We round up the latest employment news.
School leaders initiate legal action against Ofsted
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has launched legal proceedings against Ofsted, challenging the impact of its new inspection proposals on the mental health and wellbeing of school leaders. The union filed a claim for judicial review on Friday 2 May.
NAHT's primary concern revolves around Ofsted's new report card system, which introduces more graded sub-judgements and increased monitoring of schools post-inspection. The union argues that Ofsted's consultation on the new five-point grading scale was inadequate, as alternative options were dismissed without addressing wellbeing concerns.
England's young adults close literacy and numeracy skills gap
A decade after being identified as some of the lowest performers internationally, England's youngest adults have made significant strides in literacy and numeracy. According to the latest findings from the OECD Survey of Adult Skills, young adults aged 16-24 in 2012 (now aged 25-34) have shown remarkable improvement by 2023.
Key findings include:
- The cohort has made larger skill gains in post-compulsory education and early careers compared to their international peers
- Average literacy scores increased from 265 to 285, and numeracy scores from 256 to 280
- The largest skill increases were observed in the South of England, with no significant changes in the North.
Lower school uniform costs
The UK government has announced new measures to reduce school uniform costs. It estimates this will benefit around 4.2 million children and save families around £73 million annually. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, currently progressing through the House of Lords, aims to limit the number of branded items schools can require, capping it at three (excluding ties).
It says that families will save approximately £50 per child annually on school uniforms. Despite existing guidelines, nearly half of schools have not limited branded items, with parents spending an average of £442 for secondary and £343 for primary uniforms.
DfE publishes guidance for schools on supporting service pupils
The Department for Education (DfE) has released new guidance to help state-funded schools and local authorities better understand and address the needs of pupils with parents or carers in the armed forces, known as "service pupils."
Key points of the guidance include:
- Schools are encouraged to prioritise admissions of service pupils and process applications in advance of family relocations
- Head teachers have the discretion to authorise term-time absences, and can consider both educational needs and family impacts
- Emphasising the "common transfer file" system to ensure smooth transitions between schools.
School leaders quitting amid mental health toll
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has raised alarms over the mental health crisis among school leaders, with nearly two-thirds (65%) reporting harm to their mental health in the past year. The findings, based on a survey of over 1,500 senior leaders, reveal that the pressures of the job are driving many to leave the profession.
Key findings include:
- 45% of leaders needed mental health support in the past year, with 33% receiving help, while others found it unavailable (5%) or did not know how to access it (7%)
- Only 20% of senior leaders aspire to become heads, the lowest since 2016
- 88% reported the role affected their sleep, 77% experienced increased worry and stress, and 76% said it negatively impacted their personal life.
Rise in school suspensions and exclusions
England's schools are facing increased scrutiny following a significant rise in suspensions and permanent exclusions. Government data reveals that nearly 300,000 pupils were suspended during the spring term of 2023/24, marking a 12% increase from the previous year.
Persistent disruptive behaviour is the most common reason for suspensions and exclusions.
Plans to improve pathway into AI careers
The UK government has unveiled new initiatives aimed at encouraging more girls to pursue mathematics, thereby enhancing their pathways into careers in AI. The measures include increased funding for STEM programmes and targeted outreach to inspire young women to consider AI and tech-related fields.
Key points include:
- Additional resources for schools to support STEM education, particularly focusing on girls.
- Initiatives to connect female students with role models and mentors in AI and technology sectors.
- Updates to the maths curriculum to include AI-related content and applications.
Modernised exam records
The UK government has launched a new digital exam results pilot to modernise the way students receive their exam records. This initiative aims to save schools and colleges up to £30 million annually by reducing administrative burdens and cutting back on bureaucracy.
Exam certificates will be available digitally through the new Education Record app, eliminating the need for paper files. Over 95,000 students in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands will receive their GCSE results via the app this summer.
The savings from this initiative could fund over 600 new teachers in further education. The government plans to roll out the digital records system nationwide following the pilot's success.
Read more – May 2025
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