Here's this month's education news summary...
School costs and funding
There's no denying the fact that rising costs continue to present serious challenges to schools. This month’s round up of educational news provided a number of items related to funding, such as opinion from the National Association of Headteachers and increases in funding for children’s literacy skills and teacher training bursaries.
Where next for the Early Career Framework?
Over the last year, Teacher Tapp and Gatsby Foundation have been asking Early Career Teachers (ECTs), their mentors and senior leaders how the new Early Career Framework (ECF) is working for them. This study by Teacher Tapp provides some interesting views on how well the ECF is working and changes that teachers are proposing.
Early years and primary
Key stage 1 attainment down across the board in first tests since 2019
The proportion of pupils meeting 'expected standard' falls in phonics, reading, writing and maths - with poorer pupils further behind. Read a short summary on the latest Department for Education data.
Secondary
Key stage 4 2022: The picture at school level
The government has published the latest data on secondary school performance. This is the first time that performance data has been published at school level since before the pandemic. This post from FFT Education Datalab explores the findings.
Key Stage 4 2022: The national picture
Following on from the above report, this analysis by FFT Education Datalab looks at what we can learn from the data at national level.
Post-16
Ofsted interim report: implementation and quality of T-Levels
A delayed Ofsted study into the implementation and quality of T Levels has found concerns that there is too much content and a need for improved planning. But report authors say the rollout has been “a good start” and that no issues were insurmountable.
Among the main points are:
- Too much content
- Delays to industry placements
- Collaborative curriculum planning
- Teacher recruitment concerns
- Questions over the transition programme
- Delays in resources
Research, evaluation studies and blogs
GCSE and Key Stage 4 vocational qualifications data explained
The 2021/22 academic year saw the return of the summer exam series in which pupils sat GCSEs and exams relating to other Key Stage 4 qualifications for the first time since 2019. This short blog from The Education Hub looks at the data.
GCSEs: How Progress 8 has impacted lower-attaining pupils
New research looks at whether the Progress 8 performance measure ‘encouraged schools to work more equitably’.
EEF blog: Developing problem solving strategies in mathematics
Blackpool Research School have recently worked with ten schools across the north of England in developing strategies and approaches which support Year 7 pupils in developing their problem-solving strategies and skill. This has included the use of a ‘Think aloud’ and ‘debrief’, alongside careful consideration of the ways in which teachers exemplify problem-solving as the expert mathematician in their classroom.
Opportunities
Free online training to help plug dyslexic teaching shortfall
With 80% of dyslexics leaving UK schools undiagnosed, a new campaign is offering educators three free training courses.