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Lydia Chantler-Hicks

@lydiach.bsky.social
283 followers 417 following 50 posts

Senior reporter at Schools Week, with a special focus on Ofsted and the teacher workforce Email lydia.chantler-hicks@schoolsweek.co.uk

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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
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Samantha Booth @samanthajbooth.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Breaking news from @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social The ASCL school leaders’ union has said it has no confidence in Ofsted’s leadership to 'address the damage being done by the new inspection system' following a vote of its ruling council schoolsweek.co.uk/ascl-council...
schoolsweek.co.uk
ASCL council passes no confidence vote in Ofsted's leadership
Union decries 'no meaningful progress on the part of Ofsted to address significant wellbeing issues'
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Ofsted inspections of national professional qualifications and the new early career teacher entitlement are being paused for an extra year to allow the watchdog more time to develop a new inspection framework schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-pause...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Ofsted pauses NPQ and ECTE inspections for another year
Ofsted inspections of national professional qualifications and the new early career teacher entitlement are being paused for an extra year
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
The Chartered College of Teaching is to review 10-year-old standards for continuing professional development for teachers, aiming to end a 'supermarket sweep' approach to sourcing training schoolsweek.co.uk/chartered-co...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Chartered College to review decade-old CPD standards
Review chair says 'urgent priority' is to help budget setters 'stop money being wasted'
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
The National Education Union has urged the chancellor to halt plans to claw back 'billions of pounds' from schools when employer contributions to teacher pensions fall schoolsweek.co.uk/let-schools-...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Let schools keep £3.3bn teachers' pensions saving, says NEU
The government has confirmed it plans to recoup funding after employer pension contributions fall
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
A school leaders’ union has called for Ofsted inspections to be halted amid wellbeing concerns, as it warned of a possible 'risk to life' schoolsweek.co.uk/union-calls-...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Union calls for inspections pause over wellbeing concerns
Three-quarters of leaders feel new inspections worse than before, NAHT survey suggests
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
School finance leads have known about changes to LGPS contribution rates since April, and say there had been no suggestion that the gov might claw back the headroom this created. "Additional costs or savings (regarding LGPS) have historically been for schools to bear or benefit," said one.
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Administration of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme is finally expected to be transferred to Tata Consultancy Services in November, following a 12-month delay schoolsweek.co.uk/teachers-pen...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Pension contract transfer going ahead in November - DfE
Department pledges 'smooth and secure handover' when Indian firm takes over running Teachers' Pensions
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Education secretary Lucy Powell has been criticised for claiming a third of GCSE pupils 'can’t' pass English and maths each year due to the way the exam grading system works schoolsweek.co.uk/powell-criti...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Powell criticised for claims about GCSE grading
Former Ofqual chair says education secretary's claim about the effect of comparable outcomes is 'untrue'
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
A school leaders’ union has called for more details on proposed changes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) that could leave grieving family members worse-off schoolsweek.co.uk/pension-dfe-...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Teachers' pensions: DfE plans change to bereavement payouts
Some families could receive less money immediately after the death of a TPS member claiming a pension
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Ofsted will 'change the way they measure and inspect schools' to ensure they 'recognise the quality of technical education and the support aimed at preparing young people for work', the government has said schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-schoo...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Ofsted schools shake-up to 'recognise preparation for work'
But vague summer holiday announcement leaves leaders in the dark over proposed 2028 reforms
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell has been appointed as education secretary in a reshuffle by new prime minister Andy Burnham schoolsweek.co.uk/lucy-powell-...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Lucy Powell appointed as education secretary
Labour's deputy leader replaces Bridget Phillipson at the Department for Education
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Ofsted has come under fire after admitting it does not track how many calls to a new helpline set up to support leaders are related to wellbeing schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-doesn...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Ofsted doesn't know which helpline calls relate to wellbeing
Phone line set up after head's suicide has received 550 calls – but watchdog not clear on what for
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Breaking: The DfE is considering cancelling exams giant Pearson's contract to deliver SATs after it confirmed this year's marking fiasco will delay results schoolsweek.co.uk/sats-results-dela…
schoolsweek.co.uk
SATs results delayed by Pearson marking fiasco
Results will now be delivered on 16 July, says exams giant, over a week later than planned
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Breaking: Teacher pay will rise by 3.5 per cent from September, but schools will be expected to fund almost a third of the cost schoolsweek.co.uk/teacher-pay-to-ri…
schoolsweek.co.uk
Teacher pay to rise 3.5%, but it's not fully-funded
Government also confirms plans to raise pay by a further 3% in 2027 as part of multi-year settlement
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Samantha Booth @samanthajbooth.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Great to see @lydiach.bsky.social CEO pay scoop feature in London Playbook @politico.eu this morning www.politico.eu/newsletter/l...
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Big news on academy trust CEO pay this evening... We understand the government will announce controls on MAT CEO pay alongside the long-awaited teacher pay award for September, which could come as soon as tomorrow.
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The government's flagship teacher training programme Teach First is to be renamed after 24 years amid a "shift in strategic direction". It will still be run by the charity named Teach First, but will be delivered under the new title 'Teach Lead Change'. More here...
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Hayes told me of his concerns about the wellbeing measures put in place by Ofsted following the death of Ruth Perry, and about the impact of its new inspection framework
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Two calls were made to Ofsted's wellbeing helpline by Hayes' deputy head and a governor, due to concerns about his wellbeing. Hayes was offered the chance to pause the inspection, but declined this, feeling unable to repeat the process. No follow-up calls were made, to check on his wellbeing.
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
During an Ofsted inspection in at his primary school January John Hayes, an experienced headteacher of 19 years, broke down in tears in front of inspectors. At another point, when asked how he was, he told inspectors he was 'terrified'. Hayes said inspectors didn't seem to know how to react.
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
The EEG was introduced in 2019, allowing Ofsted inspectors to record notes during inspections digitally. But it's faced chronic software glitches – in the most serious cases involving the loss of key school inspection evidence. We understand Ofsted is now considering replacing it...
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
The DfE has scrapped bursaries for overseas applicants who are hoping to become trainee physics and languages teachers. But experts say it's 'not the time' for scaling back tactics to boost recruitment, and criticise the fact this has come mid-year, without notice schoolsweek.co.uk/ministers-sc...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Physics and MFL bursaries scrapped for foreign trainees
Experts warn this is 'not a time for scaling back' recruitment tactics, and criticise mid-year change
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
The National Education Union is set to formally ballot its members for strike action over pay and funding, in a move that has been blasted by the education secretary as 'irresponsible and massively premature' schoolsweek.co.uk/neu-to-forma...
schoolsweek.co.uk
NEU to formally ballot teachers on strikes
But education secretary Bridget Phillipson blasts move as 'massively premature'
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Ofsted will *not* be decoupling attendance and behaviour, when it tweaks the education inspection framework ahead of September. It will introduce subheadings on report cards, to highlight there are separate paragraphs about the two areas. But schools will continue to receive one grade...
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
It was a pleasure to interview James Noble-Rogers, as he stepped down as chief executive of UCET after 22 years. He reflected on some of the biggest challenges he's faced – from Gove's push for school-led training, to Covid and the market review – and what challenges may lie ahead for the sector
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
The DFE has stopped running its own 'Get Into Teaching' events, designed to help people find out more about the profession. It said many training providers run their own events, and it must 'prioritise marketing activity that has the greatest impact on recruitment' schoolsweek.co.uk/government-f...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Government-funded 'Get into Teaching' events scrapped by DfE
The department quietly updated its website to say it had 'made the decision not to run own-brand events'
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Exclusive: The Church of England has shelved a consultation on plans to launch its own multi-academy trust inspections, just days after first unveiling the proposals schoolsweek.co.uk/church-of-england…
schoolsweek.co.uk
Church of England shelves consultation on MAT inspections
But it will revisit the plans later this year as Catholic counterparts think about their own framework
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Fees charged by agencies for supply staff working in most of England’s schools will be capped from September to help save money and clamp down on 'exploitative' practice. Here's everything schools and trusts need to know... schoolsweek.co.uk/supply-staff...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Supply staff agency fee caps: What schools need to know
New framework will help tackle 'exorbitant' supplier fees charged by some agencies
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
The analysis shows a similar link between having more SEND pupils, and receiving 'needs attention' for attendance and behaviour. Ofsted says it will be publishing its own analysis and commentary when it issues its monthly data on state school inspections next month
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
NAHT analysis shows schools with above-average disadvantage are significantly more likely to receive 'needs attention' in achievement, and attendance and behaviour. These are the two judgement areas where national averages are used to assess if schools are meeting the 'expected standard'
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
We've been covering concerns around Ofsted's use of national averages – and that it penalises schools with more disadvantaged pupils, or more with SEND – since its new inspection framework launched. New analysis by NAHT suggests there is indeed a link between these contextual factors and grading
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
The primary spent over £16k offsetting the cost of meals last financial year, to avoid passing on the burden to parents. One minister said many schools are already delivering food outlined in the new school food standards 'efficiently with their budgets'. But the DfE has not named examples directly
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Ministers have assured schools have ample funding to carry out its ambitious overhaul of school food standards. But one of the schools praised by the DfE in its press release about the new standards has said funding is 'not sufficient'
schoolsweek.co.uk
Food funding 'not sufficient' says school praised by DfE
The Devon school has had to find £16,652 extra to pay for the meals lauded in new school food standards
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Two leading education charities have teamed up to devise a new programme to help 'accelerate' aspiring headteachers’ careers and support them when they get their first big job schoolsweek.co.uk/new-heads-ne...
schoolsweek.co.uk
New heads need more than a one-off qualification - charities
‘Ongoing’ support planned as research shows falling numbers aspire to headship
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Exclusive: Schools began to scale back their language provision after plans to withdraw the EBacc were announced last November, sparking fears that the change is “squeezing languages out of the picture”. schoolsweek.co.uk/ebacc-withdr...
schoolsweek.co.uk
EBacc withdrawal ‘squeezes languages out of the picture’
Language learning is continuing to decline with many schools cutting down further
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Turnout was 48.6 per cent for teacher NEU members, and 55.5 per cent of support staff members. NEU's national executive will meet next month to determine next steps
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Breaking: Teacher and support staff members of @neunion.bsky.social have said they are prepared to strike over the prospect of an unfunded pay rise. Indicative ballots show 90.5% of teacher and 86.1% of support staff members are prepared to take industrial action over pay, funding and workload
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
The government is planning the most 'ambitious' overhaul of food standards in a generation. From cutting cake, cheese and chips to increasing fibre and fruit, here are all the key changes... schoolsweek.co.uk/cake-out-lentils-…
schoolsweek.co.uk
What schools need to know about proposed food standards
Government is planning an 'ambitious' revamp of the rules. But what exactly is being proposed?
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
The proportion of children reporting issues with conspiracy theories, misinformation and disinformation in their schools has increased by over a third in a year, research suggests schoolsweek.co.uk/more-pupils-repor…
schoolsweek.co.uk
More pupils report conspiracy theories and misinfo in school
And four in five teachers report having had a pupil bring up a conspiracy theory with them
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Teacher pay should rise by at least 7% over the next three years, says @thenfer.bsky.social, to keep pace with general pay increases predicted by the OBR and 'continue to make the profession attractive'
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
NFER says teacher pay should rise by at least 7% over the next three years, to keep pace with rises in general pay predicted by the OBR, and 'continue to make the profession attractive'
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks @lydiach.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Comments made by Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver ahead of today's ASCL conference have not gone down well with school leaders' unions...
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Uncertainty about the affordability of future pay rises will cast 'a cloud' as school leaders gather for the ASCL annual conference, its general secretary Pepe Di’Iasio has said schoolsweek.co.uk/ascl-conference-p…
schoolsweek.co.uk
Pay and funding uncertainty a 'cloud' over ASCL conference
'I think that will be what is at the front of everyone's minds. It'll be a cloud over the conference'
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
‼️ A crackdown on off-rolling pupils, a call for standalone schools to join or form MATs and changes to the admissions code are among major plans unveiled in today's schools white paper schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-white-pap…
schoolsweek.co.uk
Schools white paper: The key schools and academies policies
Fair banding transparency, a crackdown on off-rolling and calls for all schools to be in trusts
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Breaking: Newly-appointed headteachers will be offered retention payments of up to £15,000 to work in certain areas under a planned pilot, the government has said schoolsweek.co.uk/new-headteachers-…
schoolsweek.co.uk
New heads to get £15k to work where they're 'needed most'
Trial of retention payments comes alongside plans to emulate London Challenge in parts of England
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Ministers have pledged eight weeks of full maternity pay for leaders, teachers and support staff in England schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-pledges-...
schoolsweek.co.uk
DfE pledges eight weeks full maternity pay for school staff
Change to be enacted from 2027 for leaders and teachers, with 'equivalent improvements' for support staff
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Samantha Booth @samanthajbooth.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
The devil will absolutely be in the detail on this, but it's a big move on private special schools. Quite a bit we don't know yet such as the £ value of the bands and what the 'standards' will be. One big question for me is - will this see companies pull out of the market and close schools?
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