The DfE is creating new standards for trusts and for inclusion – but it can’t just provide a checklist for everyone to follow; it needs to set out clear principles that support professional judgement, writes @leoracruddas.bsky.social of @cstvoice.bsky.social

DfE standards must guide the sector, not tell us what to do

The government’s creation of new standards for trusts and inclusion offers an opportunity to set out clear principles – instead of just writing up new checklists, says the Confederation of School Trusts’ Leora Cruddas

tes.com

Always grateful to @jonsevers.bsky.social on a Monday morning for stopping my bustling, busy mind on the commute to think hard about something important in his brilliant @tesmagazine.bsky.social editorials. Today was no exception.

Some fascinating and powerful stuff in this interview with Gaia Scerif. Particularly like the section that ends with this thought "if we pay attention only to the challenges then the strengths and the routes into adaptation that we might be able to make will likely get lost. "

Jon Severs@jonsevers.bsky.social · 5mo ago

ADHD has been oversimplified, misreported and misunderstood, argues professor Gaia Scerif. “It’s a spectrum,” she argues, and the environment a person is in can often determine whether support is actually even needed. A must read interview this morning. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

"A teenage-focused doomerism has firmly established itself as a mainstream narrative in the UK" The @tes leader on talking down teens - and why that forces schools into a difficult choice. email.tes.com/t/cr/AQiOjhA...

This is going to be a cracking day! Join us in person or online for as many of the sessions as you'd like to. In person attendees are invited to a networking lunch and can use our @edcity-uk.bsky.social work spaces in between events for calls and meetings.

EdCity@edcity-uk.bsky.social · 9mo ago

On 28 January, EdCity will host a series of events dedicated to strengthening the education workforce. We’ll explore leadership approaches, staff engagement, and strategies to make teaching sustainable for the future. Find out more: shorturl.at/8SCUx

Such an interesting article by Cathie Paine from @reach2trust.bsky.social Great for the sector to hear from larger trusts on the realities of how they make and manage change.

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · 11mo ago

REAch2 set out to resolve funding inequity across its schools by pooling its funding. The trust had to pause the plans – but here’s what they learnt (and why they are still doing it) schoolsweek.co.uk/our-gag-pool...

Important point. Those with the knowledge and resources more likely to push for a re-mark widening the gap. @suttontrust.bsky.social

Alex Quigley@alexjquigley.bsky.social · last yr.

“Our ability to act was rooted in insider knowledge, access to professional networks, and financial security.” ‘How the GCSE disadvantage gap can widen after results day’ researchschool.org.uk/huntington/n...

💬 "The truth is that experience isn’t free. It costs time, travel, and sometimes even your own equipment. It costs the shift at your paid job that you had to give up." More on why the prominence of unpaid work is an issue in creative professions 👇

Unpaid work is killing class diversity in the creative industries - The Sutton Trust

Our alum, Bethany, discusses the prominence of unpaid work in the creative professions.

suttontrust.com

Looks like a slowing wider labour market may help the government hit its new teacher pledge. Interesting that male applicants are up by 14% compared with 8% for women, with computing, physics and business studies seeing big rises. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Teacher recruitment ‘back to pre-pandemic levels’

Analysis of the latest data shows an improving picture for ITT recruitment, according to NFER workforce lead Jack Worth

tes.com

Oh blimey, I've caved and started a S*bstack! You can find my first post in the link below ⬇️ On the importance of teacher voices: Ultreia

A couple of close shaves when life lines were used…but pretty chuffed with my 2000 day streak🤓 I think it’s fair to say @teachertapp.bsky.social has totally captured me with it’s heady mix of gamification and edu geekery!

Teacher recruitment improving. Exactly what you would expect on a tough labour market. Good news for DfE, bad news for Rachel Reeves because implies low graduate job growth this autumn.

Jack Worth@jackworth.bsky.social · 2y ago

Latest ITT statistics are somewhat positive, with most secondary subjects - especially shortage ones - recruiting better than last year. Primary down a smidge, English down due to bursary cut But majority still likely to be below target (this is last year's targets: new actuals out next month)

Simply this. medium.com/@paul.kissac...

Ark Start is delighted to be part of a coalition of early years and education organisations behind the launch of #StartingReception, a clear, practical definition of school readiness for parents, educators and policymakers. Discover more➡️ www.startingreception.co.uk

Vitally important read for anyone thinking about solutions to the SEND crisis. Top work from the team @schoolsweek.bsky.social

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · 2y ago

Special investigation: Interventions lacking evidence, copy and paste plans, health and social care missing - Schools Week reveals how EHCPs are failing vulnerable children

In the frantic dash that is Monday morning I always take the time to read these leaders from @jonsevers.bsky.social A good way to get your brain thinking about the big stuff that really matters.

Jon Severs@jonsevers.bsky.social · 2y ago

Why the work on mainstream inclusion cannot get stuck looking at mainstream in isolation The @tesmagazine.bsky.social leader this morning, available via the free Daily newsletter. If you haven't signed up, do so now in your free Tes profile. You can read it below. email.tes.com/t/cr/AQiOjhA...

This really got me thinking this morning.

Jon Severs@jonsevers.bsky.social · 2y ago

➡️ How ‘efficiency’ derailed education The system has become too obsessed with a flawed argument for efficiency and has lost its purpose, argues @bernardandrews.bsky.social A challenging essay that is well worth your time this morning. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

Important that @schoolsweek.bsky.social are shining a light on this disgraceful situation.

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · 2y ago

❗ Exclusive: Private equity-owned independent special schools which charge councils fees of up to £131,000 a year are among hundreds that have failed Ofsted standards checks Full story ⬇️ https://buff.ly/41g3uEq

🚨Today, the Education Policy Institute, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, has published a new report on Identifying SEND. The report provides evidence of the inequalities that exist in SEND support across schools in England. Read the full report 👉 epi.org.uk/wp-content/u... Main findings👇

Really cool little quiz widget in this article. Have a go! I thoroughly surprised myself by scoring 5 out of 5! But this was tricky (and no, I haven’t been reading the docs all week)

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · 2y ago

Ofsted says proposed 'toolkits' will explain how new report card grades will be awarded. But the descriptors have been criticised for being too confusing. So, can you spot a ‘strong’ rating from a ‘secure’ one? Have a go at our quiz ...

➡️The case for a universal SEND screener in early primary As the government looks to revolutionise SEND, would a universal teacher-led SEND screener in Year One be the answer to many of the problems? These researchers argue it could - and should. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

The case for a universal SEND screener in early primary

SEND provision is in crisis. A critical step towards a better system would be a universal screening process for all five- and six-year-olds, delivered and managed by teachers, argue these researchers

tes.com

New blog: ‘Making inclusion a reality, not a rhetoric’ moderncassie.blogspot.com/2025/01/maki...

'Making inclusion a reality, not a rhetoric'

We all love a good speech, don’t we? A room full of nodding heads, a leader passionately declaring their commitment to inclusion and how e...

moderncassie.blogspot.com

Recent analysis by @nestauk.bsky.social shows that there is unequal access to high quality early education and childcare in England. Disadvantaged areas much less likely to have a setting or childminder rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Featured in my free newsletter ⤵️ www.linkedin.com/newsletters/...

This is has to be one of the best of what is a great series from @tesmagazine.bsky.social and a must read. Can’t say I’m surprised you only sleep for four hours a night @unleashingme.bsky.social !

Tes magazine@tesmagazine.bsky.social · 2y ago

‘I am not here for accolades or promotions. I know my role as a leader is to be an activist. I will take the bruising today so it’s easier for those who come after me…’ @unleashingme.bsky.social reflects on his career, experience and leadership philosophy in the latest of Tes’ How I Lead series

Official data shows recruitment to teacher training in England is a long way below target. Slight improvements on last year, but levels remain below pre-pandemic - 38% below target for secondary overall - 12 out of 17 subjects below respective targets - 12% below target in usually-reliable primary

As Government considers how to tackle the SEND crisis, experts have begun to look to other countries for inspiration The work of @scastrokemp.bsky.social may be of help to ministers - she is heading up a 2-year investigation of SEND practice in 9 countries👇 www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...

SEND help - reforming the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system

“Lose, lose, lose.” That is how former Conservative education secretary Gillian Keegan described the special educational needs and disabilities (SE...

politicshome.com

This is a really thought-provoking read from the brilliant @claireheald.bsky.social I did some research into transition last year and for many reasons moving schools at 11 isn't ideal for lots of children. Definitely time for some fresh thinking.

Claire Heald@claireheald.bsky.social · 2y ago

What if we were able to restructure our system as an all-through model? And what benefits might we be able to realise in our current system with a bit of fresh thinking around this? Thanks to @tesmagazine.bsky.social for enabling me to share some thinking.

This heartfelt piece from the brilliant @sineadmc.bsky.social sums up so well the retention challenge we face. Full marks for the bike analogy 🚴‍♀️

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · 2y ago

❤️‍🩹 'The pressures now common in our schools are eroding the connection that professionals have with their own sense of purpose' Sinéad Mc Brearty reveals the results of this year's Teacher Wellbeing Index schoolsweek.co.uk/government-m...

A throwback to me trying to make colleagues laugh in 2020 all staff Zoom call but the same Xmas jumper appears every year #TappInYourJumper

The global rise in truancy rates, outlined in a new UCL report, is being fuelled by teenage girls missing school. Truancy is getting worse in English-speaking countries, with England second-only to Wales in the truancy gender gap 👇 www.tes.com/magazine/new...