Charlotte Santry
@charlottesantry.bsky.social
Head of news at Tes Magazine/policy journo/data nerd/school governor/mum of girls
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news
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https://www.tes.com/magazine/news
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Exclusive: The NAHT heads' union has lost its second bid to challenge Ofsted in court over the way it brought in new report card-style inspections.
By @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social
By @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social
Heads’ union loses appeal against Ofsted ruling
The NAHT had appealed against a decision not to grant a judicial review into the launch of new Ofsted school inspections
www.tes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Exclusive: The NAHT heads' union has lost its second bid to challenge Ofsted in court over the way it brought in new report card-style inspections.
By @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social
By @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social
Teachers on mat leave get 22 weeks less full pay than many other public sector workers - including DfE officials.
What effect does this have on retention, and is it likely to improve? Important article by @cerysturner.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
What effect does this have on retention, and is it likely to improve? Important article by @cerysturner.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Why do teachers get such a bad deal on maternity pay?
With women making up the vast majority of the workforce, could better maternity leave pay help tackle the teacher retention crisis?
www.tes.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Teachers on mat leave get 22 weeks less full pay than many other public sector workers - including DfE officials.
What effect does this have on retention, and is it likely to improve? Important article by @cerysturner.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
What effect does this have on retention, and is it likely to improve? Important article by @cerysturner.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
The government is in danger of overlooking the importance of what is taught in special schools and needs to focus more on students who cannot access the national curriculum, special-school leaders have warned.
Exclusive by @johngroberts.bsky.social
Exclusive by @johngroberts.bsky.social
Special schools fear being an ‘afterthought’ on curriculum
In response to the curriculum review, leaders in the specialist sector urge the DfE to focus more on what is taught in special schools and how best practice can be shared
www.tes.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:10 AM
The government is in danger of overlooking the importance of what is taught in special schools and needs to focus more on students who cannot access the national curriculum, special-school leaders have warned.
Exclusive by @johngroberts.bsky.social
Exclusive by @johngroberts.bsky.social
If schools really want to cut exam time by a similar amount to that recommended in the CAR, they could just switch exam boards, the Ofqual chief has said.
He also, however, stressed that most schools don't choose exam boards on this basis, and he "never" did.
He also, however, stressed that most schools don't choose exam boards on this basis, and he "never" did.
Ofqual chief: Schools can already cut exam times
Choosing between exam boards enables schools to reduce exam times to a degree ‘not all that different’ to that envisaged by the Francis review, says Sir Ian Bauckham
www.tes.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:11 PM
If schools really want to cut exam time by a similar amount to that recommended in the CAR, they could just switch exam boards, the Ofqual chief has said.
He also, however, stressed that most schools don't choose exam boards on this basis, and he "never" did.
He also, however, stressed that most schools don't choose exam boards on this basis, and he "never" did.
Which group is right? 👀
Teachers far more likely than students to say phone rules are followed
Findings from the latest DfE behaviour survey also indicate that leaders, educators and pupils disagree about the extent to which their school is 'calm and orderly'
www.tes.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Which group is right? 👀
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
Exclusive: The government’s minimum per-pupil funding level for next year will leave schools facing real-terms cuts, warns expert
School funding to fall by up to 4% in real terms, expert warns
Government’s headline rise to minimum per-pupil funding largely reflects grants being rolled into the NFF, leaving schools facing real-terms cuts, says Simon Oxenham
www.tes.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Exclusive: The government’s minimum per-pupil funding level for next year will leave schools facing real-terms cuts, warns expert
Some schools have been “a little bit suspicious” of the DfE’s RISE programme, but there’s lots of “anecdotal positivity”, and early signs of impact should be known by Xmas, the head of the DfE’s regions group said today.
RISE impact ‘will be seen by Christmas’
‘Monitoring’ of the first batch of schools going through the new regional school improvement system is taking place this term, says DfE official
www.tes.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Some schools have been “a little bit suspicious” of the DfE’s RISE programme, but there’s lots of “anecdotal positivity”, and early signs of impact should be known by Xmas, the head of the DfE’s regions group said today.
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice claims there is a 'crisis of over-diagnosis' of neurodiverse conditions, while ex-Ofsted chief Baroness Spielman says dyslexia just means 'bad at reading'
Reform deputy says pupils wearing ear defenders in class is ‘insane’
Reform’s deputy leader claims there is ‘over-diagnosis’ of neurodiverse conditions, appearing at an event where a former Ofsted chief says dyslexia just means ‘bad at reading’
www.tes.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice claims there is a 'crisis of over-diagnosis' of neurodiverse conditions, while ex-Ofsted chief Baroness Spielman says dyslexia just means 'bad at reading'
💥Revealed: Serious doubt cast over the government’s plan to judge schools on their enrichment offer. Inc new @teachertapp.bsky.social findings commissioned by @tesmagazine.bsky.social
Extra enrichment isn’t possible, teachers warn
The DfE is introducing enrichment benchmarks to push schools to deliver more extracurricular clubs - but research shows that teachers are already working unpaid and out of hours to deliver such activi...
www.tes.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:08 AM
💥Revealed: Serious doubt cast over the government’s plan to judge schools on their enrichment offer. Inc new @teachertapp.bsky.social findings commissioned by @tesmagazine.bsky.social
How do you persuade single academy trusts with some of the best attainment scores in England to join a MAT, if they’re managing ok financially? And do MATs even want them?
@jabedahmed.bsky.social speaks to heads and trust leaders to find out.
@jabedahmed.bsky.social speaks to heads and trust leaders to find out.
What will push the last single-academy trusts to merge?
Nearly 850 single-academy trusts remain, including some of the highest performing schools in England. Labour wants them to join multi-academy trusts, but persuading them won’t be easy, finds Jabed Ahm...
www.tes.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:49 AM
How do you persuade single academy trusts with some of the best attainment scores in England to join a MAT, if they’re managing ok financially? And do MATs even want them?
@jabedahmed.bsky.social speaks to heads and trust leaders to find out.
@jabedahmed.bsky.social speaks to heads and trust leaders to find out.
The new GCSE in AI could quickly become out of date, the chief of England’s largest exam board has warned.
Exclusive by @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Exclusive by @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
AI qualification at risk of rapid obsolescence, warns exam chief
In an exclusive interview, AQA chief Colin Hughes warns that an AI qualification stemming from this week’s curriculum and assessment review may not have a long-term future
www.tes.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
The new GCSE in AI could quickly become out of date, the chief of England’s largest exam board has warned.
Exclusive by @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Exclusive by @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Plus more on the role that @oaknational.bsky.social is expected to play.
The DfE has rejected some of the curriculum and assessment review recommendations – @cerysturner.bsky.social looks at what has been dismissed or only partially accepted
Francis review: the recommendations rejected by government
The DfE wants full rather than phased implementation of curriculum reform - from 2028 - and puts the brakes on inclusion of RE in the national curriculum
www.tes.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Plus more on the role that @oaknational.bsky.social is expected to play.
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
🌍 A grammar school in London is to become the first state school to open a fee-paying school overseas…
First state school to open a fee-paying campus overseas
Queen Elizabeth’s School, in London, is to launch a fee-paying school in Dubai and has further plans for two more schools in India
www.tes.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:05 PM
🌍 A grammar school in London is to become the first state school to open a fee-paying school overseas…
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
🚨The govt will scrap the EBacc, cut GCSE exam time by up to three hours & make sure every school meets "enrichment benchmarks".
Here are all the key proposals from the curriculum and assessment review, plus which reforms the government has accepted so far:
Here are all the key proposals from the curriculum and assessment review, plus which reforms the government has accepted so far:
Curriculum and assessment review: 14 key points
The Francis review’s final recommendations include scrapping the EBacc, reducing exam time and making triple science available to all at GCSE
www.tes.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:30 PM
🚨The govt will scrap the EBacc, cut GCSE exam time by up to three hours & make sure every school meets "enrichment benchmarks".
Here are all the key proposals from the curriculum and assessment review, plus which reforms the government has accepted so far:
Here are all the key proposals from the curriculum and assessment review, plus which reforms the government has accepted so far:
I'm not aware of anything specifying that schools have to stay open until 3.30pm, as long as they commit to 32.5 hours...
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 10:31 AM
I'm not aware of anything specifying that schools have to stay open until 3.30pm, as long as they commit to 32.5 hours...
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
“We had one pupil permanently excluded for persistent disruptive behaviour on just the third day of the academic year.”
Are pupils being excluded for behaviour that’s just “a bit cheeky”? And would tightening the definition of “persistent disruptive behaviour” help?
By @johngroberts.bsky.social
Are pupils being excluded for behaviour that’s just “a bit cheeky”? And would tightening the definition of “persistent disruptive behaviour” help?
By @johngroberts.bsky.social
DfE urged to probe ‘persistent disruptive behaviour’ exclusions
Some pupils are being wrongly excluded from school because this vague ‘catch-all’ category is creating inconsistency in the system, warn PRU and AP leaders
www.tes.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:06 AM
“We had one pupil permanently excluded for persistent disruptive behaviour on just the third day of the academic year.”
Are pupils being excluded for behaviour that’s just “a bit cheeky”? And would tightening the definition of “persistent disruptive behaviour” help?
By @johngroberts.bsky.social
Are pupils being excluded for behaviour that’s just “a bit cheeky”? And would tightening the definition of “persistent disruptive behaviour” help?
By @johngroberts.bsky.social
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
Schools will need to find savings from their budgets to deliver the pay award, according to the DfE’s pay review submission.
Leaders will need to be “proactive” about making the most of their budgets to achieve this (in case they weren’t already…)
Leaders will need to be “proactive” about making the most of their budgets to achieve this (in case they weren’t already…)
October 30, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Schools will need to find savings from their budgets to deliver the pay award, according to the DfE’s pay review submission.
Leaders will need to be “proactive” about making the most of their budgets to achieve this (in case they weren’t already…)
Leaders will need to be “proactive” about making the most of their budgets to achieve this (in case they weren’t already…)
💷Teacher pay: 'Considering the projected trajectory of average earnings growth across the wider economy, it is appropriate that pay awards over the next three years are lower than those in the past few years'
DfE: Teachers should get 6.5% pay rise over three years
The government has told the School Teachers’ Review Body how much teachers should receive up to 2029
www.tes.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:35 PM
💷Teacher pay: 'Considering the projected trajectory of average earnings growth across the wider economy, it is appropriate that pay awards over the next three years are lower than those in the past few years'
“There is no support for heads to have zero tolerance.”
My full interview with shadow education secretary Laura Trott below 👇
My full interview with shadow education secretary Laura Trott below 👇
Laura Trott: Heads have to ‘fight’ for exclusions
Shadow education secretary talks to Tes about the ‘pushback’ facing heads on exclusions, how schools are ‘lagging’ on phone bans and why RISE plans are ‘reckless’
www.tes.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:39 AM
“There is no support for heads to have zero tolerance.”
My full interview with shadow education secretary Laura Trott below 👇
My full interview with shadow education secretary Laura Trott below 👇
Story here: www.tes.com/magazine/new...
October 22, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Story here: www.tes.com/magazine/new...
“We need a plan...we need a perm sec & we need better ministers & quite frankly we need an agenda of reform. We can’t go on like this."
If it felt to heads/teachers like the DfE was in utter chaos during Covid, this inquiry's doing...nothing whatsoever to dispel that.
If it felt to heads/teachers like the DfE was in utter chaos during Covid, this inquiry's doing...nothing whatsoever to dispel that.
‘Homicidal’ Johnson considered sacking Williamson over 2020 exam results
The former prime minister gives evidence to the Covid inquiry on decisions made about schools during the crisis
www.tes.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:37 PM
“We need a plan...we need a perm sec & we need better ministers & quite frankly we need an agenda of reform. We can’t go on like this."
If it felt to heads/teachers like the DfE was in utter chaos during Covid, this inquiry's doing...nothing whatsoever to dispel that.
If it felt to heads/teachers like the DfE was in utter chaos during Covid, this inquiry's doing...nothing whatsoever to dispel that.
If heads pitch this too high, it could count against them. Too low, and it could become "self-fulfilling", warns @pepediiasio.bsky.social
More in @cerysturner.bsky.social exclusive below:
More in @cerysturner.bsky.social exclusive below:
Exclusive: Ofsted's demand that schools provide graded self-evaluations will add to the stress staff face around inspection, heads' leaders warn
Schools grading themselves is 'almost impossible', heads warn Ofsted
Ofsted's expectation that schools provide a graded self-evaluation using its new five-point scale has sparked warnings from heads' leaders
www.tes.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
If heads pitch this too high, it could count against them. Too low, and it could become "self-fulfilling", warns @pepediiasio.bsky.social
More in @cerysturner.bsky.social exclusive below:
More in @cerysturner.bsky.social exclusive below:
Skills white paper - more details, inc:
🔴Students with grade 2 in Eng/maths to sit new qualifications in Year 12 before taking resits the next year
🔴'Duty' on schools to support students post-16
🔴Enrichment framework working group looking at how to 'support schools' to develop offer
🔴Students with grade 2 in Eng/maths to sit new qualifications in Year 12 before taking resits the next year
🔴'Duty' on schools to support students post-16
🔴Enrichment framework working group looking at how to 'support schools' to develop offer
New qualifications for students who fail English and Maths GCSEs
The government also announces plans for ‘V Level’ vocational qualifications, along with a duty on schools to support students into post-16 study
www.tes.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Skills white paper - more details, inc:
🔴Students with grade 2 in Eng/maths to sit new qualifications in Year 12 before taking resits the next year
🔴'Duty' on schools to support students post-16
🔴Enrichment framework working group looking at how to 'support schools' to develop offer
🔴Students with grade 2 in Eng/maths to sit new qualifications in Year 12 before taking resits the next year
🔴'Duty' on schools to support students post-16
🔴Enrichment framework working group looking at how to 'support schools' to develop offer
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
Excl: Concerns raised over omission of special & AP schools in the new behaviour/attendance hubs
DfE says it plans to include them in future cohorts but some leaders say their expertise has been “ignored”.
With @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social -
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
DfE says it plans to include them in future cohorts but some leaders say their expertise has been “ignored”.
With @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social -
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Lack of special schools in DfE hubs ‘is an act of self-harm’
Sector leaders voice concerns that the government’s first wave of behaviour and attendance hubs includes only mainstream settings
www.tes.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Excl: Concerns raised over omission of special & AP schools in the new behaviour/attendance hubs
DfE says it plans to include them in future cohorts but some leaders say their expertise has been “ignored”.
With @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social -
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
DfE says it plans to include them in future cohorts but some leaders say their expertise has been “ignored”.
With @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social -
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
There are pros and cons to this plan (and I’ve heard quite a few concerns about AI tutors lately) but it’s quite obviously not going to work in schools with rubbish wifi or a shortage of devices - ie a lot of primaries.
SCOOP by @cerysturner.bsky.social 👇
SCOOP by @cerysturner.bsky.social 👇
Exclusive: The government wants to look at ways to encourage schools to use AI tutors for students
DfE to encourage AI tutors in schools
But England’s largest education union warns against ‘tutoring on a shoestring’ and says many disadvantaged students need direct contact with teachers
www.tes.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:03 PM
There are pros and cons to this plan (and I’ve heard quite a few concerns about AI tutors lately) but it’s quite obviously not going to work in schools with rubbish wifi or a shortage of devices - ie a lot of primaries.
SCOOP by @cerysturner.bsky.social 👇
SCOOP by @cerysturner.bsky.social 👇