EXPLAINED: 3 | Vintage Vibes

School leaders warn of ‘full-blown’ special needs crisis in England

Survey by NAHT union finds funding shortages mean pupils are losing out on vital support

The Guardian - UK · May 4, 2024

England scraps 50% rule on faith school admissions

Allowing 100% faith-based access would be divisive and likely penalise disadvantaged children, say campaigners

The Guardian - UK · Apr 30, 2024

Headteachers forced to mend desks and unblock toilets after cuts in England

Exclusive: School leaders say they have had to take on additional role as caretaker because they can no longer afford staff

The Guardian - UK · Apr 28, 2024

Primary schools in England close, merge and shrink as pupil numbers fall

London boroughs among hardest hit due to falling birth rate and family struggles with Covid and rising costs

The Guardian - UK · Dec 16, 2023

‘Poisonous cocktail of pressures’ on headteachers as school leaders seek help for mental health

National Association of Head Teachers poll comes following death of headteacher Ruth Perry, as coroner concluded Ofsted inspection “likely contributed” to her suicide

The Independent UK · Dec 15, 2023

Ofsted inspection ‘likely contributed’ to Ruth Perry’s death, coroner concludes

Ruth Perry took her own life in January after her school was downgraded by Ofsted following an inspection last year

Evening Standard · Dec 7, 2023

School leaders hit out at Ofsted’s ‘unreliable’ grades: ‘One word can devastate a school’

The inspectorate has faced repeated calls to revamp its school ratings system – which uses one-word judgments – following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in January

The Independent UK · Nov 23, 2023

Majority of school leaders believe Ofsted headline grades are unreliable – poll

The findings come on the day the watchdog is due to publish its annual report on the state of education and social care in England.

The Independent UK · Nov 23, 2023

Barely a mention of education in autumn statement, say unions

Warning of cuts to education provision because schools were not able to cope with cost increases in coming years.

The Independent UK · Nov 22, 2023

Pupil absence so high all of society must work to fix it, headteachers warn

The number of pupils skipping school remains at double pre-pandemic levels

Evening Standard · Nov 5, 2023