FrontFoot News – March 2017
These March 2017 FrontFoot news updates cover a range of educational areas of interest including matters of policy, media, research and statistics. This report includes items about 2-tier GCSEs, more free schools, SEND, tracking of social media, writing assessments, careers, breakfast clubs and much more. Click the links below to go to specific categories of interest; when there, the headings link to the full article.
Policy/Guidance
DfE correspondence: GCSE 9 to 1 grading – Justine Greening’s letter
28 March 2017 Education Secretary writes to the Education Select Committee about the GCSE grades 9 to 1. In relation to this Schools Week is reporting:
- DfE introduces two-tier GCSE pass rate: ‘standard’ and ‘strong’ and
- Ofqual omits ‘strong’ grade from new GCSE guidance.
The TES is reporting:
Ofqual guidance: Qualifications reform – resources for teachers
31 March 2017 Updated to reflect recent announcements.
Ofqual news story: Ofqual unveils corporate plan 2017 to 2020
31 March 2017 Ofqual’s sets goals and objectives for the next three years.
DfE press release: Government launches company to create more free schools
28 March 2017 New public property company set up to purchase and develop sites to help create 500 new free schools.
DfE press release: New agency to provide joined-up education and skills funding
28 March 2017 The new body will carry out the roles of the Education Funding Agency and Skills Funding Agency.
DfE Independent report: SEND disagreement resolution arrangements in England – review
29 March 2017 Review of special educational needs and disability (SEND) disagreement resolution procedures, and the government’s response.
DfE speech: Justine Greening: unlocking the potential of a new generation
30 March 2017 The Education Secretary addresses the Social Mobility Commission conference about transforming social mobility.
Media
Schools Week: Ofsted considers tracking Facebook and Twitter to check on schools
30 March 2017 Schools Week is reporting that Ofsted is considering tracking pupils’ and parents’ social media pages to help decide which schools need an intervention.
Schools Week: School performance tracker RAISEonline to be scrapped in July
31 March 2017 Schools Week is reporting that the Department for Education will scrap its RAISEonline programme used by schools to compare performance data in favour of a new, as yet unnamed, system later this year.
Schools Week: ECDL dropped from 2018 league tables – 12 months earlier than planned
29 March 2017 Schools Week is reporting that the ‘fast-track’ ECDL qualification will be dropped from league tables in 2018 – a year earlier than previously announced.
TES: Ofsted will treat this year’s writing assessment with ‘caution’
31 March 2017 The TES is reporting that one of Ofsted’s most senior officials has revealed that the inspectorate is just as reluctant to use this year’s writing assessments as it was in 2016.
Research & Good Practice
The Education Endowment Foundation: findings from latest EEF-funded projects published
29 March 2017 The EEF has published findings from three pilot projects designed to find out if innovative approaches to teaching and learning can be delivered in schools in a practical way. The three projects are: Spaced Learning, IRIS Connect, and Evidence for the Frontline(developed by Sandringham School, St Albans).
DfE research and analysis: Decisions about A level class sizes
29 March 2017 Research exploring the decisions behind A level class sizes and the effects they have on their cost efficiency. In relation to this Schools Week is reporting: Government study reveals minimum A-level class size.
DfE research and analysis: National Careers Service – economic evaluation
29 March 2017 Evaluation of the National Careers Service and its effectiveness at improving education and training outcomes.
DfE research and analysis: Encouraging people into university
29 March 2017 Report on how sending letters to young people influences their behaviour when applying to university.
DfE research and analysis: Children and young people’s mental health – peer support
28 March 2017 A review of children and young people’s mental health and approaches to peer support.
DfE research and analysis: Education, health and care plans – parents and young people survey
29 March 2017 The views and experiences of people who received an education, health and care (EHC) plan in 2015.
DfE research and analysis: Breakfast clubs in high-deprivation schools
30 March 2017 Findings of a programme to run breakfast clubs in schools with high levels of deprivation.
Statistics
DfE national statistics: Level 2 and 3 attainment by young people aged 19 in 2016
30 March 2017 The attainment of young people aged 19 in the 2015 to 2016 academic year.
DfE transparency data: Key stage 4 shadow measures
30 March 2017 National 2015 to 2016 Attainment 8 data, mapped to 2017 point scores.