Lydia Chantler-Hicks
@lydiach.bsky.social
Senior reporter at Schools Week, with a special focus on Ofsted and the teacher workforce
Email [email protected]
Email [email protected]
The DfE's post came the same day the Teacher Wellbeing Index revealed teacher wellbeing is at a record low.
ASCL's @pepediiasio.bsky.social says the timing is 'ill-advised at best'. 'At worst it suggests a real lack of understanding'.
@danielkebedeneu.bsky.social calls it 'completely tone deaf'
ASCL's @pepediiasio.bsky.social says the timing is 'ill-advised at best'. 'At worst it suggests a real lack of understanding'.
@danielkebedeneu.bsky.social calls it 'completely tone deaf'
A social media post by the Department for Education lauding its achievements appears to have gone viral for the wrong reasons, as sector leaders slammed it as 'smug' and 'tone deaf'
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-social-m...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-social-m...
Viral DfE social media stunt slammed as 'completely tone deaf'
A social media post by the Department for Education lauding its achievements appears has been widely lambasted by the sector and members of the public
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The DfE's post came the same day the Teacher Wellbeing Index revealed teacher wellbeing is at a record low.
ASCL's @pepediiasio.bsky.social says the timing is 'ill-advised at best'. 'At worst it suggests a real lack of understanding'.
@danielkebedeneu.bsky.social calls it 'completely tone deaf'
ASCL's @pepediiasio.bsky.social says the timing is 'ill-advised at best'. 'At worst it suggests a real lack of understanding'.
@danielkebedeneu.bsky.social calls it 'completely tone deaf'
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Changes to Ofsted inspections 'should feel energising' to leaders, the chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/leaders-shou...
schoolsweek.co.uk/leaders-shou...
Leaders should feel energised about Ofsted changes - Oliver
Chief inspector says he wants heads to feel 'comfortable and motivated by the changes'
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Changes to Ofsted inspections 'should feel energising' to leaders, the chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/leaders-shou...
schoolsweek.co.uk/leaders-shou...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Exclusive: Staff are set to strike for six days in December and January over a school’s roll-out of a 'virtual teacher', who teaches maths remotely to secondary pupils
schoolsweek.co.uk/staff-to-str...
schoolsweek.co.uk/staff-to-str...
Staff to strike over school's 'dystopian' virtual teacher
NEU members are to strike for six days in December and January over a school's use of a 'virtual teacher' to teach maths to secondary pupils
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Exclusive: Staff are set to strike for six days in December and January over a school’s roll-out of a 'virtual teacher', who teaches maths remotely to secondary pupils
schoolsweek.co.uk/staff-to-str...
schoolsweek.co.uk/staff-to-str...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Increasing numbers of university students are taking up paid internships at schools to get a taste for teaching, new figures show.
But are any of them going on to teacher training? And how much does it all cost? Schools Week investigates...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-rise-of-...
But are any of them going on to teacher training? And how much does it all cost? Schools Week investigates...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-rise-of-...
The rise of teaching internships – a recruitment solution?
We look at how many teaching interns go on to train as teachers, and the pros and cons of internships
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Increasing numbers of university students are taking up paid internships at schools to get a taste for teaching, new figures show.
But are any of them going on to teacher training? And how much does it all cost? Schools Week investigates...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-rise-of-...
But are any of them going on to teacher training? And how much does it all cost? Schools Week investigates...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-rise-of-...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Ofsted has again refused to release data showing how many people supported or opposed its report card inspection plans – saying the 'vast majority' of the 6,500 responses were not actually categorised by 'sentiment'
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-slamm...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-slamm...
Ofsted slammed over secret consultation analysis method
Experts warn of 'risk' decision-makers at inspectorate were not 'provided with the relevant information'
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Ofsted has again refused to release data showing how many people supported or opposed its report card inspection plans – saying the 'vast majority' of the 6,500 responses were not actually categorised by 'sentiment'
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-slamm...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-slamm...
📋Ofsted's new education inspections have launched this week, and I'm keen to find out what leaders and teachers make of them.
If your school's inspected this week or next and you're up for sharing your thoughts, anonymously or otherwise, please do get in touch! Email in bio.
If your school's inspected this week or next and you're up for sharing your thoughts, anonymously or otherwise, please do get in touch! Email in bio.
November 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
📋Ofsted's new education inspections have launched this week, and I'm keen to find out what leaders and teachers make of them.
If your school's inspected this week or next and you're up for sharing your thoughts, anonymously or otherwise, please do get in touch! Email in bio.
If your school's inspected this week or next and you're up for sharing your thoughts, anonymously or otherwise, please do get in touch! Email in bio.
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
❌ Ministers have suggested rising numbers of assistant heads could be the place to target cost-cutting as schools are forced to make savings to fund future teacher pay rises.
So what’s behind the rise, and is a cut do-able? Schools Week investigates...
So what’s behind the rise, and is a cut do-able? Schools Week investigates...
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 5:10 AM
❌ Ministers have suggested rising numbers of assistant heads could be the place to target cost-cutting as schools are forced to make savings to fund future teacher pay rises.
So what’s behind the rise, and is a cut do-able? Schools Week investigates...
So what’s behind the rise, and is a cut do-able? Schools Week investigates...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Government has announced schools are to be judged on new enrichment benchmarks, despite record numbers cutting extracurricular activities due to funding constraints
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Government has announced schools are to be judged on new enrichment benchmarks, despite record numbers cutting extracurricular activities due to funding constraints
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
A thread rounding up all our curriculum review coverage ...
🚨The curriculum review is out!
First: Government commits to a new national curriculum in 2028. Will also replace year 6 writing test, new oracy framework, financial literacy in primary
Our news story on the government's response to the key review findings: (1/4)
schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curricul...
First: Government commits to a new national curriculum in 2028. Will also replace year 6 writing test, new oracy framework, financial literacy in primary
Our news story on the government's response to the key review findings: (1/4)
schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curricul...
New curriculum to be introduced in 2028 as review published
Government commits to scrap the EBacc and make citizenship compulsory in primary schools
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 6:20 AM
A thread rounding up all our curriculum review coverage ...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has called for 'state school standards enshrined in law' to stop the watchdog 'tinkering' with what it assesses in future
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-chief...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-chief...
Ofsted chief wants state school standards 'enshrined in law'
Oliver says new legislation would 'stop Ofsted from tinkering' and 'deciding to do something new'
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has called for 'state school standards enshrined in law' to stop the watchdog 'tinkering' with what it assesses in future
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-chief...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-chief...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Exclusive: Reform UK-run Kent council plans to raid £2 million from schools’ already-squeezed budgets to pay for vital services it can no longer afford, sparking fears of more classroom cuts
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
Reform-run Kent council plans £2m school budget raid
Leaders say proposals fly in face of pre-election pledges to identify efficiencies from 'DOGE' unit
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Exclusive: Reform UK-run Kent council plans to raid £2 million from schools’ already-squeezed budgets to pay for vital services it can no longer afford, sparking fears of more classroom cuts
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Exclusive: Teachers will use 'deepfake' technology to create an AI avatar of themselves to deliver catch-up lessons for pupils who have missed school
Watch one of the school’s ‘deepfake’ teachers in our story below
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
Watch one of the school’s ‘deepfake’ teachers in our story below
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
'Deepfake' teacher avatars to help pupils catch up
Academy trust staff to use AI generator to introduce resources for pupils returning to school
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Exclusive: Teachers will use 'deepfake' technology to create an AI avatar of themselves to deliver catch-up lessons for pupils who have missed school
Watch one of the school’s ‘deepfake’ teachers in our story below
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
Watch one of the school’s ‘deepfake’ teachers in our story below
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
The government has swung the axe on teacher training incentives – including cutting funding for shortage subjects such as maths and foreign languages
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-swings-a...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-swings-a...
October 7, 2025 at 10:22 AM
The government has swung the axe on teacher training incentives – including cutting funding for shortage subjects such as maths and foreign languages
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-swings-a...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-swings-a...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
🌅 'This framing is a crucial starting point for a new, more evidence-informed conversation about supporting teachers’ growth'
@evidencebased.education's Professors Coe and Kime
@evidencebased.education's Professors Coe and Kime
Ofsted is helping to put a welcome end to ineffective CPD
The new framework ushers in a new era of professional learning - and that's so much more than a semantic shift
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
🌅 'This framing is a crucial starting point for a new, more evidence-informed conversation about supporting teachers’ growth'
@evidencebased.education's Professors Coe and Kime
@evidencebased.education's Professors Coe and Kime
NAHT is urging school leaders to write to their employer, demanding in strong terms a full risk assessment of new Ofsted inspections and impact on staff wellbeing.
"This is not simply about workload or stress management. It is about preventing avoidable harm – including the most serious outcomes"
"This is not simply about workload or stress management. It is about preventing avoidable harm – including the most serious outcomes"
School leaders have been told by a union to demand a full risk assessment from their employer over the 'very real dangers to staff wellbeing' of Ofsted’s new inspections
schoolsweek.co.uk/union-tells-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/union-tells-...
Union tells school leaders to demand Ofsted risk assessment
School leaders are being urged by union NAHT to write to their employers, demanding steps are taken to assess the risk Ofsted inspections will pose to wellbeing
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 10:16 AM
NAHT is urging school leaders to write to their employer, demanding in strong terms a full risk assessment of new Ofsted inspections and impact on staff wellbeing.
"This is not simply about workload or stress management. It is about preventing avoidable harm – including the most serious outcomes"
"This is not simply about workload or stress management. It is about preventing avoidable harm – including the most serious outcomes"
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Exclusive: The government plans to introduce a mandatory reading test for year 8 pupils in its upcoming schools white paper, amid fears poorer children are disengaging in the early years of secondary school
White paper to usher in year 8 reading test
Move to ensure poorer pupils are not shut off from wider curriculum
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 26, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Exclusive: The government plans to introduce a mandatory reading test for year 8 pupils in its upcoming schools white paper, amid fears poorer children are disengaging in the early years of secondary school
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
The government has finally committed to publishing the full details of how it will deliver on its pledge for 6,500 more teachers – a year and a half after being elected
schoolsweek.co.uk/government-p...
schoolsweek.co.uk/government-p...
Government promises 6,500 teachers pledge details
DfE will publish a full delivery plan by December
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 26, 2025 at 10:08 AM
The government has finally committed to publishing the full details of how it will deliver on its pledge for 6,500 more teachers – a year and a half after being elected
schoolsweek.co.uk/government-p...
schoolsweek.co.uk/government-p...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Exclusive: Ofsted has been accused of 'mission creep' after it emerged new inspections will mark down teacher training providers that allow the use of 'discredited' research – with the watchdog refusing to say what studies would fall into this category
schoolsweek.co.uk/row-over-new...
schoolsweek.co.uk/row-over-new...
Row over new Ofsted ‘high-quality’ research checks
New inspections will judge teacher trainers down if use of 'discredited research' isn't tackled
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Exclusive: Ofsted has been accused of 'mission creep' after it emerged new inspections will mark down teacher training providers that allow the use of 'discredited' research – with the watchdog refusing to say what studies would fall into this category
schoolsweek.co.uk/row-over-new...
schoolsweek.co.uk/row-over-new...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Exclusive: The leadership of the NAHT is considering whether to ballot members for industrial action over Ofsted reforms
Comes after snap poll of 2,000 members at an emergency meeting on Tuesday found 89% supported exploring industrial options
schoolsweek.co.uk/naht-to-cons...
Comes after snap poll of 2,000 members at an emergency meeting on Tuesday found 89% supported exploring industrial options
schoolsweek.co.uk/naht-to-cons...
NAHT to consider industrial action ballot over Ofsted reform
Snap poll during meeting of 2,000 heads finds 9 in 10 back exploring industrial options
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Exclusive: The leadership of the NAHT is considering whether to ballot members for industrial action over Ofsted reforms
Comes after snap poll of 2,000 members at an emergency meeting on Tuesday found 89% supported exploring industrial options
schoolsweek.co.uk/naht-to-cons...
Comes after snap poll of 2,000 members at an emergency meeting on Tuesday found 89% supported exploring industrial options
schoolsweek.co.uk/naht-to-cons...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Edition 403, done and dusted
Scoop: Ofsted won’t publish full consultation findings
Investigation: armed forces now flag SEND failures
@lydiach.bsky.social hunts for education policy at Reform conference
@jackydys.bsky.social digs into new RISE expansion
Plus: can schools handle voting at 16?
Scoop: Ofsted won’t publish full consultation findings
Investigation: armed forces now flag SEND failures
@lydiach.bsky.social hunts for education policy at Reform conference
@jackydys.bsky.social digs into new RISE expansion
Plus: can schools handle voting at 16?
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Edition 403, done and dusted
Scoop: Ofsted won’t publish full consultation findings
Investigation: armed forces now flag SEND failures
@lydiach.bsky.social hunts for education policy at Reform conference
@jackydys.bsky.social digs into new RISE expansion
Plus: can schools handle voting at 16?
Scoop: Ofsted won’t publish full consultation findings
Investigation: armed forces now flag SEND failures
@lydiach.bsky.social hunts for education policy at Reform conference
@jackydys.bsky.social digs into new RISE expansion
Plus: can schools handle voting at 16?
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
📝 Far fewer teachers now say Ofsted's move to ditch headline grades was 'positive' amid concern over the watchdog's new inspection plan, a Teacher Tapp poll has found
schoolsweek.co.uk/fewer-teache...
schoolsweek.co.uk/fewer-teache...
Ofsted: Fewer teachers now support ditching one-word grades
Poll shows big rise in teachers reporting 'mixed feelings' over inspection change amid report card criticism
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
📝 Far fewer teachers now say Ofsted's move to ditch headline grades was 'positive' amid concern over the watchdog's new inspection plan, a Teacher Tapp poll has found
schoolsweek.co.uk/fewer-teache...
schoolsweek.co.uk/fewer-teache...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Capita was due to hand administration of teachers' pensions to Indian IT firm Tata Consultancy in October after losing the £233m contract
But the DfE has now confirmed to Schools Week the final handover has been pushed back to 'summer 2026'
schoolsweek.co.uk/handover-of-...
But the DfE has now confirmed to Schools Week the final handover has been pushed back to 'summer 2026'
schoolsweek.co.uk/handover-of-...
Handover of £233m teachers' pensions contract delayed
Capita's handover to Tata Consultancy Services postponed from October to next summer
schoolsweek.co.uk
August 27, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Capita was due to hand administration of teachers' pensions to Indian IT firm Tata Consultancy in October after losing the £233m contract
But the DfE has now confirmed to Schools Week the final handover has been pushed back to 'summer 2026'
schoolsweek.co.uk/handover-of-...
But the DfE has now confirmed to Schools Week the final handover has been pushed back to 'summer 2026'
schoolsweek.co.uk/handover-of-...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Ofqual’s chief regulator has said he would be 'disappointed' if the number of pupils switching from separate sciences to the double award GCSE continues to rise, but warned it was too early to 'infer a trend'
schoolsweek.co.uk/bauckham-con...
schoolsweek.co.uk/bauckham-con...
Bauckham concerned over double science GCSE switches
But too early to 'infer a trend' as data suggests 10,000 switch from three separate qualifications
schoolsweek.co.uk
August 22, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Ofqual’s chief regulator has said he would be 'disappointed' if the number of pupils switching from separate sciences to the double award GCSE continues to rise, but warned it was too early to 'infer a trend'
schoolsweek.co.uk/bauckham-con...
schoolsweek.co.uk/bauckham-con...
Breaking: The proportion of top grade GCSEs handed out to 16-year-olds in England has risen by almost 2 per cent, but regulator Ofqual has hailed 'continued stability' in exam results
schoolsweek.co.uk/gcses-2025-t...
schoolsweek.co.uk/gcses-2025-t...
August 21, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
📉 History has dropped out of the UK’s top five most popular subjects for the first time in years, boys have overtaken girls and the regional attainment gap has grown
Here’s your handy Schools Week round up of all the key A-level trends 🔽
buff.ly/ULma0vD
Here’s your handy Schools Week round up of all the key A-level trends 🔽
buff.ly/ULma0vD
A-level results 2025: 8 key trends in England’s data
A-level results are out this morning – here’s your handy Schools Week round up of the key trends
buff.ly
August 14, 2025 at 8:31 AM
📉 History has dropped out of the UK’s top five most popular subjects for the first time in years, boys have overtaken girls and the regional attainment gap has grown
Here’s your handy Schools Week round up of all the key A-level trends 🔽
buff.ly/ULma0vD
Here’s your handy Schools Week round up of all the key A-level trends 🔽
buff.ly/ULma0vD