Feature Stories
Finding a Place for PSHE in Schools

Published on 26th June 2017
PSHE (personal, social and health education) has long been a thorny topic for schools. Its importance is unquestionable. We know students need to be the recipients of quality instruction on sometimes difficult, often sensitive subjects, but who should deliver it, what should be delivered and how are questions to which there seems to be little consensus.
Queen’s Speech outlines government’s plans for schools

Published on 22nd June 2017
The Queen’s Speech stated that ministers will “strengthen the economy so that it supports the creation of jobs and generates the tax revenues needed to invest in the National Health Service, schools, and other public services”.
Ofsted plans to change short inspection process

Published on 19th June 2017
Ofsted is seeking views on its proposals to change the way it carries out short inspections of good schools.
‘As a society, we don’t support languages as much as we should. For everyone’s sake, this must change.’

Published on 22nd May 2017
Until 2005, all but a few students took a language in Key Stage 4. They were given the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills, improve their future prospects and become more open-minded through the study of a foreign language. Since then, the subject has been faltering.
DfE defends its stance on retention of teachers

Published on 5th May 2017
The Department for Education has defended itself against criticism that it needs to do more to retain good teachers within its recruitment and retention policies.
Mental health training for teachers needs strengthening

Published on 4th May 2017
The government should strengthen mental health training and continuing professional development for teachers to ensure they are properly equipped to recognise the early signs of mental illness in pupils and signpost them to the correct support.
Schools will decide how best to teach RSE and PSHE

Published on 12th April 2017
Schools will be given the flexibility of how best to teach sex education and PSHE classes, it has emerged.
Locum teacher banned from teaching again after he groomed teenage girl

Published on 4th April 2017
A supply teacher found to have groomed a 14-year-old girl for sexual acitivity has been prohibited from teaching.
Leadership key to improving behaviour in schools

Published on 27th March 2017
Standards of behaviour remain a significant challenge for many schools, an independent review of behaviour in schools has concluded.
School unions slam Budget as a missed opportunity for schools

Published on 9th March 2017
The Budget has been slammed as a missed opportunity to rectify the funding crisis faced by many schools across England and Wales.
Children from poor backgrounds falling behind at secondary school

Published on 27th February 2017
Children from poorer backgrounds are making less progress at secondary school in comparison to their more affluent peers, research by the Social Mobility Commission has found.
Government must create development plan for supply and retention of teaching staff

Published on 25th February 2017
The government has been urged to focus on the retention of teachers to tackle a shortage of teaching staff by the Education Select Committee.
Level of mental health problems in children ‘underestimated’

Published on 12th February 2017
Almost all head-teachers in primary schools think people underestimate the levels of mental health problems among school pupils, news research has found.
Young people missing out on PSHE and sex education

Published on 31st January 2017
Sex education is not being taught to anywhere near the extent it should be, the British Humanist Association has found.
Schools ‘ideally placed’ to tackle poor body image issues

Published on 17th January 2017
Schools have been urged to do more to tackle body image anxiety after research has found that pupils are avoiding activities due to fears about how they look.