Feature Articles

Following last week’s developments, the UK is now legally set to leave the EU on 31 October 2019 unless a deal can be reached before that date.

Former Head, Michael Evans, looks at the issues surrounding e-safety and what schools can do to help pupils stay safe and make positive contributions online.

Martin Hodgson, a former school governor, focuses on the roles of the Chair and vice Chair of a governing body.

On 16 January, Ofsted published a range of documents on the proposed changes to school inspections, including the official consultation. Tony Powell, consultant educationist, explains the main points for consideration here.

Pupils with special educational needs (SEN) have arguably been overlooked in the current Ofsted framework. In this article, Suzanne O’Connell highlights the importance of reviewing your SEN practice, particularly in light of the proposed changes.

Nigel Baker highlights some recent developments in the education field.

Ofsted is to check that schools are entering enough pupils for the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) under its new “quality of education” judgment which shifts the focus from accountability measures. Heads say this suggests Ofsted has a preferred “academic” curriculum which undermines school autonomy. It is also unfair, since a shortage of modern foreign language teachers affects some schools’ ability to hit the target of 90% of pupils sitting the EBacc core GCSEs by 2025.

In April, new employment laws will force organisations to change how they work. There will be hikes in the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW), bigger pension contributions and a major overhaul to payslips. Listed below are the legal changes businesses need to know about, with advice on how to prepare for the upcoming changes. For professional advice on dealing with any HR or payroll matters, speak to a qualified consultant on our helpline on 0844 561 8149.

HSE has updated its online guidance on the provision of first aid at work to include brief advice on how to decide whether it is “beneficial” to provide trained personnel to identify and support workers who might be experiencing a mental health issue.

How often have unsatisfactory employees been dismissed, and then won compensation from their ex-employer? Unfortunately, too often, says Bob Patchett.