- Government warns academies as email ‘phishing’ scams inflict financial losses
Academies and other educational institutions are being warned about new cyber-attacks which have already claimed some victims and resulted in financial losses. The latest Education and Skills Funding Agency update, published today, contains information about a “phishing” scam – where a fraudster disguises as a trustworthy source in an electronic ... read more - Ofsted: Inspectors without subject expertise make less reliable judgements
Inspectors without subject expertise struggle to reliably assess the quality of lessons and pupils’ workbooks in secondary schools, according to a new analysis from Ofsted. Ahead of the launch of the inspectorate’s new education inspection framework in September, Ofsted has published research into the validity and reliability of its inspection ... read more - 8 things the government wants schools to teach about online safety
Schools have been urged to teach pupils about social media influencers, the dangers of online challenges, and how to spot fake news, in new guidance for teaching online safety. The Department for Education advice urges schools to consider what they are already delivering through the curriculum, and build in additional ... read more - Private schools need phasing out – and here’s how it can be done
A packed event held in the House of Commons entitled ‘Phasing Out Private Schools’ sought to kick-start a long overdue debate. Despite shadow schools minister Mike Kane attending, this received barely a whiff in the media – though it was the subject of sarcasm in a sketch by Jonathan Simons, ... read more - DfE sticks with LGBT guidance, but gets unions onside with tougher talk
Ministers have stuck by their guidance on LGBT lessons in schools despite concerns it was putting head in the firing line, but have won union support by strengthening their expectations around the issue. Schools Week reported earlier this year how headteachers were concerned about the draft guidance for teaching relationships, ... read more - Put down your mobile phones and learn poetry
At a time when so many youngsters are glued to their Xboxes and mobile phones, communicating by grunts, emojis and abbreviations (LOL), it’s time we rose ‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more’ and shouted about the benefits of learning the words by heart of the Bard, Michael ... read more - Two people arrested over alleged leak of Edexcel maths paper
Two people have been arrested after an Edexcel A-level maths paper was allegedly leaked online, Pearson has said. Police were called to investigate after questions from the A-level maths 3 paper were allegedly posted on social media before the exam was sat on June 13. Pearson, which owns Edexcel, said ... read more - Admissions shake-up call as report reveals lack of diversity in top roles
Almost two in five MPs serving in top government positions were privately educated, despite just seven per cent of people nationally attending independent schools, a new report has found. The Social Mobility Commission and Sutton Trust have called for changes to school admissions and an opening-up of private schools after ... read more - Two more schools rapped by Ofsted for off-rolling
Two more secondary schools have been accused of off-rolling by Ofsted, as the inspectorate insists it has the ability to root out the controversial practice. Falmouth School in Cornwall has been rated ‘inadequate’ after inspectors found it sometimes removed pupils against the advice of other agencies. The Sutton Academy, in ... read more - Everything hinges on the spending review, and 3 other things we learned at education questions
Education ministers took questions from MPs for the last time before summer recess. Damian Hinds, the education secretary, and his ministerial colleagues were grilled on education funding and a raft of other issues in the House of Commons this afternoon. Here are four things we learned. 1. Everything hinges ... read more - Akala: Schools need ‘universal code’ on exclusions
Schools should have to follow a “universal code” on what constitutes grounds for the expulsion of pupils so all children are treated the same, according to the rapper and inclusion campaigner Akala. Speaking at the Wellington College Festival of Education last week, the musician and writer, who has spoken out ... read more - Phonics check 2019 pass mark announced
The Department for Education has confirmed the pass mark for the phonics screening check will remain at 32 this year. It is the eighth year in a row that the test’s pass mark has been set at this level. Details of the pass mark have been published today, along with test ... read more - Recognising success boosts students’ confidence
Students are more likely to commit to a task if they are confident that they can complete it successfully. What can we do to increase their confidence and encourage them to begin tasks, complete them and recognise their success? Albert Bandura is a key figure in the study of self-efficacy. ... read more - Second police probe launched after another alleged social media exam leak
Police are investigating another potential leak of an exam paper. According to the Guardian, officers are looking into potential malpractice relating to AQA’s GCSE religious studies exam paper, which was sat by pupils on May 20. The paper reported today that parents feared elements from the paper had been circulating ... read more - How you can dampen the effects of publication bias
Too much research literature is skewed towards positive representations, says Baz Ramaiah Imagine that you’re planning a holiday. A quick survey of websites show nothing but positive reviews for your chosen hotel, so you commit your cash and book. It turns out to be half-building site, half-bus station. How did ... read more