branwen jeffreys
@branwenjeffreys
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BBC Education Editor - swims, reads, dreams - cooks inventively when there's a spare moment. Governor/trustee @HealthFdn & supports @speakrs4schools
Joined December 2010
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It is hard to overstate how extraordinary it is for a former senior civil servant to speak out like this - in part Jonathan Slater is speaking out to make utterly clear their advice over RAAC was ignored & Sunak cut back spending further
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Breaking former Education Secretary Lord Baker
"I urge the Education Secretary to instruct Ofqual not to release the GCSEs results this Thursday as their algorithm is flawed. The A-Level results have produced hundreds of thousands of unfair and barely explicable downgrades.”
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Layla just got Distinction* Distinction Distinction in her extended Btec - She’s already started an apprenticeship with a big travel company - a reminder that as many will be going into work/training/vocational routes today as on to university
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BREAKING Ofsted have confirmed that a pilot visit to test their new inspection framework was made in 2019 to Caversham Primary school. In addition to inspectors – the Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman was present as an observer. Ruth Perry told parents feedback was glowing
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I won't give up until Ofsted is radically reformed. So please stand up for Ruth, stand up for yourselves - taken down your banners, hand in your badges, Ofsted must be reformed Julia Waters tells headteachers - everyone is on their feet applauding her speech
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Earlier this year in April in a BBC interview the Chief Inspector of Ofsted Amanda Spielman said the inspection had been carried out professionally and sensitively. Today the coroner said it had been at times "rude and intimidating" and lacked fairness
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When Building Schools for the Future was scrapped - as part of the post 2010 austerity in public spending - it led to more than 700 school construction projects in England being cancelled
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BREAKING A primary school in Cambridge has managed to get its Inadequate grading overturned with Ofsted accepting the report is unreliable. Queen Emma School said it’s headteacher had suicidal thoughts after the inspection
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At their peak there were around 3000 sure start centres - a one stop shop for under 5s and parents - more than a thousand were closed in post 2020 austerity - others folded into other services. Now we have long term
@TheIFS
research that they paid for themselves
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Read this to fully understand- in her owns words what
#ruthperry
went through. These notes were found by her sister Julia Waters after her sister’s death. Warning this is powerful & distressing because it is so directly from Ruth Perry’s own thoughts
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BREAKING
@naht
has taken the first step towards legal action over OFSTED’s refusal to pause inspections following the death of Ruth Perry. It has issued a formal letter as the first stage towards seeking a judicial review. Ofsted has argued it’s not in children’s interest to stop
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No one wants to duck the importance of this but Ofsted have changed their framework 5 times in 9 years - with inspectors looking at subjects they've never taught, or age groups where they have no experience says
@MaryBoustedNEU
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From Jonathan Slater - former permanent secretary at DfE
@BBCr4today
a devastating revelation- they asked for cash to rebuild/repair 300-400 schools a year - were given £ for 100 - then Rishi Sunak as chancellor in 2021 cut that to 50 schools
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A year ago today a primary headteacher Ruth Perry took her life, distressed after an Ofsted inspection and distraught at the consequences. The inquest found the inspection had contributed to her death
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PARENTS it’s a this point when you are fretting - that I feel should confess I missed quite lot of school. A year when I was 10 years old - long story - then around 6 months when I was 15 and had a life threatening illness. Readers I survived & flourished because I read, and read
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This is the first time any of the Edu journos in the room have seen this - all the unions together
@cyclingkev
says they have a shared moral purpose
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What may be baffling to parents is how a school can go from outstanding to inadequate or requires improvement without them or the governing body noticing
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Today I got a lot of Happy Christmas messages from people signing off for holidays - so in solidarity for those staggering on - I’ll be working til late next week. Amazed to hear some schools going until 22nd - may the force be with you
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Calvin Henry has been a headteacher for 17 years - last year his school went from Good to Inadequate to Good in every respect the space of months - he told me it left him ‘a shadow of my former self’
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There is a risk of future deaths if action isn't taken following the suicide of Ruth Perry, the senior coroner for Berkshire has warned in a report issued today. Heidi Connor said Ofsted had failed to conduct a learning review following Mrs Perry's death 1/4
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The debate about education and Ofsted has elicited more emails than we have ever had says
@bbclaurak
.
People really care about schools and education
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Schools in England set their own behaviour policies and I have yet to visit a secondary that doesn’t either already have a ban or clear rules around use of mobile phones. The current advice from government makes it clear this is up to headteachers to decide
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This judgement by senior coroner Heidi Connor - based on a finding of facts in the death of
#ruthperry
- unequivocally links her deteriorating state of mind and death to the Ofsted inspection which was at times rude & intimidating, lacked fairness, respect and sensitivity
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Now
@ASCL_UK
joins the calls for OFSTED pause - making it 3 education unions so far. Heading to a radio studio
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In a statement overnight Ruth Perry’s family have called for far reaching change in a system they describe as punitive. The statement is measured but also excoriating criticism - more follows in thread to keep the context
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Heidi Connor senior coroner says she can see very clearly in this matter the family would have been at a disadvantage without lawyers - they crowd funded raising all the money within a week after legal aid turned down
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So someone has suggested we cross reference schools that had building projects cancelled under BSF with RAAC list - far simpler this is a shout out if you or a school you know are in that category let me know
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So tell me headteachers - what information have you received about when CO2 monitors might arrive & how many you might get for your school
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In an interesting turn of events
@Telegraph
reporting that Gillian Keegan is fighting within government for the Treasury to fund 6.5% pay increase for teachers… unconfirmed & rather different from mood music from ministers in public so far
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That’s why I’m sitting in my PJs doing a series of live radio broadcasts - what these sad set of events provoke is a question - can a school be fairly summed up in a single word judgement - however nuanced the report that sits behind it ?
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To huge cheers, whoops and banner waving
@MaryBoustedNEU
asks why
@GillianKeegan
thinks teachers are “worth less” than colleagues in Scotland and Wales. But also that strike dates are 3 weeks away and there is time to talk
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Ofsted has publicly described ruth perry's death as a "pivot to discredit" them ( Amanda Spielman Womans hour 2 weeks ago) Heidi Connor senior coroner suggests this is a lack of looking at the facts in this case or learning from it
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Just now from
@ASCL_UK
@RealGeoffBarton
“ We cannot see how inspections can continue to take place in schools and colleges after such a serious risk to the health and safety of education staff has been highlighted…. 1/3
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So listening incredibly carefully to Jeremy Hunt on
@bbclaurak
he said "we will spend whatever it takes to make sure children can go to school safely" This covers immediate remedial measures. On Friday the government said schools would have to bid for long term replacement
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A kind, generous & gracious colleague - hugely liked & respected in equal measure. George Alagiah: BBC journalist and newsreader dies aged 67
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School closed over RAAC concrete lost earlier bid for government cash
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When I go into schools they tell me the issue isn’t spotting mental health problems - many staff including dinner ladies are observant - it’s getting support. Counselors in schools have become harder to fund - referrals to nhs can take months
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School set to take Ofsted to court over inspection
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So to everyone tweeting at me - we are looking carefully at what’s happening in Newbury. I’m not going to relay every conversation that’s taking place - some are private.
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We would sincerely apologise to parents for disrupting their childrens education and their lives says
@cyclingkev
but there is disruption to school every week from lessons being taught by non specialist teaching - and schools abandoning some subjects such as computer studies
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'The shame of being told you're inadequate by Ofsted'
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Please watch & share our half hour film- the story of
#RuthPerry
and the wider debate about the mental distress of headteachers and school inspections + what could be done
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This is a significant step by both headteachers unions. The more detailed coroner’s recommendations will be published in due course in a separate report
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During and after the Ofsted inspection Ruth's mental health deteriorated considerably. Verdict is suicide contributed to by an Ofsted inspection carried out in November 2022
#RuthPerry
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The full picture on kids missing school in England is out and it’s a pretty shocking picture 22% missing at least 10% of school time. - but in secondaries that rose to 28% - almost a third of children missing so much is a terrible legacy of the pandemic
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I confess and this will haunt me for the rest of my life I had not realised the impact of a devastating Ofsted judgement on a headteacher Julia Waters tells
@NAHTnews
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Every time I watch my colleague
@BBCFergusWalsh
on air at the moment I think how incredibly lucky
@BBCNews
is to have him - the product of a public service news Organisation that nurtures specialism and allows journeys to deepen their expertise for times like this
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"it was the first time I screamed" Julia Waters tells
@BBCWomansHour
about the interview they did with Amanda Spielman two weeks ago - describing it as a kick in the guts
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An important study from
@TheIFS
- the early sure start centres in disadvantaged areas had the biggest impact - traceable through the national pupil data base up to age 16
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Honestly it’s just so joyful in early years this morning
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Ofsted: MPs call for an end to single-word grades
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From
@PaulWhiteman6
@NAHTnews
“The verdict is a clear and damning inditement of an approach to inspection that has done massive harm to school professionals.Ofsted has no choice but to seriously reflect and make changes to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again."
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So as you can imagine I’m flat out on school buildings - like the 104 schools that are dealing with this right now - so tell me what’s going on - what it will cost to put it right - we will be reporting on this Monday too
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When I started work for the BBC on Merseyside Frank Field was already known as a fierce and radical thinker - deeply concerned about poverty - and unafraid to challenge orthodoxy. The kind of MP that every political party needs
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Really interesting shift in tone from Michael Wilshaw on
@BBCPM
just now - altho still v supportive of work of Ofsted he recognised ‘groundswell’ of unease - said it has to work with consent - and Education Secretary meet Amanda Spielman
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A quarter of grammar schools have fewer than 5% of disadvantaged pupils - it’s hard to convey how extraordinary this is - so we looked at all 3000+ non selective secondaries- just 13 of them had similar low numbers
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It’s also hard not to hear the sound of chickens coming home to roost - Slater is just one of the respected permanent secretaries forced out by nest this government- breaking the tradition that ministers took responsibility for their decisions
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For everyone feeling a bit lonely or lovelorn today - I’m sharing a rose for the day - but really, truly you don’t need it - you’re lovely just as you are
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Ofsted inspection played part in Ruth Perry’s death, GP says
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The post pandemic changes school leaders described to me included struggles to reset behaviour & attendance in some areas - and the weight given by Ofsted inspectors to isolated incidents/speech heard on their visit
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Tomorrow morning Amanda Spielman will do a lengthy interview with my colleague Laura Kuensberg. This is the first time the Chief Inspector has spoken publicly since the debate unleashed after the suicide of Ruth Perry
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Speaking to the BBC
@cyclingkev
said the offer is well below settlements reached in Scotland and Wales.
Kevin Courtney the General Secretary said the offer was not fully funded and 58% of schools would have to make cuts.
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First proper day off in 2 weeks - celebrating with a cafe bacon roll and tea. It’s raining outside so I know it’s a bank holiday - sofa and book beckons
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This academic year to date 27% of pupils in secondary - 18% in primary have missed at least 10% of school. These rates remain twice as high as pre pandemic
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Under labour
@bphillipsonMP
says the days of one word Ofsted judgements will end - getting appaulse from the audience of headteachers
#ASCL2024
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It’s worth bearing in mind as Martyn Oliver steps in to lead Ofsted how much lies not in his hands but is controlled by government- notably the 1 or 2 word judgements, limiting judgements over safeguarding, and the consequences attached to an Inadequate judgement
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Saying sorry is very powerful - today Ofsted does that for the first time, fully accepting the part an inspection played in the death of Ruth Perry. The response to the coroner is a signal of intent from the new Chief Inspector Martyn Oliver
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Over the last few weeks I have spoken to schools built all over England under the Private Finance Initiative - many headteachers told us they would like to speak about the costs they face - but Non Disclosure Agreements bar them from doing so.
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Heidi Connor has reminded Ofsted lawyers it is not appropriate to make position statements in court, including anything touching on the causal nature of events. Adding it is important in light of " suprisingly insensitive public comment" from most senior levels of Ofsted
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EXCLUSIVE New analysis seen by the BBC shows in 41 A level subjects students at Sixth Form Colleges were given lower marks than the previous 3 year average - it’s based on 65,000 entries this year so a big slice of data
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On maths
@bphillipsonMP
says there is no point children studying it after 16 if they have been switched off by age 6. She says her ambition is for a country where how we learn, not just what we learn is important.
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At
#neu2023
they have just announced a vote with overwhelming majority of those who voted to reject pay offer for England - this means 2 strikes will go ahead on April 27th and May 2nd.
@cyclingkev
says
@GillianKeegan
not reading the room
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PARENTS - BBC Bitesize is here for you in what could be a long haul. There will also be loads more documentaries onto Iplayer - nows the time to delve into history & also to learn a language - BBC languages there are loads of apps / you tube channels
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While stopping short of criticizing his predecessor- in the lengthy interview I recorded with Martyn Oliver he made clear Ofsted needs an urgent shift in tone in the dialogue with schools and headquarters
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The BBC has learnt that in Stoke on Trent - the largest PFI in England with more than 80 schools - school leaders were told in a meeting closed to the public last week they face increases in charges at at least 10% with concern it could be considerably more
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One of most important things Marcus Rashford has done in his powerful interview with
@sallynugent
is to help alleviate shame over food poverty - often people will tell us how bad it is but don’t want to speak out because of the stigma they fear children might face
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Headteachers in England have never gone on strike.
@RealGeoffBarton
says this is quite a moment - I never thought I'd be sitting here saying members want a ballot for strike action to signal urgency - and govt in "parallel universe"
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As senior coroner Heidi Connor continues she is setting out what she wants to see in terms of the prevention of future deaths. She says the last few weeks will have been "excruciating" for Ruth Perry's family - who have had composure and dignity
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One of the challenges for Ofsted is that in a podcast last week Amanda Spielman insisted there had been no issue either in the inspection of Caversham Primary School or systemically within Ofsted - directly contradicting the senior coroner for Berkshire
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Ofsted and Ruth Perry: The dam has burst on strength of feeling. With some thoughts drawing on work by
@EduPolicyInst
&
@FFTEduDatalab
among others
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MPs are to hold an inquiry into Ofsted's inspection of schools - looking at what value they provide to schools and parents. They will consider the impact on teachers but will not examine the circumstances of Ruth Perry's death which will be considered by an inquest
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On
@BBCr4today
@bphillipsonMP
says there is a real recruitment crisis - 1 in 4 physics classes - 1 in 10 maths classes taught by non specialists
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This is what one PFI school is dealing with - this happened one day when I was there - while some schools told us the buildings were good & well maintained- that is not the experience of this Oldham secondary. I saw huge bundles of evidence
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The findings of senior coroner Heidi Connor are a vindication of the concerns raised throughout this year by Professor Julia Waters, Ruth Perry's sister, and others who have supported her including Caversham Primary parent
@Edmund_B_W
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The government can't sit in Whitehall and tell people running schools they have enough money - this is the profession fighting for the profession says
@ASCL_UK
general secretary. This is a government that wants 'education on the cheap' adds
@RealGeoffBarton
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So if in doubt get your kids to read. Great literacy boosts skills across subjects - even exam performance in maths/science. Books give us an escape into another world, feed our imaginations, give us empathy and resilience
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Ofsted unfit for purpose, says ex-inspector
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This inquest - while also giving the family of
#ruthperry
the answers they sought - will have far reaching consequences. It has raised questions the impact of headteachers of the current system
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Much has been made of the fact of that many former and current headteachers act as Ofsted inspectors - no doubt you are doing your best - but follow the example of others - hand in your badges, refuse to be complicit says Julia Waters.
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A marked change in tone from Martyn Oliver as he takes over at Ofsted - starting with a couple of weeks of mental health training promised for inspectors at the start of this term
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I’m away deep resting - see you later in the summer ..
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The decision
@NAHTnews
to reject the government pay offer - comes with a call to reballot on strike action - almost all say they can’t afford a pay rise from existing budgets without more funding.
@PaulWhiteman6
talking to me for
@BBCBreakfast
described the offer as ‘insulting’
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I’m in Salford with Professor Julia Waters who has been doing interviews about
@CommonsEd
report of Ofsted which calls for significant reform
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So after the inquest which will explore the events at the time of Ruth Perry’s death the family are calling for far reaching and rapid reform “to place the welfare of teaching staff, as well as of schoolchildren, at its heart”
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The Lords committee also calls for lighter exam load “The current assessment model puts intense pressure on schools, teachers and pupils due to the high stakes attached to pupil performance during just a few weeks of written exams.”
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The Beyond Ofsted inquiry says the relationship between schools & Ofsted is now toxic. The year long inquiry was funded by
@NEUnion
- chaired by former school’s minister
@LordJimKnight
with
@ucl
academics
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So many secondaries looked at the rising cases at half term & decided to bring back face masks in corridors then.
@NEUnion
@MaryBoustedNEU
are pointing out the virus makes no distinction between a corridor and a classroom - to which the govt response is the pupils sit in class
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