John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 27/11/2025Edition 412 done and dusted We lead on the £20bn SEND time bomb from this week’s budget bedlam Inside the country’s biggest academy rebroker The trust asking pupils for engagement solutions No more leadership heroes What Ofsted grade reform means for flagship scheme entry 000
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 25/11/2025What a mess Bournemouth council faces £183m SEND deficit, and £10m in interest costs to finance the debt .... paid from its general fund (made up of council tax, business rates etc) It wants to use high needs cash to pay the debt instead, which would hit schools schoolsweek.co.uk/council-faci...schoolsweek.co.ukCouncil facing £183m SEND deficit warns of ‘devastating consequences’A cash-strapped council facing a £183 million SEND black hole is warning ministers the deficit is “forcing” them to make “impossible financial decisions” with "devastating consequences”, ahead of tomo... 132
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 24/11/2025If anyone wants to do a review of the feature for us then do get in touch with me! (All reviews are done with a critical eye - no free PR) 200
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 22/11/2025England should have set 300-plus there. Really disappointing batting Oz huge favourites now, bowlers going to have to be perfect again for England to win 100
Reposted by John DickensCaroline Doherty @cjdoherty.bsky.social · 21/11/2025Such an interesting article by Cathie Paine from @reach2trust.bsky.social Great for the sector to hear from larger trusts on the realities of how they make and manage change. 012
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 21/11/2025Well that was a good decision. What a start to the series 010
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 21/11/2025Decamped to the living room for second session. Feels very optimistic but there we go Also, not sure what’s worse: England’s wafty top order or these atrocious weight transfer graphic things 110
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 20/11/2025!!! Big story in the country's biggest schools PFI deal, which ended last month The PFI firm is going into liquidation, with millions of pounds worth of school repairs still outstanding schoolsweek.co.uk/pfi-firm-in-...schoolsweek.co.ukSchool PFI firm 'to liquidate' amid row over unfinished workThe firm overseeing England’s biggest school PFI contract is reportedly going into liquidation, with millions of pounds of building repairs work outstanding 000
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 20/11/2025Edition 411 done and dusted: Investigation: Councils don’t know how many home educated kids are under child protection enquiries Scoop: PFI firm in multi-million pound schools repair row goes bust Longread on new inspections Plus: attendance awareness courses, GAG pooling, MAT mergers 000
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 18/11/2025We delved into this earlier this year SENCos will be central to any government plan to make mainstream schools more inclusive. But are their roles even sustainable now? Great investigation from @lydiach.bsky.social schoolsweek.co.uk/burnt-out-an...schoolsweek.co.uk‘Burnt out': The staff on the SEND crisis frontlineSENCos will be central to plans to make mainstream schools more inclusive. But they're burning out 331
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 17/11/2025Those AI attendance reports have started well ... 021
Reposted by John DickensKatie Finlayson @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social · 14/11/2025Thank you @schoolsweek.bsky.social for highlighting this - a really thorough and well researched article. 165
Reposted by John DickensFreddie Whittaker @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social · 14/11/2025Some very worrying stats here. Serious questions for government and Capita about why it is taking so long to process remedy statements stemming from the McCloud judgment. Can’t imagine the anguish of already-retired teachers and leaders waiting for missing money 001
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 13/11/2025Edition 410 done and dusted Scoop: Ofsted consultation analysis row takes a new turn 👀 Solutions: teacher interns? Investigation: thousands of teachers potentially due better pension die before outcome Rise in pupils educated at home causes exams centre blockage 010
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 12/11/2025🤖 Ministers will use AI to set minimum attendance targets for every school in England Targets will not be published, or be given to Ofsted - but failure to improve will result in a referral to RISE teams schoolsweek.co.uk/ai-to-set-mi...schoolsweek.co.ukAttendance: AI-generated targets to be set for all schoolsAI-generated targets will be set for all schools in England, government has announced, as it looks to crackdown on absence rates. 201
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 11/11/2025Great to see wider pick up of this big story on a state school opening a fee-pay paying school abroad www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article... Schools Week broke the story over a year ago: schoolsweek.co.uk/warning-over...schoolsweek.co.ukWarning over grammar’s plan to open ‘affiliate’ schools overseasA grammar school is looking to raise 'significant funds' by opening affiliate schools overseas, a market dominated by the independent sector 010
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 10/11/2025The latest government plan to help schools balance their budgets: Provide support to help them get better returns on their collective £6bn of funding in reserves schoolsweek.co.uk/savings-plat...schoolsweek.co.uk‘Savings platform’ plan to help schools boost reservesGovernment thinks vision will ease school funding woes by 'unlocking' the sector's 'substantial reserves' 010
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 07/11/2025The irony of this coming as government wonders why assistant head numbers have risen so much and suggests schools look at making savings in those teams ... schoolsweek.co.uk/can-schools-...schoolsweek.co.ukCan schools really afford to cut assistant heads?Ministers point to rising numbers of assistant heads in cost-cutting advice 000
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 07/11/2025Interesting development - a lack of evidence of what works in SEND was a key finding from our investigation into the quality of EHCPs schoolsweek.co.uk/investigatio...schoolsweek.co.uk 221
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 06/11/2025Edition 409 done and dusted: A curriculum and assessment review SPECIAL ... PLUS: Government plans £3m SEND research centre Do schools really have too many assistant heads? Ministers scope out plan to help schools boost investment returns 011
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 06/11/2025So heartening to see newish local journalism outlets doing proper reporting like this - fantastic investigation 130
Reposted by John DickensSchools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 06/11/2025The new curriculum 'will be implemented in full, for first teaching from September 2028', the government has said Now updated with a handy timeline... schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curriculum-to… 143
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 06/11/2025Starting to get important answers and reaction to the curriculum review Phillipson admits triple science pledge will need more specialist teachers: schoolsweek.co.uk/triple-scien... RE will be put on the national curriculum only if sector can ‘reach consensus’ schoolsweek.co.uk/ministers-wi...schoolsweek.co.ukTriple science pledge needs more specialist teachers - PhillipsonThe education secretary has said more specialist science teachers will be needed if government is to make triple science available to all GCSE pupils 010
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 05/11/2025Some more big curriculum news Ministers ignore curriculum review's call for no progress 8 changes and set out proposals for big 'breadth' subject shake-up Full story below 021
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 05/11/2025🚨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...schoolsweek.co.ukNew curriculum to be introduced in 2028 as review publishedGovernment commits to scrap the EBacc and make citizenship compulsory in primary schools 189
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 23/10/2025We've tried to get some clarity on all this from the Department for Education - but they've mostly ignored our questions However I haven't noticed much difference in the education world. Lots of DfE people still speaking at events It also apparently doesn't affect bodies like Ofsted, Ofqual etc 021
Reposted by John DickensNiche @mr-n-wood.bsky.social · 22/10/2025The points @msjasminemn.bsky.social makes in the body of the article are important. Rhetoric around immigration has now moved against not only illegal immigration, but legal immigration. schoolsweek.co.uk/ive-given-my...schoolsweek.co.ukI’ve given teaching my all. Now I’m told I don't belong hereThe thought that I won't be able to be treated as a citizen is disturbing 23119
Reposted by John DickensSamantha Booth @samanthajbooth.bsky.social · 22/10/2025There's pros and cons to this, I think - good to take more time to listen, as no one wants half-baked reforms. But I imagine those who have been living through the system for years will be sick of delays & getting flashbacks to previous gov. It took 1,274 days for their green paper to be published 021
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 22/10/2025❗ Big policy news - the schools white paper will not be published this Autumn as promised Instead ministers want more time to consult on their SEND reforms, and are now promising it will come 'early in the new year' Probably the right call, but still frustrating schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-whit...schoolsweek.co.ukSchools white paper delayed until next yearAutumn deadline will be missed as ministers take more time to consider controversial SEND reforms 145
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 22/10/2025As the rhetoric and policies around migrants on indefinite leave to remain becomes more hostile, a London writes for Schools Week on how this is affecting her - and the potential impact on other such teachers Thanks to @msjasminemn.bsky.social for a superb piece schoolsweek.co.uk/ive-given-my...schoolsweek.co.ukI’ve given teaching my all. Now I’m told I don't belong hereThe thought that I won't be able to be treated as a citizen is disturbing 031
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 21/10/2025The skills white paper has landed - so what do school leaders need to know? Lots to digest including 'stepping stone' resit qualifications, how new V-levels will work, defunded BTECs, a 16 to 19 funding review and more schoolsweek.co.uk/skills-white-paper-everything-school-leaders-need-to-know/schoolsweek.co.ukSkills white paper: everything school leaders need to knowThe government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled 000
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 16/10/2025Edition 408 done and dusted … White paper scoop: ambition for all schools in a group planned Profile: curriculum tsar Becky Francis Mary Myatt on the Wasted Years Leadership lessons from the Southport tragedy A teacher on indefinite leave to remain writes … 000
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 10/10/2025This story will divide opinion - below is a ‘deepfake’ video based on a real teacher that the school made for us 300
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 09/10/2025Edition 407 done and dusted: So much for saving money: Reform council eyes school budget raid Scoop: trust plans to roll out deepfake teacher avatars to cut workload Long read on SEND cluster funding Legal explainer on campaigning pupils 011
Reposted by John DickensMicon Metcalfe @miconm.bsky.social · 07/10/2025There was actually guidance to this effect (knives) pre 2010 under labour as I referenced it in an exclusion appeal. It disappeared under the coalition. 022
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 07/10/2025Also - can't help admire/despair at the DfE's attempts to spin this as a positive story in an embargoed press release sent to journos yesterday, before the actual bursary information was published 010
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 07/10/2025Govey needs to renew his Schools Week subscription ... schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-on-ed...schoolsweek.co.ukReform on education: All headlines, no policy linesEducation? No comment, says Nigel Farage. Schools Week spends two days at the Reform conference 010
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 07/10/2025We've seen some green shoots of recovery for teacher recruitment this year But just like after the one-year Covid boom, government has reacted by slashing spend on bursaries It was a costly decision last time, but perhaps falling rolls may lesson the impact this time round? 031
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 06/10/2025Big scoop in the policy world: The founder of Oak National Academy @matthewhood.bsky.social will lead a new 'delivery unit' for the Department of Health and Social Care tasked with cutting hospital wait times and improving access to GPs schoolsweek.co.uk/matt-hood-to...schoolsweek.co.ukMatt Hood to lead new health reforms ‘delivery unit’Oak National Academy founder Matt Hood to run new team under health secretary Wes Streeting to cut hospital waiting times and improve GP access 101
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 02/10/2025Edition 406 done and dusted: Another big white paper scoop Investigation: RISE advisers call in support from ... their fellow advisers' organisations The best Labour party conference analysis Views on Ofsted’s similar schools, home visits, beating Autumn blues and retention 010
Reposted by John DickensFreddie Whittaker @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social · 30/09/2025Education secretary @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social being interviewed at packed @csjthinktank.bsky.social and Parentkind fringe here at #lab2025 132
Reposted by John DickensLydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 30/09/2025NAHT 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" 001
Reposted by John DickensFreddie Whittaker @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social · 25/09/2025Scoop: Mandatory reading test for year 8s (age 13) incoming in the schools white paper, due out this autumn DfE and Ofsted will have access to school results, but data will only be reported nationally and we understand it won't prompt intervention/early inspection 176
John Dickens @johndickenssw.bsky.social · 25/09/2025Edition 405, sneak peek: Scoop: Labour's white paper to introduce mandatory year 8 reading test Watchdog sides with school in fair banding row Long-read: Ofsted chief slams schools over 'tech tax' An inside look on how SEND reforms are shaping up 122
Reposted by John DickensSchools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 19/09/2025❌ Investigation: Councils have accused schools of refusing so many challenging pupils it 'amounts to selection', capping cohorts to prevent in-year transfers of vulnerable pupils and wrongly turning away youngsters in care schoolsweek.co.uk/shut-out-how...schoolsweek.co.ukShut out: How schools are turning away vulnerable pupilsSchools accused of refusing so many pupils it 'amounts to selection', capping cohorts to prevent in-year transfers and wrongly turning away youngsters in care 001
