News round-up
Government announces plans to scrap KS1 SATs
The Department for Education last week announced plans to scrap Key Stage 1 SATs, to replace them instead with a baseline assessment for pupils in reception. According to the DfE, the new approach would enable pupil progress to be measured throughout primary school.
A consultation was opened on 30th March to seek views on the proposed plans and will run for 12 weeks until 22 June 2017. You can submit a response and read about the plans in more detail here.
This year's KS1 SATs will go ahead as planned.
2017 key stage 2: assessment and reporting arrangements
The statutory guidance for assessing and reporting the national curriculum at key stage 2 in the 2016 to 2017 academic year has been updated (21 March 2017). Clarification to section 4.1: Square grids are provided to support pupils to answer particular questions, in each of the mathematics papers.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2017-key-stage-2-assessment-and-reporting-arrangements-ara#history
Tips for good behaviour management in new report
A new report providing practical guidance to teachers on how to tackle bad behaviour in classrooms was published last week (24 March 2017). Tom Bennett, the DfE's behaviour expert, highlights examples of where behaviour is managed most successfully and puts forward recommendations for schools and the government based on his findings.
The report 'Creating a culture: how school leaders can optimise behaviour' concludes that while there is no 'silver bullet' for behaviour management, there are a range of strategies that can be used to tackle poor behaviour. The report also highlights the importance of leadership in creating the right culture for tackling this issue.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-report-with-practical-advice-for-teachers-on-pupil-behaviour
Proposed revisions to school exclusion guidance
The DfE is consulting on proposed changes to the statutory guidance on the exclusion of pupils to make the rules that apply to exclusions and the process of review clearer. The revisions include both statutory and non-statutory information. The consultation opened on 14 March and closes 25 April 2017. To read about the changes and to submit a response go to: https://consult.education.gov.uk/school-absence-and-exclusions-team/statutory-exclusion-guidance/
NUT and ATL to merge from September
Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) teaching unions have voted to combine the two organisations. The National Education Union (NEU), which will exist from September 2017, will have a membership of over 450,000 and will be the biggest education union in Europe. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) school leaders' union has backed the merger.
Apprenticeships reforms: guide for schools
The DfE has published a guide for schools on apprenticeships reforms, and how the apprenticeship levy and public sector apprenticeship target apply to schools in England. Read the guide here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeships-reforms-guide-for-schools