Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 25/04/2026I’ve learnt so much covering education with the wonderful Tes team over the last two years. But I’m very excited to be returning to the world of culture... this week I start as deputy books and arts editor on the Observer New Review. 250
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 05/11/2025'I can probably characterise the whole review as being about balances and trade-offs…' In an exclusive, in-depth interview, @beckyfrancis.bsky.social talks about the challenges of the curriculum review and the evidence behind its recommendationstes.comBecky Francis: How we reached our curriculum recommendationsIn an exclusive interview, curriculum and assessment review lead Becky Francis speaks to Tes about its recommendations and the evidence underpinning them 131
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerCerys Turner @cerysturner.bsky.social · 04/11/2025🚨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:tes.comCurriculum and assessment review: 14 key pointsThe Francis review’s final recommendations include scrapping the EBacc, reducing exam time and making triple science available to all at GCSE 024
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 23/10/2025A group of MAT leaders is calling for all students to experience at least 80 hours of high-quality enrichment per yeartes.comTrust leaders back 80-hour ‘enrichment guarantee’The benchmark is one of several adopted by the government as a ‘starting point’ for its new enrichment framework for schools, leader tells Tes 002
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 22/10/2025Read the full story on the White Paper delay here ⬇️tes.comSEND: White Paper delayed until 2026, Phillipson revealsGovernment had been expected to set out plans for SEND reforms before the end of the year 016
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerSasha Smith @sashasmith.bsky.social · 02/10/2025TES article on our ESIS report after Natasha and I were interviewed, and featuring great examples of curricula change from history teachers across the country. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...tes.comWhy are women missing from school history?The extent to which history lessons ignore female figures has been revealed by new research. Here, teachers share the changes they are making to address this gender imbalance 12113
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 02/10/2025A recent report found that 59 per cent of key stage 3 history lessons don’t feature any women. Will the Curriculum Review address that? In the meantime, I spoke to history teachers about the changes they are making to address this gender imbalance in their classes, for @tesmagazine.bsky.socialtes.comWhy are women missing from school history?The extent to which history lessons ignore female figures has been revealed by new research. Here, teachers share the changes they are making to address this gender imbalance 043
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 30/09/2025A requirement for new headteachers to hold a SEND qualification could transform the system, because there are schools that currently do not make inclusive decisions, a leading MP said todaytes.comCall for heads’ SEND qualification is questionedMP defends plan to require new school leaders to have expertise in special educational needs, during Labour conference event 012
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerCerys Turner @cerysturner.bsky.social · 29/09/2025Excl: The PM claimed yesterday that he had invited other political parties to work with the government on SEND reform, but neither the Lib Dem’s or the Conservatives have received any such invite. www.tes.com/magazine/new...tes.comPM claim of SEND reform invitation is rejected by opponentsConservatives and Liberal Democrats reject Sir Keir Starmer’s insistence that he invited political parties to collaborate on SEND reform 032
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 30/09/2025This week the government pledged to ensure all primary schools in England have libraries. It seems a well-intentioned policy, but do 1,700 primaries really not have one? And how important is a separate library room in instilling a child’s love of reading anyway? My @tesmagazine.bsky.social piecetes.comDoes the government primary school library promise add up?Labour has announced that every primary school will have its own library by 2029, but questions about funding and implementation remain, finds Ellen Peirson-Hagger 042
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerCharlotte Santry @charlottesantry.bsky.social · 26/09/2025Is Ofsted’s inclusion measure fair to over-capacity special schools directed to take pupils whose needs they’re not equipped to meet? Lots of concern from the specialist sector here inc from @simonknight100.bsky.social and @warrencarratt.bsky.social Great reporting by @johngroberts.bsky.socialtes.comSpecial schools fear ‘subjective’ Ofsted judgementsInclusion focus risks ‘danger’ for schools directed to take on pupils whose needs they cannot meet, warns leader 234
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 26/09/2025Despite alarming headlines on youth violence, a @tesmagazine.bsky.social FOI request reveals that in-school knife incidents are down in many areas. I spoke to leaders about what schools are doing to drive this reductiontes.comWhat the data on knife crime suggests schools should do nextNew figures show that in-school knife crime incidents have decreased in many areas of England. Ellen Peirson-Hagger hears from leaders about what they are doing to drive this reduction, and whether it... 033
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 25/09/2025“Because there’s so much attention on white working-class boys’ underachievement, the girls can be overlooked - and they are underperforming.” Fascinating and important long read by @charlottesantry.bsky.socialtes.comHow the system forgot about white working-class girlsWhile the underachievement of white working-class boys has attracted political attention, the struggles of disadvantaged white girls continue to be overlooked. School leaders tell Tes why this needs t... 010
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 18/09/2025Is flexible working truly possible for teachers, and what kind of impact might it have on recruitment and retention? A year on from launching their nine-day fortnight, Dixons Academies Trust says they have seen countless benefits. I heard about the challenges and rewards of this radical policytes.comDixons’ nine-day fortnight: how’s it working a year on?Since launching its ground-breaking nine-day fortnight a year ago, Dixons Academies Trust says it has seen a drop in staff turnover and sickness absence. Ellen Peirson-Hagger asks about the challenges... 120
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 11/09/2025Just seven of the 100 schools with the highest rates of disadvantage and the lowest rates of EAL have a positive Progress 8 score. Leaders say the metric leaves schools in an “impossible situation”. Nick Gibb says it simply reveals which need to “improve”... Is this system inherently unjust?tes.comThe ‘impossible situation’ of Progress 8 in white, working-class schoolsJust seven of the 100 schools with the highest rates of disadvantage and the lowest rates of English as an additional language have a positive P8. With the metric on pause, is it time to rethink it? 033
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 10/09/2025In her new book, Laura Bates describes how deepfake pornography created by students “for free on their lunch breaks” can be used to target their female peers and teachers. PSHE lead Charli Faux writes for Tes on how to help keep students safe from “the next epidemic of sexual violence”tes.comThe ‘next epidemic of sexual violence’ and what it means for schoolsAI is creating new threats to girls, and teachers will be on the frontline of it, argues a PSHE lead at an all girls’ school, who shares her advice on how to help keep students safe 021
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 09/09/2025#Ofsted has published its final report-card inspection plans, with changes including: 🔹 Reducing the number of evaluation areas to six 🔹 Renaming the grades 🔹 Changing the toolkits inspectors will use Here’s everything you need to know…tes.comOfsted: first report-card inspections will be voluntaryWatchdog pushes ahead with plan for a five-point grading scale but announces a series of changes to school inspections launching this term 123
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerJohn Roberts @johngroberts.bsky.social · 05/09/2025A @tesmagazine.bsky.social investigation by @jasminenorden.bsky.social into the rise of violent incidents causing injuries to pupils and staff. www.tes.com/magazine/new...tes.comRevealed: the rise in violent incidents in schoolsTes investigation leads to warning that teachers and pupils need ‘urgent help’ to deal with rising levels of violence 012
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 04/09/2025“Unless it goes kaboom, there’s no money.” Rusting fire escapes, legionella and classrooms reaching 53C... School leaders tell me how the funding crisis is also a vast building safety crisis, with particular concern in special schoolstes.com‘Our site is on a knife edge’: the school buildings crisis deepensRusting fire escapes, legionella and classrooms that reach 53C: a lack of funding for buildings maintenance is putting pupils and staff at risk, leaders tell Ellen Peirson-Hagger. Will government inte... 000
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 03/09/2025“What Jon is selling is fear. It’s not scientific.” Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation has sold 2 million copies and been hugely influential in the case for banning smartphones for young people. But critics say his evidence doesn’t stand up Fascinating Tes piece by @jonsevers.bsky.socialtes.comIs Jonathan Haidt right about smartphones?In ‘The Anxious Generation’, Haidt makes the case that social media and smartphones have ‘rewired’ today’s teenagers, but his critics say the evidence tells us something very different - and that bann... 000
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 02/09/2025More than 700,000 GCSE physics students could be without a specialist teacher, @thenfer.bsky.social analysis shows, with @instituteofphysics.bsky.social calling for urgent action to tackle the shortagetes.com700,000 GCSE students may lack a physics specialist, report warnsThe Institute of Physics has called for urgent action to tackle the shortage in physics teachers to stop students missing out 035
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 22/08/2025On the train to Berlin with an Italian novel and a German chocolate bar. My route: London to Brussels to Frankfurt (usually would be Cologne, impossible today due to works) to Berlin, all in a day 030
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 21/08/2025From the number of GCSEs entered per student to the most popular subjects, here are six key trends from today’s results data that schools need to knowtes.com6 data insights from GCSE resultsLooking beyond the headline outcomes from GCSE results day, Tes picks through the data to reveal trends that schools should know about 001
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 14/08/2025From the most popular subject combinations to the number of exams being sat, @ellencph.bsky.social and @dan-worth.bsky.social round up seven key trends you need to know from this year’s A-level results daytes.comA-level results 2025: 7 key trends you need to knowWith a huge amount of A-level results data published today, Tes has analysed the key information to bring you the most important insights 041
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerJasmine Norden @jasminenorden.bsky.social · 14/08/2025New this morning: The regional divide in achieving the top A-level grades has widened as the North East saw a fall in As and A*s this year - all the main trends here: www.tes.com/magazine/new...tes.comA-level results 2025: regional divide growsBoth the proportion of top grades awarded and the pass rate have seen a slight growth in England in 2025 023
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 24/07/2025"Over a quarter of pupils are leaving primary school not meeting the expected standard in reading. This goes up to 40 per cent for white, working-class pupils, and 59 per cent for those with special educational needs." An argument for fixing basic literacy before promoting reading for pleasure...tes.comFix basic literacy before promoting reading for pleasureThe government’s priority should be helping the many pupils who are behind with their reading - and we know exactly how to do it, writes FFT’s Mike Fischer 023
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 18/07/2025Updated government guidance says schools should be teaching students how to properly name body parts. It's a watershed moment for sex education, finds @dan-worth.bsky.socialtes.comRSHE guidance: Why properly naming body parts is a big dealUpdated guidance saying that proper terms like penis, vulva and vagina should be taught to primary pupils has been welcomed by sex education experts and safeguarding leads 010
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerJohn Roberts @johngroberts.bsky.social · 18/07/2025Inclusion in schools is the big policy focus of the moment. But is a drive to stop bad practice missing from the agenda? My long read for @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...tes.comIs a drive to stop bad practice missing from the inclusion agenda?Leaders call for scrutiny of admissions, pupil movement and the impact of sanctions on students with special educational needs and disabilities 033
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 10/07/2025Many thanks for reading and sharing, Simon 010
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 10/07/2025And leaders of mainstream schools told me how the SEND tribunal system affects them too, as councils avoid the cost of tribunal by "placating" parents and directing children to "inclusive", over-capacity mainstream schools. What can be done? All eyes on the gov's SEND White Paper, due in the autumntes.comEHCP tribunals: why schools’ struggles must guide SEND reformIf the government’s plans for tackling the SEND crisis are to be successful, it has to look at the difficulties that the tribunal process is creating for schools, finds Ellen Peirson-Hagger 000
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 10/07/2025But it's never “just one more”. The school was built for 80 students. Next term it will have 126. It's getting unsafe, but do the courts care? “I had a ruling from a judge where he said he’s not bothered that the fire risk assessment says it’s dangerous to keep adding children in,” Smith told metes.comEHCP tribunals: why schools’ struggles must guide SEND reformIf the government’s plans for tackling the SEND crisis are to be successful, it has to look at the difficulties that the tribunal process is creating for schools, finds Ellen Peirson-Hagger 100
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 10/07/2025SEND tribunals rule in favour of the parents 98.7 per cent of the time. So for special schools, the verdict is always: “Why can’t you just squeeze one more in?”, said Stephanie Smith, headteacher of the Cavendish School, an autism special school in Cambridgeshiretes.comEHCP tribunals: why schools’ struggles must guide SEND reformIf the government’s plans for tackling the SEND crisis are to be successful, it has to look at the difficulties that the tribunal process is creating for schools, finds Ellen Peirson-Hagger 100
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 10/07/2025Claire Wills, headteacher of Mill Ford School in Plymouth, told me last year she spent 27 per cent of her allocated hours on tribunals and consults - even though the school is well over capacity. But “legally, you can’t use capacity” as a reason, so children continue to be directed to the schooltes.comEHCP tribunals: why schools’ struggles must guide SEND reformIf the government’s plans for tackling the SEND crisis are to be successful, it has to look at the difficulties that the tribunal process is creating for schools, finds Ellen Peirson-Hagger 200
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerJon Severs @jonsevers.bsky.social · 10/07/2025The traumatic experience of tribunals for EHCPs is often told from the parents' perspective - for good reasons - but looking at it from the school perspective tells us a huge amount about the disaster of the current system. Excellent piece from @ellencph.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/ana...tes.comEHCP tribunals: why schools' struggles must guide SEND reformIf the government's plans for tackling the SEND crisis are to be successful, it has to look at the difficulties that the tribunal process is creating for schools, finds Ellen Peirson-Hagger 31214
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 10/07/2025Everyone knows the SEND tribunal process can be a nightmare for parents. But how does it affect schools? I spoke to special school leaders who describe a ‘frustrating’ and ‘oversaturated’ legal system in urgent need of reformtes.comEHCP tribunals: why schools’ struggles must guide SEND reformIf the government’s plans for tackling the SEND crisis are to be successful, it has to look at the difficulties that the tribunal process is creating for schools, finds Ellen Peirson-Hagger 445
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerJon Severs @jonsevers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025A new writing framework released just a couple of weeks before the summer at 150 odd pages long, which will be revised in October when the curriculum and assessment review is published, and which some who should have known it was coming did not know it was coming... www.tes.com/magazine/new...tes.comDfE launches ‘phonics-inspired’ primary writing frameworkThe primary writing framework will be revised once the final curriculum review report is published, with a final version due in the autumn 112
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 19/06/2025The government says all pupils will have access to in-school mental health specialists by 2029-30. But so far the rollout has been unequal across the country, leaving some settings without the benefits others enjoy. My @tesmagazine.bsky.social analysis:tes.comHow the mental health teams rollout created a two-tier systemThe government says all pupils will have access to in-school mental health specialists by 2029-30. But so far the rollout has been unequal across the country, leaving some settings without the benefit... 012
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 16/06/2025Exclusive: DfE asks MAT leaders for ‘insights on how we drive excellence for all our children’ as part of new advisory grouptes.comDfE asks MAT leaders to join new advisory groupMinister Catherine McKinnell is establishing the group, set to meet for the first time in July 012
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 13/06/2025📱 The Tes magazine app is now available to download for both iOS and Android! Get award-winning journalism, exclusive interviews and in-depth investigations in our brand-new mobile app. ➡️ Get it on iOS: apple.co/3SKssXt ➡️ Get it on Android: bit.ly/4kgWrSS 055
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 12/06/2025Ten years ago, there was no gender pay gap for secondary headteachers. Now, it's widening, with the current median salary for women £6k behind that of their male counterparts. What's going on? My @tesmagazine.bsky.social analysistes.comWhy are female secondary heads £6K worse off than men?The gender pay gap for secondary headteachers is widening. Ten years ago there wasn't a gap at all. What's going on? Ellen Peirson-Hagger analyses the data 114
Ellen Peirson-Hagger @ellencph.bsky.social · 11/06/2025Read the full exchange between Ofsted and the Department for Education discussing the “regrettable” and “disappointing” delay to the inspection reform consultation...tes.comOfsted delay: Sir Martyn’s and Bridget Phillipson’s lettersRead the full exchange between the Ofsted chief and the education secretary on the ‘regrettable’ and ‘disappointing’ delay in the watchdog providing its consultation response 011
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerJon Severs @jonsevers.bsky.social · 11/06/2025Excellent overview of what you need to know from the Spending Review from @jasminenorden.bsky.social It is less good news than the headline stats suggest, but better news than that most departments have received. And as such, it is a decent result for schools. www.tes.com/magazine/new...tes.comSpending Review 2025: what it means for schoolsChancellor Rachel Reeves has set out government spending plans up to 2029. Here’s what you need to know 012
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 11/06/2025Exclusive: Schools will not see Ofsted’s finalised inspection plans until after the summer holidays, Tes can reveal, as @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social calls the delay to the watchdog’s consultation response ‘disappointing’tes.comOfsted delay prompts Phillipson rebukeBridget Phillipson tells Sir Martyn Oliver it is ‘disappointing’ that Ofsted has found it necessary to delay its inspection consultation response 014
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerRamsay Hodgson @ramshodgson.bsky.social · 09/06/2025Unsure about what the FSM and pupil premium announcement last week means for your school or trust? Are schools actually getting whacked by a £1.5 billion cut to pupil premium? I’ve delved into the numbers for @tesmagazine.bsky.social 035
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerTes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · 08/06/2025The government has claimed it is 'delivering' on a pledge to recruit an additional 6,500 teachers, but analysis shows the overall number is down on last year… @ellencph.bsky.social has all the key points from the latest workforce census ⬇️tes.com7 teacher workforce trends you need to knowThe latest government census includes data on the size and characteristics of the workforce, and what’s happening with teacher recruitment and retention. Tes has the key points 031
Reposted by Ellen Peirson-HaggerCerys Turner @cerysturner.bsky.social · 05/06/2025It was great to chat to ITV News London this evening about the challenges facing schools with funding pressures and falling pupil numbers. A very relevant conversation today, as DfE data showed a decrease of more than 50,000 pupils across all schools in the past year. 1124
