John Roberts
@johngroberts.bsky.social
SEND and inclusion editor at Tes. Dad of 2. SEND parent. john.roberts@tes.com
What does the future hold for special-school trusts? In Tes' MAT Tracker deep dive, @johngroberts.bsky.social looks at the number of trusts with special schools and the role these trusts will play in the government’s SEND reforms
MAT Tracker deep dive: the future of special-school trusts
Trusts running specialist schools come in a range of shapes and sizes – but how are they evolving and what role will they play in the government’s SEND reforms?
tes.com
Is Ofsted on the brink - and is there a way back? There's a lot of new data on Ofsted today, a lot of noise, but this from @johngroberts.bsky.social cuts through it all and is the thing you need to read to really understand the mess Ofsted is in. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Is Ofsted on the brink and is there a way back?
Amid fierce criticism of its school inspections, Ofsted has been asked by education secretary Lucy Powell to go ‘back to the drawing board’. John Roberts assesses whether it can find a path out of thi...
tes.com
‘How far has that choice been made for them by the system?’ In Tes' How I Lead, Julie McCulloch, CEO of @edupolicyinst.bsky.social, reflects on why many women doing ‘amazing work behind the scenes’ at big organisations are not stepping up to leadership roles
Julie McCulloch: ‘So many women are behind the scenes doing amazing work’
In our How I Lead series, we ask education leaders to reflect on their careers, their experience and their leadership philosophy. This month we talk to Julie McCulloch, CEO of the Education Policy Institute
tes.com
For the past decade, schools have been told to focus on building pupils' resilience, but is this really the best approach to address problems with young people's mental health and attendance? @helen-amass.bsky.social asks the experts
The kids aren’t alright: is resilience to blame?
Schools are facing significant problems around pupils’ mental health and attendance, and political voices have pointed to a lack of resilience as the cause. But can interventions designed to boost this quality really help?
tes.com
Headteacher @andrewoneill.bsky.social , who was appointed as a DfE adviser under Bridget Phillipson, has announced he is bringing an end to his secondment
Headteacher announces exit as DfE adviser
Andrew O’Neill, who was appointed school policy and delivery adviser under previous education secretary Bridget Phillipson, brings an early end to his secondment
tes.com
Exclusive: Headteachers and local council leaders raise concerns about plans for a major shake-up of how schools are funded for pupils with SEND
SEND funding plan risks ‘penalising’ inclusive schools
Headteachers and local council leaders raise concerns about plans for a major shake-up of how schools are funded for pupils with SEND
tes.com
The KS3 Alliance is calling for evidence on how schools can improve students’ experience of the phase and establish a clearer purpose for the early secondary years, amid concerns that key stage 3 is ‘seriously overlooked’
KS3 Alliance launches national call for evidence on ‘overlooked’ phase
Schools and trusts are asked to help define the purpose of early secondary years amid concerns that students can lose engagement after Year 7
tes.com
BREAKING: The teacher pay award for 2026-27 will be funded ‘at a national level’ from savings to employer contributions for support staff pensions, government claims
Teacher pay award to be funded through pension savings
Schools were initially told they would have to fund the first 1% of the 2026-27 teacher pay award
tes.com
The decision to ditch Ofsted's overall single-word effectiveness grades was seen as an important moment for schools and came amid calls for major reform. But two years after the decision was taken what has really changed? My long read for @tesmagazine.bsky.social today. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
What has ditching overall Ofsted grades actually changed?
Two years on from the decision to scrap headline Ofsted inspection judgements, Tes examines what difference this has made to schools and leaders
tes.com
Reporter @ktorm-social1.bsky.social breaks down this year’s GCSE results by subject: 🔹 Reductions in pass rates for English and maths 🔹 Better grades in languages 🔹 All sciences saw an uptick in top grades awarded
Which GCSE subject delivered the most top grades in 2026?
Tes analyses the subject-by-subject changes in exam results in England, including reductions in pass rates for English and maths and better grades in languages
tes.com
This year’s GCSE results reveal a reduction in the proportion of students passing English and maths in England – with the overall pass rate across all subjects also down
GCSE results 2026: English and maths pass rates down for fifth straight year
This year’s GCSE results also reveal that the regional divide in England in attainment continued to widen while the gender gap narrowed
tes.com
Lots of people saying we have seen this technical pivot from governments before - here's a piece by someone who helped design one of those past efforts and has some points of note for designing it this time around. Great piece from Gareth.
Tes magazine@tesmagazine.bsky.social · 3mo agoWith Andy Burnham outlining his big plan for new technical education pathways in schools, former DfE civil servant @garethconyard.bsky.social highlights the lesson the prime minister can learn from the failed 14-19 Diplomas
After a major education policy shakeup the sector is left with far more questions than answers. @tesmagazine.bsky.social summarises what we know about new technical education pathways and what remains unanswered. @cerysturner.bsky.social @johngroberts.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
New technical routes for schools: what we do and don’t know
A huge announcement on secondary education was made by Andy Burnham last night, begging a raft of questions. We set out the answers the sector needs and the detail - where it exists - we know already
tes.com
Following prime minister Andy Burnham’s announcement of new technical routes for schools, we answer the key questions the sector needs to know about this major shift in secondary education
New technical routes for schools: what we do and don’t know
A huge announcement on secondary education was made by Andy Burnham last night, begging a raft of questions. We set out the answers the sector needs and the detail - where it exists - we know already
tes.com
BREAKING: Secondary schools will be expected to offer new technical routes for 14-year-olds by 2028, the PM has announced – but unions have criticised a lack of detail in the proposals and the fact they have been released during the holidays
New technical pathways in secondary schools by 2028, PM announces
Schools will be inspected by Ofsted on vocational offering, but sector leaders want more details on multiple aspects of the plans
tes.com
New technical education routes in schools will be available to 14-year-olds, prime minister Andy Burnham has announced tonight. Year 10 pupils will be able to combine core academic subjects with more technical education options linked to jobs available in their area. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
New technical pathways in secondary schools by 2028, PM announces
Schools will be inspected by Ofsted on vocational offering, but sector leaders want more details on multiple aspects of the plans
tes.com
What are @waterstones.bsky.social's top 10 bestselling books for primary pupils? And what does that list tell us about children's reading habits? Rufus Thomas takes a look. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
What the bestselling books for children tell primary teachers
Research shows that pupils’ enjoyment of reading declines as they move through primary school. Do the bestselling books for this age group hold any clues about how schools can help reverse the trend?
tes.com
Feels significant that Georgia Gould has been retained as schools minister. She has been leading on far reaching SEND reforms which are still very much in train. Here is a round up of what the government announced earlier this year. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
How is Labour planning to reform SEND?
The DfE sets out proposals for schools to produce statutory support plans for pupils with SEND and for new national inclusion standards. Here’s everything you need to know about its reform plans
tes.com
After a change at the top of the DfE, editor @jonsevers.bsky.social looks back at the tenure of Bridget Phillipson in a post-reshuffle special Tes Daily newsletter. Read it here ⬇️
Tes Daily: A missed opportunity follows Phillipson out of the DfE
Jon Severs looks back at the two-year tenure of Bridget Phillipson in a post-reshuffle special Tes Daily newsletter
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Excl: DfE accused of showing “scant regard” for schools after publishing significant policy updates just weeks before the end of term. @tesmagazine.bsky.social Story with @jabedahmed.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Late DfE policy dump ‘shows scant regard’ for schools
Schools tell Tes they have been left with little time to implement significant policy changes on safeguarding, enrichment and attendance after the DfE released substantial updates late in the summer t...
tes.com
Congratulations to @lucympowell.bsky.social - a lot of big reforms in motion, a lot of heat around those reforms. Some big delivery targets to hit. Proper discussion with the sector will be essential.
Tes magazine@tesmagazine.bsky.social · 3mo agoBreaking: Lucy Powell has been appointed as education secretary by new prime minister Andy Burnham, replacing Bridget Phillipson
Breaking: Lucy Powell has been appointed as education secretary by new prime minister Andy Burnham, replacing Bridget Phillipson
Lucy Powell appointed as education secretary
She will replace Bridget Phillipson, who has been in the role since Labour came to power in July 2024
tes.com
Lucy Powell appointed education secretary in Andy Burnham’s cabinet . www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Lucy Powell appointed as education secretary
She will replace Bridget Phillipson, who has been in the role since Labour came to power in July 2024
tes.com
Exclusive: Dame Christine Gilbert will lead a review into Sats failings after results were delayed by more than one week, Tes understands. It will examine the precise nature of the issues that led to the delay, as well as their origin. It will conclude in the autumn. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Dame Christine Gilbert to lead review into Sats failings
DfE announces review on the day that delayed key stage 2 Sats results are due to be released
tes.com
‘Experts at hand’ is a central part of the DfE’s SEND reforms, but will the plan to create a bank of experts to deliver inclusion support actually work? @johngroberts.bsky.social asks leaders in the sector about the challenges
Can experts at hand really make a difference?
The government’s £1.8bn plan to give mainstream schools expert support for inclusion is a key part of its SEND reforms. But leaders warn there are major obstacles in making the scheme a success
tes.com
Exclusive: More than half of primary schools post pictures of pupils on social media platforms. Teacher Tapp data shows most schools share images of children on public platforms but over a quarter of primaries and 1 in 5 secondaries plan to change policies in near future. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Most primary schools post pictures of pupils on social media
As new National Crime Agency guidance warns parents against posting images of their children online, Teacher Tapp research reveals most schools show pictures of pupils on public platforms
tes.com
Excl: Exam board OCR stands by decision not to re-mark GCSE paper despite an upheld complaint from Ofqual and pressure from Tories. OCR says it wishes to protect the “integrity” of exams and the watchdog considers the matter ongoing. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
OCR defends decision not to re-mark controversial GCSE paper
Exam board’s managing director, in an exclusive Tes interview, says that despite a complaint being upheld by Ofqual and pressure from Tories, it cannot award marks for ‘incorrect answers’
tes.com
The MAT @arkschools.bsky.social has announced two new CEOs to replace Lucy Heller, who is stepping down at the end of this academic year after 22 years at the organisation
Ark announces new CEOs to replace Lucy Heller
Patrick Wall will lead the Ark Schools multi-academy trust and Katie Oliver will be CEO of the organisation’s charitable arm
tes.com
Medical guidance published by heads’ union amid safety fears - @johngroberts.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new... @naht.org.uk
Medical guidance published by heads’ union amid safety fears
The NAHT has published medical support guidance to help school leaders identify unsafe practices and challenge unreasonable expectations
tes.com
Schools could be given more upfront funding to educate pupils with special educational needs - but the threshold for being able to seek top-up funding would also be raised, under plans announced by DfE. Funding decisions would be taken locally with govt sign off. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Plans for major shake-up of schools’ SEND funding
DfE consulting on plans to give schools more upfront funding for SEND provision, but also raise the £6,000 per pupil threshold for applying for top-up cash
tes.com