can turn a day upside down and you can ever received? “Never say never to anything,” she says, “I’m not one remember why you’re here.” Don’t take things personally. And keep to turn down opportunities if they are the right thing for A month after Breckenridge was born, Whitney Houston smiling. You have to remember why you are me to do at the time and if I am the right person for it. If released a song with the first line “I believe the children here – it will make you smile. it wasn’t in the best interests of a trust for me to be CEO, are our future”. It’s worth remembering that those children I wouldn’t do it. If it was, then absolutely, I would step up become headteachers quicker than we might expect. because that’s my nature. Have you subscribed yet?

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SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK | @SCHOOLSWEEK 18 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 OPINION AMY FINCH TANIA Head of education at think tank Reform TIRRAORO Chief executive, Special Needs Jungle, Trustee, Genetic Alliance UK Business as usual . . . but not at the DfE Why most parents don’t What would a Remain vote mean for The second and related tension to be go to SEND tribunals the Department for Education and resolved is around local control of schools. Across other public services, such as health, schools? Schools Week asked Amy Finch Law firm Baker Small was criticised in parents from the moment they apply for an social care, criminal justice and welfare, for her predictions many media this week for boasting about EHCP to the final decision. However, there the government is moving towards greater defeating parents of children with special aren’t enough of them, and the support does n the event of Remain, it will be business devolution. About £6 billion has been given needs in tribunals. But their behaviour not extend to an appeal. Parents then have to as usual for most of the government. The to Greater Manchester to integrate health is not isolated, says Tania Tirraoro – it is find their own support, either from a lawyer, a prime minister will continue to drive his and social care. There are plans to pilot the I illustrative of broader cultural attitudes paid advocate or from a charity such as IPSEA, “life chances” strategy, and the chancellor will government’s disability employment services, SOSSEN or, if the child has autism, from the push forward on his “devolution revolution”. the health and work programme, in ten local he Children and Families Act 2014 National Autistic Society. But business is pretty unusual at the councils. In education, however, the vision is was supposed to transform parents’ For the local authority, however, if Department for Education right now. that local councils will no longer be involved Texperience of getting help for children they’ve shelled out money to a law firm and Nicky Morgan has just embarked on a in either funding or providing schools. with special educational needs and disabilities somebody appeals, it’s easy just to hand the reform programme even more radical than her Many welcome the split between (SEND). Many of us also hoped it would help case over. Not every LA does this – some send predecessor’s. It has divided the Commons, to change the mind-set from “parents are their own tribunal officers to the appeal and but not neatly between party lines. The recent The Opposition pests” to “parents know their children best” now, more cases have an informal telephone concession on full academisation has only just – the latter statement is even included in the hearing to help to resolve certain issues. kept her own party’s rebellion at bay. could have more in new SEND code of practice. The changes were supposed to stop things To neutralise resistance to her reforms, But even now, there are still far too many ever getting this far. However, while the Morgan will need to resolve two tensions. common with the people in schools and local authorities Children and Families Act contains the broad The first is about parental involvement in chancellor than who lack the necessary training in both principles, it left the detail to be filled in by education. Removing the requirement for the mechanics and the ethos of the new the new SEND code of practice (CoP) and parent governors was the second-most Morgan does system. As a result, there has been chaos, regulations. But the CoP leaves far too much controversial issue of the education white with transfers of children’s statements of detail to be figured out by local authorities paper. It led Lucy Powell, the shadow SEN to the new education, health and care and schools. education secretary, to claim that parents’ “purchaser” and “provider” in schools, plan (EHCP) taking months longer than the At this point, you’re relying on the will of voices were being relegated. That is a criticism pointing to the conflicts of interest created deadline of 20 weeks. that any Conservative politician would hate to by an organisation that both runs and is It’s the lack of culture change that’s a hear, even more so from the left. accountable for delivering something. Yet particular problem. This was all too evident Transfers of Some Conservatives have a similar concern, there is an inconsistency between the current over the weekend in a series of gloating believing academy chains too big and schools policy and the approach taken by tweets from Baker Small, a law firm, ridiculing statements to corporate to accommodate parents’ demands. many other departments, driven by the parents of a disabled child over their apparent the new plans are Where is the innovative, small-scale, parent- chancellor’s devolution revolution. RSCs, loss of an appeal at a SEND tribunal. The firm led approach that free schools have pioneered? unlike commissioners in the NHS, do not holds more than £1 million worth of contracts taking months rather To them, free schools have an easily have formal commissioning powers, such as representing a number of local authorities at communicable role for parents in the setting- routine budgets and contracts with schools. the tribunal, defending their decisions about than weeks up of new schools. However, free schools have The Labour party has said it would like local SEND provision. been assigned to fix other problems, such as government to have control of school place Watching it unfold on Twitter was a surreal an LA to meet the spirit of the law and the lack of school places, rather than specifically planning, admissions and the building of experience and a revealing one. The apparent expertise of each individual special needs co- as a means to engage parents. Even Powell has new schools. This could give the Opposition anti-parent stance is not an aberration; it is ordinator to be able to interpret the CoP said: “[The] government’s original concept of more in common with the chancellor than sadly still all too common even after almost for the good of the child. It all comes down a free school is all but dead. The Tories have Morgan does. two years of the new rules. to training, and there simply hasn’t been all but abandoned the concept of parent-led Rebooting parental involvement and Going to the SEND tribunal is not enough of it. schools.” redesigning the role of local government something parents do lightly. It’s a stressful, But when parents are routinely Re-establishing free schools as a means to will be key to the politics of reform following frightening experience, particularly when the misinformed, while schools and LAs still involve parents and challenge existing schools a vote to Remain. Some may not think it is local authority (LA) has brought in a lawyer deny the existence of a child’s SEND, despite could help Morgan to brush these criticisms necessary from a policy perspective. and the parent cannot afford representation. evidence to the contrary, while academies aside. Yet there are other ways to enhance Parents maintain the ultimate arbiters Therefore, many may choose not to appeal remain reluctant to take on children with the parent voice. The education white paper of school quality through choice and because life with a disabled child – or children SEND and while far too many new EHCPs do floated the idea of parents petitioning regional competition, albeit with limitations on – is difficult enough, without making enemies not sufficiently quantify or specify support as school commissioners (RSCs) for their child’s both sides, it could be argued. Some central of the school and the LA, which parents fear is required by law, then the tribunal is where academy to change chain, but this could power has already been given to RSCs, may rebound on the way their child is treated. more families will end up. result in destructive rather than constructive one could add. But these policies are too Only the most fearless or the ones who can Without understanding – and embracing parental involvement. Giving parents more nuanced to counteract the splashes hitting afford a lawyer go ahead, unless you are lucky – the principle that the new system puts the democratic control over who presides on the the headlines after the white paper. Solutions enough to find free advocacy. child and family at the centre of the process, academy or academy chain governing body, to both these issues will be necessary to make One of the things the new system brought it will have been a colossal waste of the half a or in the election of RSCs, could be one way to Morgan’s school reforms possible and keep in was independent supporters to help billion pounds it has so far cost. involve parents more. enough people on side. SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 19

Two grades, three categories, central Make judgments on strategy, data analysis and no aggregation. Go on implementation, safety and data distinct; Amanda Spielman, urges Matt Hood, what MATT do not give a single overall grade do you say to that? By keeping the four judgments separate and discussing them separately, you’d e have a new Ofsted chief HOOD immediately jump to a more nuanced inspector agreed by Number 10 Assistant headteacher, Heysham discussion about what a multi-academy Wand awaiting sign-off. Hurray. high school, Lancashire trust/local authority (MAT/LA) might But what should Amanda Spielman do need to do next. on day one? Ofsted has already made big It would also give regional school improvements in the quality and consistency If I were chief inspector, commissioners (RSCs) a clear idea of what of their inspection teams. But there’s more support the MAT/LA should be providing, and to do. day one would look like this clarify exactly under what circumstances If it was me, what would be the first order a change in school sponsor would be of business? pillars of good leadership: having a good plan can demonstrate the capacity to implement required. and making it happen. By looking at themed then the school is compliant. For example, if a school had compliant Get rid of four grades and replace them categories it’s not always clear what aspect of Safety, meanwhile, should be separated data and strategy, but was struggling with with two – compliant and not compliant leadership you’re looking at. from strategy and inspected on a no-notice implementation, an MAT/LA should provide It’s not Ofsted’s job to provide headteachers In a perfect world the first part of an basis. implementation support. Only where a with “outstanding” logos to fly above their inspection – booked a week in advance – school was non-compliant across multiple schools. Nor do I think Ofsted can reliably would focus on strategy and implementation. Separate data judgments and give them to categories over time would a change of distinguish between good and outstanding Strategy would involve a select committee- a national team of specialists, and judge sponsor be required. schools. style submission of evidence (the school them as compliant/non-compliant Safety is different: any school found By continuing with the divisive good/ improvement plan) followed by a Q&A with Understanding school data is difficult. I non-compliant in this would risk being outstanding approach Ofsted will damage the leadership team. The question would be regularly see school leaders and inspectors taken over unless rapid improvements behaviour and hamper innovation. I want simple: “does the school know itself and making statements about progress were made, regardless of other factors. people to worry about being compliant but I have a credible long-term plan to continue and attainment that lack even a basic Under this approach, improving don’t want them to stop innovating because to improve?” If the plan is credible, the understanding of statistical significance, schools are given space if they are they worry about not being “outstanding”. school is compliant. correlation, causation or standard deviation. compliant with strategy, implementation Ofsted should think food hygiene inspector To test implementation, inspectors would Training every inspector to be an analyst is and safety –even if their data is not (yet) not Michelin star-awarding food critic. explore lines of enquiry from the school neither possible nor necessary. compliant. Coasting schools would strategy (maybe six – half chosen by the Taking data judgments out of the hands be challenged on their lack of strategy Replace the existing four categories in school and half chosen by the inspectors). of inspectors and giving each school a even if their data and safety was Ofsted judgments with three new ones – The question would change to: “does the compliant/non complaint rating on their compliant. strategy, implementation and safety – inspection team have confidence that the data linked to contextual floor targets (that is, And poor leaderships who talk the talk on and inspect each differently school can implement its plan? Is the school a standard below which schools should never strategy but fail miserably when it comes to The current categories don’t capture the two actually doing what it says it is doing?” If it fall relative to its intake) makes more sense. implementing plans would be called out.

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Find out more at ocr.org.uk/gcsescience 20 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 REVIEWS TOP BLOGS OF THE WEEK To view individual blogs visit www.schoolsweek.co.uk/reviews BOOK REVIEW

The phonics check: what does it prove? The Class: Living and Learning parent – we tend to view young people as @ReclaimSchools in the Digital Age “digital-natives”, primed to exploit global networks both socially and professionally. Sonia Livingstone During a conference debate on Saturday Written by As a teacher, I am aware of the capabilities the phonics test was used as an example and Julian Sefton-Green of technology to blend or flip learning and of a specific test for a very specific thing, a Published by NYU Press the potential dissolution of the boundary child’s ability to decode words. In this blog ISBN-10 1479824240 between home and school. the author argues that it is merely a test However, the research concludes that 978-1479824243 of a child’s age. In a time where schools ISBN-13 there were “failings” in the school’s ability to face crushing funding cuts, we should be Reviewed by Naomi Ward, connect with students once they were out challenging and questioning the money, education consultant and of school. There is the usual one-way text emphasis and time spent on such a test. English and media teacher and email communication, but no dialogue “It turns out that August-born children are that might connect learning at home with twice as likely to fail as September-born. In learning at school. One reason for this is fact, a third of children born in August are that the young people were determined Our blog reviewer of the being failed, when they are simply not old How do young people really feel about the to keep home and school life separate. week is Emma Mattinson- enough … the pass rate worsens gradually future? How do they construct identities The researchers wonder if school would Hardy, former primary school by month of birth, from the oldest to the at home, at school and online? What’s it be enhanced if teachers knew more about teacher and union organiser @ youngest. Overall, the data suggests that a like growing up in a hyper-connected yet young people’s considerable talents. Yet they emmaannhardy third of the children who fail would have individualistic world? What does it mean to conclude that a degree of disconnection is passed if they had been born in September.” young people “to be educated”? The Class healthy, as the young people seek to preserve explores these questions and more in a a sense of privacy and identity separate from Does it matter that the new Ofsted wide-ranging research project school life. chief has never taught? exploring what it’s like Overall, the book concludes Sitting here the day after the Northern Rocks @ieshasmall growing up in world that young people, school and conference, I realise that it is possible to be mediated by digital family remain conservative in both exhausted and exhilarated. The weekend With all the problems in education, should technology. a time of uncertainty. Parents has left me in a more optimistic mood about we be concerned that the new chief inspector As an experienced are anxious; students are the power the profession has to unite and Amanda Spielman has never taught? During media studies teacher, generally optimistic about the force progress. In this age of austerity, the a Northern Rocks debate, most panellists I have been involved in future. challenges our students are facing have never expressed concern that she did not have classroom-based research Despite these findings, been greater and nor has the need for united an educational background. “To be honest, about how young people the researchers are hopeful action to ensure everyone gets the support I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not,” says this construct digital identities. that there is scope for a and help they need. blog. “Sir Michael Wilshaw, the outgoing And in my academic progressive approach to chief inspector, had extensive experience reading, I have found that schooling and learning, We might be down but we are as a teacher and headteacher (40-plus and adults often focus on their which connects young never out 20-plus respectively) but he wasn’t exactly the own fear of this unknown people’s experience in a @KilkennyChris teachers’ champion.” What do you think? space: we worry about more holistic, satisfying privacy, self-esteem and the way. While I agree with the Our conference began on Saturday with a Northern Rocks 2016 effects on the brain. motivation behind this recommendation, speech from Chris Kilkenny, a man who @DebraKidd In contrast, once they find their “digital I feel that the present climate in education grew up in poverty in Edinburgh. His feet” young people join communities, does not encourage progressive thinking. speech has stayed with me; that nagging In this blog Debra recounts the birth of develop friendships around interests, Teachers and leaders have to prioritise sense of injustice and unfairness that I feel Northern Rocks, “In the autumn of 2013, experiment with creativity and are able academic achievement above all else. If when I read or see increasing numbers of Emma and I were having a Twitter chat. to reflect on how their online and off-line results decline, then schools can face the harsh, unforgiving behaviour policy has ‘Did you go to Southampton today?’ she identities are different. So I was hopeful that upheaval of new leadership, more scrutiny become louder. asked this book would foreground the voices of and the associated pressure. There is a touch “I was now starting to find school hard. ‘I couldn’t – it’s so far and I’ve already been the students and avoid citing our familiar of naivety here, which teachers might pick Not academically as I was smart enough, to two events in London this year. We should anxieties. up on. but my ability to concentrate was being do something in the north.’ Thankfully, this is the case. Sefton-Green I can imagine this book could become affected, I had so many things on my mind ‘Let’s do it!’ she said. And Northern Rocks and Livingstone immerse themselves in the required reading for academic studies in 24/7 – how would my mum be when I got was born.” school and home lives of 28 year 9 students youth culture and identity. Teachers may home? Were my brothers OK in their foster I was a part-time infant teacher and Debra at a London comprehensive, giving them to find it rewarding, but at 300 pages, an placement? Who would be waiting for me was teaching in a secondary school. Northern a rounded impression of each individual. As executive summary would be fine. I did at the gates after school? I was starting to Rocks happened because of the support and teachers, we know relatively little about most enjoy its rich insight into the lives of the struggle in classes and get into trouble for encouragement shown by the wider teaching of our students’ home lives; as parents, we young people, its rounded view of their being disruptive. Yet still nobody would ask community. Because of that support, of know how difficult it is to glean details about experience and the inclusion of their voices how I felt or if I was OK. people giving up their time free, it happened the school day from monosyllables. in transcripts. I would welcome a return to “To them I was just a disruptive student.” again this year. The angle I found most interesting was the these students’ lives in two years and see With this call for help at the end of “If there’s one thing I want people to take idea of connection. We are more connected how their world view and passions have this blog, I ask you, can we ever give up on from Northern Rocks, it is to replace any to each other than ever before. However, evolved. children? “If you come across a young feeling of defeat and resignation with a there is also disconnection, in the context of NEXT WEEK person who is struggling or is acting feeling of collective power. “It’s a reminder an individualised society where the future is The Power Paradox out, always remember; they might that teaching is first and foremost, an uncertain and traditional communities are By Dacher Keltner be down but, with your help, THEY ARE altruistic profession, full to the brim of people fragmenting. Reviewed by Ian Comfort NEVER OUT!” trying to build a better world.” In my generation – the 40-something SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 21

performance-based activity. What have you been working on? RESEARCH CORNER What’s important to their students is to I’ve been talking to teachers who are use science as a means to understand the working to provide informal science world. However, when teachers are given teaching for students in extra-curricular a narrow, exam-focused remit, they are clubs. I wanted to understand their under incredible stress and don’t have the motivation and their struggle. time for half a class to get it wrong. From a broader perspective, my aim And since it’s hard to assess informal is to look at education policy and try to Q&A learning, it’s also hard for teachers to find how it plays out in teachers’ day- ANDREW argue for its value. to-day experience. The policy here was For example, one teacher took the class the neo-liberal, market-driven nature of CLAPHAM to a perfume counter in a department education, and how that impacted on Principal lecturer in education, store, to smell fragrances. They then went five science clubs. Nottingham Trent University back to school and tried to analyse the A recent Wellcome Trust Science composition of perfume. It’s impossible Learning+ study suggested informal to quantify the additional value of that learning is an incredibly powerful excursion. experience. However, the very nature The battle for of informal learning raises a whole load What would be your take-home of challenges for schools regarding message? attainment metrics. informal learning The study, although small-scale, signals to leaders and policymakers the crucial How did you research this? nature of informal learning. Moreover, I conducted interviews and lesson be compulsory or have assessment as marketable outcomes. informal settings can be a powerful observations with five teachers, working an integral part. Informal learning is rather about creating context for students to access an in three challenging state secondary The teachers were all asked to use a curiosity and understanding the world: understanding of science in context - schools. series called the periodic table of videos – you get an answer, rather than the answer. understanding that does not necessarily Informal learning was classified created by chemists from the University Science is about: “How does that work? lend itself to being “captured” by the as sessions before school, at breaks, of Nottingham – a powerful learning tool Let’s try again.” performance metrics predominantly used lunchtimes and after school, that were not about the joy and wonder of science. I found teachers who were committed to evidence learning. assessed, did not follow a set curriculum, to helping students to learn about the were non-compulsory and were open to What did you find? world, but who were under pressure to turn Enacting informal science learning: all students. One major finding is that there is a science clubs into revision clubs. These exploring the battle for informal However, they could not be linked to real conflict between the formal and were after-school clubs, where the kids learning was published in the British exam preparation, contain coursework the informal curriculum, the former had chosen to come along, but even in that Journal of Educational Studies catch-up, be offered to a specific cohort, being based on high exam grades and setting, the pressure was on to turn it into a A week in Westminster Your regular guide to what’s going on in central government

Later in the evening we found out who received a Queen’s Birthday honour (see THURSDAY: pages 24 and 25) . . . aaaaand we get to reveal TUESDAY: wednesday: Browsing our Twitter feed, WiW noticed a Beleaguered teacher training providers are the winners of our honours game… Speaking of divisions between the DfE new friend in the Schools Week club: the likely to welcome the news today that they Did you enter? Well, if you did, you didn’t and Ofsted, despite their best efforts to DfE’s new permanent secretary Jonathan will soon be finding out how they will be win. Not a single prediction was correct. maintain a level of civility during their Slater. *Week in Westminster wave* allocated places for 2017-18. However, as we are such warm and lovely joint grilling by MPs, education’s two top He’s following many edu nerds and The National College for Teaching folk we nevertheless dipped our hands into knights Sir David Carter, national schools politicos, but also chef Jamie Oliver and and Leadership announced the new a raffle bucket and Karen Wespeiser and commissioner, and Sir Michael Wilshaw, a woman from The Only Way is Essex. We methodology will be out in the “coming Robert Hooper will still receive a mug. Ofsted chief inspector, couldn’t resist the hopes he will pay more attention to Schools weeks”. No specific date, but I think it’s opportunity to snipe at each other from Week’s Twitter feed than TOWIE’s when safe to assume it won’t be before all the EU their respective ideological horses. pondering debates around education. referendum stuff dies down. Lefty Labour MP Ian Mearns, clearly MONDAY: Another day, another crossing of wires unable to resist an opportunity to stir things For a department that includes equalities between organisations. This time it’s Ofsted up, played the court jester and insisted in its remit, the DfE has a worrying record and the DfE. FRIDAY: on hearing Carter’s view on comments by when it comes to the pay of its black and Jane Millward, a senior inspector at News came on the wire today that Amanda Wilshaw that regional commissioners were minority ethnic (BME) employees. Ofsted, told the women and equalities Spielman is Nicky Morgan’s preferred “faceless bureaucrats”. Figures obtained from a parliamentary committee today that sexism will be candidate for the head of Ofsted, when Sir Deflecting the criticism, Carter mused question lodged by Greg Mulholland, Lib included in new statutory government Michael Wilshaw toddles off at the end of the that parents probably wouldn’t have the Dem MP for Leeds, revealed that, on average, guidance for schools. year (more on page 5). foggiest idea about the identities of Ofsted’s the DfE’s non-BME staff earned almost 14 But a thorough check of the “Keeping The Department for Education (DfE) spent top team either, and said he didn’t feel a per cent more than BME colleagues. Children Safe in Education” document, £25,000 on a headhunting mission to recruit lack of visibility for his team made them The average hourly earnings of BME published in May, revealed no mention the new chief inspector. Seeing as her name “faceless”. That’s OK then. employees in 2015 was £19.32, compared of sexism or sexual discrimination. The was already on the expected candidate list with £22 for others. The gap has also government later confirmed it has no plans months ago, we wonder if the DfE could widened by 23p since 2014. to include it because it’s “not a safeguarding CHECK OUT @SCHOOLSWEEK FOR LIVE have saved itself a bit of cash? TWEETS OF WESTMINSTER EVENTS issue”. 22 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 NORTHERN ROCKS 2016

More than 500 teachers London up to the north for at gathered in Leeds last Saturday least one day. for the third Northern Rocks Headline speaker Amanda conference. Spielman, chief of Ofqual, Started in 2014 by teachers pulled out hours before the Debra Kidd and Emma Ann event after the revelation she Mattinson, the event aspires would be the next Ofsted chief to let teachers “reclaim their inspector. profession”, while discussing Schools Week editor thorny issues, attending Laura McInerney stepped in practical workshops and – to her shoes and attempted a most importantly – to drag key defence of testing, while senior education influencers reporter Alix Robertson took a who spend all their time in spin around the workshops

EBACC IS ‘DRIVING’ SUBJECT COMBINATIONS

ALIX ROBERTSON stream in which she would not be able to take @SCHOOLSWEEK art and drama GCSEs. O’Brien told Schools Week that the use of ear 9 pupils are being channelled into differentiated options booklets — which he subject choices depending on their had heard called streamed option booklets — Ylearner profiles and after being handed was not unusual. specially tailored option books, delegates at He had been interested in learning more this year’s Northern Rocks heard. during his workshop dedicated to inclusion Jarlath O’Brien, headteacher at Carwarden in education, because of his limited first- House community school for children with hand experience of student subject choices special needs, in Camberley, Surrey, raised the within mainstream schools. issue during a breakout session. “I call this [the use of differentiated option He said he had heard that some year 9 booklets] a Henry Ford policy — you can pupils in mainstream education were being choose any GCSE you want as long as it’s handed “differentiated option booklets”, and geography, for example. asked if other delegates had experienced this. “I challenge the motives. I made the He explained: “So one student gets [a point in the talk that people should booklet] with GCSE history in it, but another not underestimate the power of the Conference scenes, clockwise from above: Cawarden House head Jarlath O’Brien; student won’t — while someone else will get accountability and performance culture to (from left) Schools Week editor Laura McInerney, Northern Rocks founder Emma Ann Mattinson and NUT acting general secretary Kevin Courtney; Sameena Choudry from Equitable Education; one with a vocational curriculum in it and influence the behaviour of headteachers. Laura McInerney; primary head Rachel Orr another student will get one that will lead “Why, for example, close off GCSE history them on to A-levels.” to some students? What is the risk to the The implication was that some schools student? If they enjoy it and want to study it, were tailoring the subject combinations then what’s the problem?” depending on the ability of pupils, which He added the same issue could apply to provoked an audience member into students considered more academic who may responding that “it’s driven by the English be discouraged from studying a vocational Baccalaureate (EBacc)”. subject, or “something considered soft”, such Schools are now incentivised to ensure as media studies. pupils study a set of subjects that includes A Department for Education spokesperson maths, English, science, a modern foreign said: “We want all pupils to study the subjects language and either geography or history. that give them the best start in life and help New performance measures will look at a to keep their options open for progress to pupils’ best eight GCSE grades, but at least five further study and work. must be in these EBacc subjects — with many “All state schools must provide a broad schools focusing pupils on them to gain a and balanced curriculum that promotes the maximum score. cultural development of pupils. The audience member added: “It cuts down “We expect schools to advise their students the number of arts subject they can take or appropriately on which subjects to the quantity in which they can take them.” choose for GCSE, tailoring them The woman said her daughter’s school had to the needs and interests of that pushed her to be in a particular academic particular pupil.” SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 23 NORTHERN ROCKS 2016

shows that pupils who speak Igbo [one of four four times in the 2014-15 Ofsted annual FOCUS ON WHITE PUPILS official Nigerian languages] have a GCSE pass report. There is no mention of children with rate 18 percentage points higher than the English as an additional language. HIDES ETHNIC MINORITY national average; black Portuguese speakers While pupils with EAL as a national group have a rate less than half the national average. have higher GCSE results than those who Choudry said that the focus on white pupils speak English as a first language, the picture UNDER-ACHIEVEMENT receiving free school meals was important is highly influenced by the high number in — “their attainment is poor and as a society the capital. EAL pupils in every region outside LAURA MCINERNEY as those inevitably furthest behind is more we should be ashamed of that” — but she London have worse outcomes than their @MISS_MCINERNEY complicated. questioned media headlines that claimed that regional peers. Across the country, black Caribbean these pupils were “working class”. Choudry called for the government to nder-performing ethnic minority students had a GCSE pass rate more than “More than half of people asked will say release more data, and collect more refined groups have become lost among 15 percentage points lower than white they are working class, but the number on information, so that researchers could better Uheadlines claiming that white groups. When stripping out just white pupils free school meals is much smaller,” she said. understand how black and minority ethnic working-class pupils are worse off, an on free school meals, and comparing those She directed particular ire at Ofsted’s students are achieving within education. annual report, which highlighted the issue “The information that we have is very crude education adviser explained. with black students on free school meals, of white pupils and has been discussed and it’s hard to find a lot of it. The Department White pupils from low-income families then white pupils do worse — however, repeatedly by Sir Michael Wilshaw, the chief for Education is not publishing this. It is are the group with the lowest GCSE scores Choudry pointed out that free school meal inspector, in speeches and commentaries charities, such as the Bell Foundation, and in England, admitted Sameena Choudry, rates are almost twice as high among black over recent months. academics, on their own time — there is no founder of Equitable Education, but pupils than white. “I look at the data and EAL [English as an funding — who are having to do this analysis.” focusing on the group is “crude” and Language groups also mattered even more additional language] pupils in Yorkshire From October schools will be asked to inappropriately “lumps pupils together” than ethnicity. and the Humber are significantly under- provide more information on pupils who who should be separated. “When we talk about black African pupils performing. That is what I see. I didn’t see it in have English as an additional language, but In an impassioned session, Choudry — who do we mean? When you look at Igbo the Ofsted annual report, though. Why is that? Choudry is concerned that with “no training, — whose organisation offers language speakers, they are doing much “It is very irresponsible in the way it [the no support” and levels “broadly based on the consultancy on reducing better than the average. But if you are a data] is put in the annual reports. The Ofsted Welsh language system” the information will achievement gaps between ethnic Portuguese speaker of black heritage then annual report should be absolutely impartial be “messy and inaccurate”. and should not be twisted to look the way Still, she said, “it will be better than the EAL/ groups — presented data showing you’re not doing well at all.” headlines look.” not-EAL label which is what we have at the that the image of white students Data from the national pupil database White pupils are specifically mentioned minute . . . and it doesn’t tell us anything”. 24 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 CELEBRATING THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS FREDDIE WHITTAKER @FCDWHITTAKER KNIGHTS AND DAMES Academy trust leaders have again topped the Queen’s birthday honours list, with Ark chair Paul Marshall and aul Marshall, who also chairs the Oxford, Twyford church schools trust think tank CentreForum, and Alice is the co- head Alice Hudson receiving a PHudson, a former English and founder knighthood and damehood. religious education teacher and headteacher and chair Of the 18 people with links to who now heads the Twyford Church of Marshall the school sector to receive the of England academies trust, were both Wace, nominated for services to education, with a large top honours, including CBEs Marshall’s services to philanthropy also hedge fund and OBEs, seven are either recognised. group. He heads, chairs or trust chief Hudson, a University of Oxford graduate, previously executives. was head at Twyford Church of England worked for About 10 per cent of the high school in Acton, west London, for the former 1,149 honours handed out in 11 years and now leads the academy trust Liberal Paul Marshall that shares its name. The trust also Democrat this round were for services to includes the William Perkin Church of leader Charles Kennedy, and in 2004 Alice Hudson education, and of those, almost England high school, and is currently in co-authored the party’s Orange Book with at the Department for Education, Marshall half were given to people with talks to open a free school in Ealing, both in David Laws, who went on to become schools is one of five people with direct links to the links to schools. west London. minister in the coalition government. department who have received honours in Marshall, who also graduated from As the lead non-executive board member this round. CBE

harity boss Tony Sewell, who chaired a review of London schools for former mayor Boris Johnson, Ctalks of his “total commitment” to disadvantaged young people. Sewell receives a CBE as do Birmingham education boss Colin Diamond and Malcolm Trobe, the interim general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. Tony Sewell Colin Diamond Sewell began his career in London as a teacher before them into STEM careers, had been successful where Diamond, a former Ofsted inspector and associate he became a teacher-trainer at Kingston and Leeds others failed because it offered “five years of total headteacher in the east end of London, said he was “very universities. In 2012, Johnson appointed him to chair commitment”. proud” to receive the CBE. an inquiry into London schools. Its report, published in “People are not really making this long-term Trobe, a former head of Malmesbury School in 2013, led to the establishment of the £24 million London commitment to children,” he said. “We need to engage Wiltshire, said it was a “great privilege” to represent Schools Excellence Fund. with young people right through from the age of 12 all an organisation whose members worked so hard to Sewell told Schools Week that his charity, Generating the way to university. Most projects and programmes I provide “an excellent education for millions of Genius, which works with disadvantaged pupils to get see are one-off interventions, they touch-base lightly.” young people”. OBE

chool leaders Debbie Rogan and Pauline Hagen Rogan became a headteacher in 2003, are among those recognised with OBEs. running the Wickford Church of England S Rogan, chief executive of the Essex-based school, which was rated as outstanding by HEARTS academy trust, is a national leader of education, Ofsted in 2007 and became an academy in 2011, pupil premium reviewer, Ofsted inspector and a member eventually going on to sponsor several other of the east of England regional schools commissioner schools in the region. headteacher board and Essex Schools Forum. Hagen has been principal of New College She told Schools Week it was “an honour and a Pontefract, a sixth-form free school, since 2011, privilege” to serve all her trust’s children, “in particular and is also a national leader of education. She the most vulnerable”, adding: “We will continue to work has also overseen the establishment of the New hard and do our best for each and every one of them. Collaborative Teaching School Alliance. “I am very happy to receive this award and recognition She said she was “proud and grateful” for the Debbie Rogan Pauline Hagen of the hard work and dedication that I and all of the recognition of her work. staff, governors and parents in the HEARTS community “Over the course of a career in education, I learner, because educational success genuinely commit to our pupils each day, and to pupils beyond our have been reminded daily of just how important it is transforms the quality of their lives and those of the own organisation.” to focus relentlessly on the needs of every individual societies and communities they live in,” she said. SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 25 CELEBRATING THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS MBE BEM

everal key government civil or more than 25 years, Myra Brodie has It’s the job satisfaction, when you see the little servants working on the academies kept children in the Leicestershire town tots crossing over,” she said. Sprogramme will receive MBEs, Fof Market Harborough safe on their way “I like to think we are still needed. There are including Val McGregor, an education to and from school. all these cutbacks everywhere at the moment, adviser for academies and free schools at Liverpool-born Brodie, 62, part of the but we are still keeping children safe.” the Department for Education (DfE). county council’s patrol team and a classroom Brodie plans to carry on as long McGregor has worked in education for volunteer at Little Bowden as possible, despite ongoing health nearly 40 years, initially as a teacher and primary school, said problems. then a leader of London inner-city schools, she was “delighted” and “I’m not as strong as I was, and I before becoming an English and literacy “shocked” when she was do have some mobility issues,” she adviser for four councils. told about her inclusion in admitted. “I’m not as fit as I used Since 2001, she has held a range of the honours list. to be, but I want to carry on until I national senior leadership roles, including Reflecting on her long have to give it up or until it gives senior English director and national years of service, Brodie told me up. director for inclusion. She has been in an Schools Week it was “most “I’m hoping I don’t lose my job advisory role at the DfE since 2006. alarming” when she saw through all these cuts, but you Val McGregor Lara Newman, who advises the the children of those who never know.” Education Funding Agency on property for grateful for the privilege to lead such an she helped across Market Nick Rushton, leader of free schools, also receives an MBE. outstanding school with wonderful staff, Harborough’s roads Leicestershire county council, But it is not just government staff who children and governors. decades ago going to said: “We are proud to have have been recognised. “I want to say a big thank you to all our school themselves, someone like Myra working John Cornally, executive head at Blessed parents for your incredible support over our but said she still loved for the county council and Thomas Holford Catholic college in time together.” the job more than 25 pleased that she has been Altrincham, who also received the award, years on. given the recognition described his 11 years in post as “incredibly “It does make me that her work so richly happy and deeply fulfilling”. feel a bit old, but I have deserves.” In a letter to parents, he said: “I am been known to enjoy it. Myra Brodie QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST – 2016

KNIGHTS OBE MBE Valerie McGregor Steven White Paul Marshall Julian Appleyard Adrian Bowater Education adviser for academies and free Education and sports volunteer, Leicestershire Chair, Ark Schools and lead non-executive Principal, Rochdale sixth form college Member, academies finance and assurance schools, Department for Education board member, Department for Education steering group, Education Funding Agency and Ariana Yakas Kevin Boyle director of finance, Walsall Academy Matthew Miller Chair of governors, Kingsway community trust, DAMES Headteacher, Oaklands school, Winsford, National leader of governance and chair of Greater Manchester Alice Hudson and Cheshire branch secretary, National Andrew Child governors, Highlands School, Enfield, west Executive headteacher, Twyford Church of Association of Head Teachers Chair of governors, High Storrs school, London BEM England academies trust Sheffield Myra Brodie Andrew Brown Andrew Morris School crossing patrol, Market Harborough CBE Headteacher, West View primary school, Peter Chisholm Teacher, Westcroft sports and applied learning Colin Diamond Hartlepool Deputy headteacher, Warden Park School, college, Wolverhampton, and founder, Timken Diana Burdett Executive director of education, Birmingham Cuckfield, West Sussex Vocational Training Centre and Sunbeam School secretary, The Grove infant and nursery City Council Andrew Burns Enterprises school, Harpenden Executive principal, the Redhill academy trust, John Cornally Elizabeth Horne Nottinghamshire Executive headteacher, Blessed Thomas Lara Newman Anthony Elvin Chief executive, Horizons specialist academies Holford catholic college, Altrincham Property adviser on free schools, Education Teaching assistant, Archbishop Sentamu trust, Stockton Pauline Hagen Funding Agency academy, Hull Principal, North East Wakefield college, Marion Cornick Dr Tony Sewell Pontefract Founder, The Loddon school, Sherfield-on- Ann Noble Mari Heywood Founder, Generating Genius and member, Loddon, Hampshire Former headteacher, Tydeman centre, The Vice-chair of governors, Abbey Gate college, London Schools Excellence Fund expert Richard Hill Malling school, Kent Chester advisory group Former headteacher, Colnbrook special Freda Griffin school, Hertfordshire Head of care of residential provision, Horizons Jane Owens Jean Johnson Dr John Stephens specialist academy Chair of governors, Weatherhead high school, Volunteer, Belmont Cheveley Park primary Deputy director for teaching schools and Estelle MacDonald Wirral school, Durham school improvement, National College for Chief executive, Hull Collaborative academy Simon Griffiths Teaching and Leadership trust and Hull Collaborative teaching school Headteacher, Lindens primary school, Streetly, Robert Palmer Shaminder Rai alliance West Midlands Chair of governors, St Mary’s CE primary Chief of operations, Nishkam high school, Malcolm Trobe school, Moss Side, Manchester Birmingham Interim general secretary, Associaton of School Deborah Rogan Iffat Hameed and College Leaders Executive headteacher, The Wickford CofE Teacher, King Edward VII school, Sheffield Simon Potter John Wallace school and chief executive, HEARTS multi- Play producer at Wimbledon College, south Governor, The Latimer primary school, Patricia Walters academy trust, Essex Alan Jerome west London Leicestershire Former headteacher, Holte Visual and Life president, Bradford grammar school and Performing Arts college, Birmingham Professor Alice Rogers former vice-chair of corporation, Bradford Cherry Reynolds Paul Yeates Governor, King’s Maths school, south London, College Assistant headteacher and SEN co-ordinator, Former chair of governors and volunteer, Janet Woods and emeritus professor of mathematics, King’s Codsall community high school, Staffordshire Lingfield Notre Dame school, Surrey Director of secondary academies (north), College, London Marian Lee United Learning Trust Teacher, Gordon primary school, Greenwich, Jacqueline Smith Deborah Weston south London Executive headteacher, Upland special school, Associate senior leadership team member, Swindon Mulberry school for girls, London 26 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 School Bulletin x Toolkit for migrant parents

A student from RSA Academy Arrow Vale in Worcestershire at Twickenham Inset: Primary school pupils celebrate rugby at Twickenham stadium Rugby award for 100 schools The launch of the Migrant Toolkit. From left: authors Magdalena ne hundred schools from across with a “bespoke” three-year delivery plan Lopez Rodriguez, Professor Louise Ryan and Alessio D’Angelo the country have been handed a and package of funding, resources and toolkit designed to support newly Professor Louise Ryan, lead author of Opersonalised plaque by England support, to help “embed” rugby as a school arrived migrant parents put their the toolkit, says: “UK parents often find it rugby player Jonny May at Twickenham to sport. Achildren through the UK school stressful finding school places for their celebrate their engagement with the sport. Since taking part, the participating system has been launched by academics at children so for migrant families, whose first Representatives from the schools were schools have seen increased confidence, Middlesex University. language is not English, the experience can presented with their awards during an teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline The resource is aimed at schools, local be very daunting. England v Wales match at the end of last and sportsmanship, says a spokesperson for authorities and organisations working with “It’s essential that all children settle into month. property agent CBRE. migrant families, and highlights the “many school as seamlessly as possible, so we hope The ceremony marked the “positive Ciaran Bird, CBRE managing director, differences” that migrant parents will have that our guide will help migrant parents impact” of rugby to more than 130,000 new added: “Thanks to the persistence and to adapt to. adapt to a new life and get the best start for students through the CBRE All Schools passion of the teachers and coaches, 100 This includes earlier school start times, their children.” programme. schools are able to provide more children informal lessons, children being placed in Parents can also use the The scheme, developed by England opportunities to learn and develop through classes according to age not attainment, and resource directly. Go to: mdxmigration. Rugby, provides state secondary schools the skills and ethos gained through rugby.” a ban on physical punishment. wordpress.com/migrantschools/

Time travel tops the bill in Harrogate FEATURED

ne of the country’s largest children’s literacy sessions was Oput on at Harrogate’s Royal Hall with the help of children’s author Jason Primary pupils enjoy some reading time after taking part in the Beresford. National Literacy Trust’s survey More than 500 pupils from 20 schools took part in The Big Write, organised WHEN READING STOPS BEING COOL by Pobble, a global literacy initiative for sharing primary students’ writing, and upils enjoy reading less once they Harrogate International Festivals. reach secondary school, according The 8 to 11-year-olds had to write short Pto latest research from the National stories around the theme of time travel. Literacy Trust.

Beresford, author of The Fabulous Four More than 500 students in Harrogate’s In a survey of more than 32,500 children, Fish Fingers, Frozen Fish Fingers and Royal Hall for The Big Write just 40 per cent of those aged 14 to 16 said Fish Fingers vs Nuggets about a gang of they enjoyed reading either very much or superhero kids, lent his expertise to help quite a lot, compared with 72 per cent of the children. pupils aged 8 to 11. Anna Whiteley, a Pobble teacher, says The research also revealed that students it was the “most exciting” event by the at key stage 4 are substantially less likely to group to date. say reading is “cool” – 24 per cent versus “Writing is crucial not just in terms of 70 per cent at key stage 2 – and only 36 per developing literacy but also in allowing cent of the older pupils see the “relevance” children to express themselves. It also of reading to employability compared with

boosts confidence.” A teacher from Kirkby Malzeard primary school with 71 per cent of children at key stage 2. Pobble was launched globally by a students taking part in The Big Write There is also a gender gap, with 61 per group of teachers in Yorkshire last year is all about – engaging young minds and educational work.” cent of girls enjoying reading versus 47 per with the aim of building children’s giving children a platform to share their Jon Smith, Pobble chief executive, says cent of boys. confidence in writing. fantastic writing.” it was “amazing” to be able to “energise” so Jonathan Douglas, the trust’s director, The four founders developed the Gemma Rowland, operations manager at many young people. says “energies” in primary pupils who enjoy programme to allow teachers to share Harrogate International Festivals, says the “Children are getting that awesome reading needs to be released into secondary and showcase pupil work on an “online event further cemented Harrogate on the piece of work they’ve just carefully written schools. classroom wall”. “literacy map”. published and shared with the world . . . Influencing factors for the disparity Work from The Big Write will now be “It’s important to us that we use our which could not be more exciting. And for between the two groups could include the published and shared on Pobble.com. platform to engage and inspire young teachers, we’re building a global library of pressures of academic studies, lack of time Whiteley adds: “This is what Pobble people in the district as part of our ideas, content and resource.” and less parental influence. SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 27 MOVERS & SHAKERS Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving

amsin Poulter, the current vice- University of Southampton and a masters in principal at Cliff Park Ormiston education. Tacademy in Great Yarmouth will take She did her teacher training through the the reins from September following Rob Graduate Teacher Programme. Sherington’s retirement. Poulter, who previously spent 13 years Carly Wilkins has been appointed head as head of year and then vice-principal at of Halcon primary school in Taunton, Haileybury Turnford school in Cheshunt, following its link-up with the Redstart says her main priority will be to oversee the Learning Partnership. introduction of the new national curriculum From September the school will re-launch in a “fun” way for students. as Minerva primary as its moves over to “Given that the government has made such academy status. big changes, I want to, along with providing Wilkins joins from Hamp academy in excellent academic results, ensure that Bridgwater where she was the assistant head lessons will still be fun and engaging.” and a year 6 class teacher. Poulter also plans to expand “even further” She says her main focus will be to the school’s enrichment programme with collaborate with the other schools in the links to local music clubs, nearby Great trust to share good practice, and to lean on Yarmouth college and Nexus Engineering. Tamsin Poulter Jane Fletcher Carly Wilkins other leader experience and expertise to get The school hopes to partner with “artistic” “the best teaching and learning possible”. organisations after her research of the local Jane Fletcher is to join Ark as its new regional work with leaders as well as listening to Wilkins, who has been a teacher for 11 jobs market showed many were arts and director for secondary schools in Hastings the communities, understanding what years, says: “In the few weeks that I’ve been engineering based. and London. the issues are, and supporting them in head of school I’ve seen a real willingness to “Hopefully, with those partnerships, we can She has been principal of Harris Girls’ progressing.” work together to bring back families to their increase employability opportunities for our Academy in East Dulwich, south London, She adds that high expectations will be at community school.” pupils and ensure that school is really fun as since 2008. the forefront of what she will be looking for She has a joint degree in education well.” Her new role will involve overseeing a in each school leadership team. and history, as well as a PGCE, from the Poulter studied history at Kings College number of schools in Ark’s chain of Fletcher has a degree in music from the University of Plymouth. London followed by a PGCE at the Institute of academies and will be, she says, a challenge If you want to let us know of any new faces at the top of your school, local authority or organisation Education. that she “really wants to take on”. please let us know by emailing [email protected] “I’ll be visiting all the schools regularly to

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exclusively education empradirect.com 28 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 jobs

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SALARY DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE AND PREVIOUS SUCCESS LOCATION: LUTON, BEDFORDSHIRE

The Shared Learning Trust is looking to appoint a CEO from January 1st or awareness and understanding of funding streams and cost management earlier for the right calibre candidate to play a leading role within a family of • a relationship builder able to articulate and communicate organisational schools in Bedfordshire. vision and values to a wide range of stakeholders across the wider community The Trust is comprised of four academies, two secondary Academies with sixth • a strategic thinker who will grow the Trust form provisions and two primary academies. Overall, the academies enjoy good success rates and positive relationships with their students and the communities We can offer you: they serve. • a unique family of schools, 2 primary, 2 secondary, a Teaching School and Sixth Form provision We are now seeking to appoint a Chief Executive Officer to provide the Trust • fantastic young people who are “eager to learn and exemplary in their with strong senior strategic leadership and who will promote its benefits through attitudes to their work” (Vale Academy Ofsted, 2014) and who are “hugely this time of significant opportunity and challenges. The successful candidate proud of their Academy” (West Academy Ofsted, 2014) will build on existing good practice to raise standards, strengthen partnerships, • a role where you can really make an impact growing and leading our Trust and ensure our Trust is well supported to deliver an excellent education to the • competitive benefits package children and young people of the community. For further information and to return completed applications please We would like from you: contact: Kevin Martin, Human Resources Manager • an experienced leader with a proven track record in the broader educational Tel: Kevin Martin on 01582 211226 arena, including experience of inspections Email: [email protected] • the capacity to ensure that a high quality educational experience is available for all children and young people Closing Date: 27th June (9am) • successful experience of senior management in a complex organisation, Interview Date: w/c 4 July 2016 including resource and financial management with strong commercial

The Shared Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all its learners. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. Our schools have excellent links to the M1 motorway, National Rail networks and Luton Airport. We are 30 minutes from London.

HEADTEACHER Ref: HT01 Location: Stroud, Gloucestershire Salary: Leadership spine L15 £54,503 to L21 £63,147

Play a pivotal role as Headteacher of SGS Pegasus School, Bristol. The Trust are passionate in their belief that our pupils should have the same opportunities that most of us take for granted – nationally only 15% of young people Based at our purpose built new £8m Free School designed to enable ASD learners to with autism go onto university, further education, training or employment – however, we succeed in a mainstream environment, the SGS Pegasus School is situated close to the estimate that at least 85% of our pupils will! We need an exceptional individual to realise main M4/M5 corridor at Patchway, on the South Gloucestershire / Bristol border. this ambition. Contract Type: Permanent Full-time. We are seeking an outstanding Leader with knowledge and understanding of ASD and As part of the South Gloucestershire and Stroud Academy Trust (SGSAT), the SGS who can absolutely demonstrate that they are a passionate, child-centred practitioner Pegasus School will open to our first intake from September 2017. The School will be a with the ability to lead the School forward within a rigorous professional environment ground breaking development providing a genuinely innovative school for children and focused on the progress and achievement of children. We expect the successful young people, aged between 4 and 19, who have autism. candidate to inspire and motivate their team to enable the School to achieve outstanding status by its second OFSTED inspection. At full-capacity, the School will cater for 80 pupils who will access the national curriculum while still receiving the specialist support they need. We are absolutely To apply for this position please visit: www.sgscol.ac.uk committed to ensuring learners leave the School feeling fulfilled and able to play a Or email [email protected] for a Job Description and Application Form. valuable and contributing part of society. Closing date for applications: Thursday 23 June 2016 The School has been developed in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council in direct response to their need to provide excellent local education within the area for Expected interview date: w/c 27th June, 2016 learners with ASD. Many learners are currently transported out of the region to receive specialist education and on completion of their studies find in hard to transition back into The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a satisfactory Disclosure their local community. Certificate as a requirement of the job.

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College welcomes applications from all sectors of the community and is an equal opportunities employer. SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 29 jobs

Situated in one of the UK’s fastest growing cities, the Stanground Academy, in Peterborough, is transforming the life chances of its pupils by ensuring that every child can succeed, despite the challenges they may face.

The academy offers state of the art facilities and an array of extracurricular activities to promote and enhance learning. Our success is based on an effective partnership between pupils, staff and parents, building positive, trusting and long lasting relationships to support pupils to achieve their best. We are part of the Greenwood Academies Trust (GAT) which has a proven track record in school improvement. The Trust provides centralised services and support to enable staff to focus on teaching.

We currently have the below opportunities to join our middle and senior leadership teams. To find out more please visitwww.greenwoodacademies.org/vacancies/ . Alternatively, please call our Recruitment Line on 0115 748 3344.

HEAD OF YEAR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL (Ref: 15-16/STA/047) (Ref: 15-16/STA/051) MPS/UPR plus TLR 1B (£9,284) Leadership 18 – 24 £58,677 - £67,963

Required from January 2017 or earlier if possible

Closing date 27th June 2016 at noon

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share this commitment and undergo appropriate checks, therefore, all posts within the Trust are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. The Trust welcomes applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, age or sexual orientation.

30 @SCHOOLSWEEK SCHOOLS WEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 jobs

TEACHER OF MATHEMATICS

LOCATION: HARPENDEN, HERTFORDSHIRE | SALARY: MPS| REQUIRED FOR Further details and an application form are available from Shirley O’Donovan at [email protected], or the school website SEPTEMBER 2016 | FULL OR PART TIME CANDIDATES WILL BE CONSIDERED www.sjl.herts.sch.uk or on 01582 760043 ext 271.

CLOSING DATE: 12.00 NOON ON FRIDAY 17TH JUNE 2016 We are seeking an excellent teacher to join a highly skilled Mathematics team made up of enthusiastic specialist teachers. There are excellent, INTERVIEW DATE: WEEK COMMENCING 20TH JUNE 2016 thriving A level groups and the department achieves impressive results.

Sir John Lawes School is an equal opportunities employer. The school We offer an environment with a supportive induction and professional is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children development programme, recognising that our teachers are the reason and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this for our continuing success. Our status as a Teaching School means we commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection are able to offer staff the highest quality support. The school has been screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & judged as being one of the 100 top non-selective schools in the Country. Barring Service.

www.sjl.herts.sch.uk

TEACHERS OF SCIENCE (Ref: 15-16/STA/049-050) Salary: MPS/UPR 1 x Permanent and 1 x Fixed Term Maternity Cover | Full and part time considered Required from January 2017 or earlier if possible

Closing date: 27 June 2016 at noon to focus on teaching. Being part of the Trust means that we are able to share specialist best practice and work collaboratively with colleagues in other academies. When you join us as a A fantastic opportunity for a passionate Teacher of Science to join the Stanground Academy. Teacher, you can be certain that we’ll advance you professional development and give you the Newly Qualified and experienced Teachers are welcome to apply. opportunities to build your career across our group of academies.

The Stanground Academy offers state of the art facilities and an array of extracurricular There are two positions available, one permanent and one fixed term to cover a period of activities to promote and enhance learning. Our success is based on an effective partnership maternity leave. Part time and full time applications will be considered for each. between pupils, staff and parents, building positive, trusting and long lasting relationships to support pupils to be the best they possibly can be. Visits to the academy are warmly welcomed; please contact Pauline Poli, PA to the Principal, on 01733 821430 or email [email protected]. Successful applicants will be champions of science and passionate about helping young learners achieve, they will be able to demonstrate a range of teaching styles and behaviour For application forms and further information, please visit our website. management techniques to inspire and motivate pupils. The ideal Teacher of Science must be www.greenwoodacademies.org/vacancy/11572/ able to work effectively as part of team and be willing to play a part in the further development Alternatively, please call our Recruitment Line on 0115 748 3344 of the academy. The academy is part of the Greenwood Academies Trust (GAT) which has a proven track record We also please ask that you complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form by visiting: in school improvement. The Trust provides centralised services and support to enable staff www.surveymonkey.com/r/NDNDSQ2

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share this commitment and undergo appropriate checks, therefore, all posts within the Trust are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. The Trust welcomes applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, age or sexual orientation. SCHOOLSWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 71 FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 31 jobs

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How to play: Fill in all blank squares Spot the difference SCHOOLS WEEK Sudoku challenge making sure that each row, column and 3 by 3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9 to WIN a Schools Week mug Last Week’s solutions 1 7 2 Difficulty: 8 4 5 EASY 4 8 7 2 3 1 5 9 6 6 1 3 7 9 5 4 8 2 1 8 3 5 2 9 8 6 4 7 3 1 3 2 4 5 8 7 6 8 4 5 9 1 2 3 9 5 1 6 2 3 8 4 7 7 9 6 3 4 2 1 8 7 9 6 5 4 5 2 7 6 5 4 8 3 1 9 2 8 3 5 9 1 2 6 7 4 1 9 4 3 7 6 2 5 8 7 6 5 Difficulty: 9 8 5 1 What’s the caption? tweet a caption @schoolsweek EASY

Difficulty: 4 8 2 MEDIUM 5 6 4 1 9 8 2 3 7 3 1 9 7 8 1 7 2 5 3 4 9 6 5 6 2 3 9 6 4 7 5 8 1 7 4 3 9 2 6 8 1 5 5 3 9 5 1 8 7 4 6 2 3 6 3 2 7 8 6 2 8 3 1 5 7 4 9 4 9 5 7 8 1 3 6 2 8 9 1 7 6 4 3 2 9 5 8 1 6 3 8 2 5 6 9 1 7 4 7 5 3 1 4 1 6 Solutions: Difficulty: Spot five differences. First correct entry wins a mug. Tweet a picture of your completed spot the difference using @schoolsweek in the tweet. Next week MEDIUM