Charlotte Santry
@charlottesantry.bsky.social
Head of news at Tes Magazine/policy journo/data nerd/school governor/mum of girls
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news
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https://www.tes.com/magazine/news
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'Impossible' to take on special schools due to deficits, warns MAT.
Meanwhile, the DfE has “failed to articulate a coherent position” on SEND.
And Ofsted's “hurried" new framework has “drained the morale and courage of leaders”.
Strong sector views via @tesmagazine.bsky.social's MAT Tracker 👇
Meanwhile, the DfE has “failed to articulate a coherent position” on SEND.
And Ofsted's “hurried" new framework has “drained the morale and courage of leaders”.
Strong sector views via @tesmagazine.bsky.social's MAT Tracker 👇
It’s ‘impossible’ to take on special schools, says MAT
Thirty-school trust says the size of the financial deficits being reported by special schools mean that it cannot take on any more
www.tes.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:54 PM
'Impossible' to take on special schools due to deficits, warns MAT.
Meanwhile, the DfE has “failed to articulate a coherent position” on SEND.
And Ofsted's “hurried" new framework has “drained the morale and courage of leaders”.
Strong sector views via @tesmagazine.bsky.social's MAT Tracker 👇
Meanwhile, the DfE has “failed to articulate a coherent position” on SEND.
And Ofsted's “hurried" new framework has “drained the morale and courage of leaders”.
Strong sector views via @tesmagazine.bsky.social's MAT Tracker 👇
Excl: Heads must “think carefully” about phone policies under Ofsted’s new inspection framework, chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver says in a letter to shadow education sec Laura Trott seen by @tesmagazine.bsky.social.
This comes after she urged Ofsted to fail schools where students have phones.
This comes after she urged Ofsted to fail schools where students have phones.
Ofsted: Heads need to ‘think carefully’ about phones in schools
But Sir Martyn Oliver stops short of agreeing that inspectors should fail a school on safeguarding if students are seen with phones, in letter seen by Tes
www.tes.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Excl: Heads must “think carefully” about phone policies under Ofsted’s new inspection framework, chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver says in a letter to shadow education sec Laura Trott seen by @tesmagazine.bsky.social.
This comes after she urged Ofsted to fail schools where students have phones.
This comes after she urged Ofsted to fail schools where students have phones.
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
Excl: Google DeepMind is looking to develop a version of its AI chatbot Gemini to be used in schools.
It will be trained on the revised national curriculum and meet government expectations for safety in education.
It will be trained on the revised national curriculum and meet government expectations for safety in education.
Google develops DfE-approved chatbot for teachers
Google DeepMind aims to build a version of its Gemini chatbot that can be used by teachers and is trained on the national curriculum in England
www.tes.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Excl: Google DeepMind is looking to develop a version of its AI chatbot Gemini to be used in schools.
It will be trained on the revised national curriculum and meet government expectations for safety in education.
It will be trained on the revised national curriculum and meet government expectations for safety in education.
The exam board “failed to identify and effectively manage a risk of inconsistent grading standards" in qualifications including GCSE English Language.
Exam board fined a record £2m for ‘serious breaches’
Ofqual says the size of Pearson’s fine for three separate cases reflects the ‘serious nature’ of its failures, which affected ‘tens of thousands’ of students
www.tes.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The exam board “failed to identify and effectively manage a risk of inconsistent grading standards" in qualifications including GCSE English Language.
Falling pupil numbers have led to calls for a complete overhaul to the way schools are funded.
But would the alternatives be any better?
Brilliant analysis of the different options by @jabedahmed.bsky.social:
But would the alternatives be any better?
Brilliant analysis of the different options by @jabedahmed.bsky.social:
Can per-pupil funding keep schools afloat as rolls plummet?
Demographic decline is squeezing school budgets and forcing political choices. Is it time to rethink the way schools are funded?
www.tes.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Falling pupil numbers have led to calls for a complete overhaul to the way schools are funded.
But would the alternatives be any better?
Brilliant analysis of the different options by @jabedahmed.bsky.social:
But would the alternatives be any better?
Brilliant analysis of the different options by @jabedahmed.bsky.social:
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
Last week the government indicated that creating more specialist places in mainstream can bring down SEND spending but sector leaders and heads have warned that this won't deliver significant savings in the short term and needs more than just capital funding. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Don't overestimate resource base savings, heads warn Labour
Leaders question education secretary's suggestion that creating more specialist places in mainstream schools will address SEND cost pressures outlined in Budget
www.tes.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Last week the government indicated that creating more specialist places in mainstream can bring down SEND spending but sector leaders and heads have warned that this won't deliver significant savings in the short term and needs more than just capital funding. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
For anyone wondering, no, the government will not be providing any additional investment for digital exams.
This is despite the chief regulator himself warning that schools had "weak" IT infrastructure...
This is despite the chief regulator himself warning that schools had "weak" IT infrastructure...
NEW: Ofqual gives the green light for digital exams - but it likely won't happen this decade.
Exam boards can submit 2 subjects to trial on-screen, but only under 100k entries. Large-scale subjects like Maths and English are off the table for the foreseeable.
Exam boards can submit 2 subjects to trial on-screen, but only under 100k entries. Large-scale subjects like Maths and English are off the table for the foreseeable.
No on-screen assessment likely until 2030s, says exams chief
Ofqual announces proposals to regulate on-screen assessment – but digital exams unlikely in the most popular subjects for the ‘foreseeable future’
www.tes.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:09 PM
For anyone wondering, no, the government will not be providing any additional investment for digital exams.
This is despite the chief regulator himself warning that schools had "weak" IT infrastructure...
This is despite the chief regulator himself warning that schools had "weak" IT infrastructure...
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
"My view is that England should have no more than 400 trusts and that we should try to achieve this by 2030"
Agree with him or not, this is very thought-provoking indeed from Mark McCourt - many in policy circles do agree, but tend to whisper it...
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Agree with him or not, this is very thought-provoking indeed from Mark McCourt - many in policy circles do agree, but tend to whisper it...
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Why England only needs 400 academy trusts
If we want a trust-led system that works for pupils, staff, communities and the taxpayer, we need to drastically reduce trust numbers, argues Mark McCourt
www.tes.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:05 AM
"My view is that England should have no more than 400 trusts and that we should try to achieve this by 2030"
Agree with him or not, this is very thought-provoking indeed from Mark McCourt - many in policy circles do agree, but tend to whisper it...
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Agree with him or not, this is very thought-provoking indeed from Mark McCourt - many in policy circles do agree, but tend to whisper it...
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
Alternative provision (AP) leaders are urging ministers to use the long-awaited Schools White Paper to shift the sector’s focus towards supporting pupils before, rather than after, exclusion. My long read for @tesmagazine.bsky.social speaking to leaders in the sector. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
What do alternative provision leaders want from the White Paper?
AP doesn't just need to be expanded – it needs to be refocused, say leaders ahead of upcoming reforms
www.tes.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Alternative provision (AP) leaders are urging ministers to use the long-awaited Schools White Paper to shift the sector’s focus towards supporting pupils before, rather than after, exclusion. My long read for @tesmagazine.bsky.social speaking to leaders in the sector. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
“RISE feels like it’s been launched before the real-world costs were understood…It’s pretty clear the funding assumptions were off.”
Does the DfE have enough money for its school improvement plan?
Investigation by @jabedahmed.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Does the DfE have enough money for its school improvement plan?
Investigation by @jabedahmed.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Revealed: how RISE money is being spent
Nearly £19 million has already been spent on the government’s school improvement plan - but there are concerns over where the rest will come from
www.tes.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:22 AM
“RISE feels like it’s been launched before the real-world costs were understood…It’s pretty clear the funding assumptions were off.”
Does the DfE have enough money for its school improvement plan?
Investigation by @jabedahmed.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Does the DfE have enough money for its school improvement plan?
Investigation by @jabedahmed.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
Parent allegations against teachers have increased by a third in just one year, @edaptuk.bsky.social data shared exclusively with Tes reveals
Parent allegations against teachers rise by a third
Research showing an increase in allegations highlights a ‘fraying of relationships’ between families and schools, warns parents’ charity
www.tes.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Parent allegations against teachers have increased by a third in just one year, @edaptuk.bsky.social data shared exclusively with Tes reveals
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
SEND area inspection reports show that Long waits for assessments, diagnosis and health services have been repeatedly highlighted for areas found to have systemic failings in special educational needs provision. My analysis for @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Ofsted SEND inspections: key failings revealed
Tes analysis highlights the main findings in SEND inspection reports for the areas found to have systemic or widespread failings this year
www.tes.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:50 AM
SEND area inspection reports show that Long waits for assessments, diagnosis and health services have been repeatedly highlighted for areas found to have systemic failings in special educational needs provision. My analysis for @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
“You mark your own homework. It’s not checked.”
Safeguarding leads warn the “onerous” audits that schools have to submit to councils aren’t improving student safety and duplicate work done by trusts.
Is it time to drop them?
Excl by @ktorm-social1.bsky.social
Safeguarding leads warn the “onerous” audits that schools have to submit to councils aren’t improving student safety and duplicate work done by trusts.
Is it time to drop them?
Excl by @ktorm-social1.bsky.social
Warning over ‘unchecked’ safeguarding audits
Trust leaders tell Tes that the process of submitting safeguarding audits to councils is ‘like marking your own homework’, and putting unnecessary pressure on school staff
www.tes.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:42 AM
“You mark your own homework. It’s not checked.”
Safeguarding leads warn the “onerous” audits that schools have to submit to councils aren’t improving student safety and duplicate work done by trusts.
Is it time to drop them?
Excl by @ktorm-social1.bsky.social
Safeguarding leads warn the “onerous” audits that schools have to submit to councils aren’t improving student safety and duplicate work done by trusts.
Is it time to drop them?
Excl by @ktorm-social1.bsky.social
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
I've long been worried the government's "school readiness" goal risks widening the early years attainment gap - because it doesn't include a specific goal for lower income young children or the gap itself, + it's likely easier to push better off kids over the line - and the gap is widening.
The proportion of four- and five-year-olds reaching expected levels of learning at the end of Reception has increased, DfE data shows
EYFS: Rise in Reception pupils with ‘good’ development
DfE data shows an increase in the proportion of four- and five-year-olds meeting their development targets - although results are still below pre-Covid levels
www.tes.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:41 PM
I've long been worried the government's "school readiness" goal risks widening the early years attainment gap - because it doesn't include a specific goal for lower income young children or the gap itself, + it's likely easier to push better off kids over the line - and the gap is widening.
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
UPDATE: OBR has corrected its earlier estimate of a possible 1.7 per cent cut to per pupil funding and revised it to a 4.9 per cent possible cut, but DfE says OBR is "incorrect"
Rachel Reeves' Budget sparks warnings about a drop in school funding, despite announcing cash for school libraries and books. Here’s how the sector has reacted…
Budget 2025: what schools need to know
Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget sparks warnings about a real-terms drop in school funding but includes spending on school libraries and books. Here are all the key details for the sector
www.tes.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:28 PM
UPDATE: OBR has corrected its earlier estimate of a possible 1.7 per cent cut to per pupil funding and revised it to a 4.9 per cent possible cut, but DfE says OBR is "incorrect"
Reposted by Charlotte Santry
Are EHCPs driving the SEND crisis or a symptom of it? Is SEND demand in 2025 any larger than it was in 2010? Will scrapping EHCPs actually achieve anything productive?
One of the best analyses of the SEND crisis I have read from Margaret Mulholland
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
One of the best analyses of the SEND crisis I have read from Margaret Mulholland
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Are EHCPs really driving the SEND crisis?
Education, health and care plans have been blamed for an unsustainable rise in special educational needs in schools, but would scrapping or limiting these plans fix the problem?
www.tes.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Are EHCPs driving the SEND crisis or a symptom of it? Is SEND demand in 2025 any larger than it was in 2010? Will scrapping EHCPs actually achieve anything productive?
One of the best analyses of the SEND crisis I have read from Margaret Mulholland
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
One of the best analyses of the SEND crisis I have read from Margaret Mulholland
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Slim pickings for schools in today's Budget - and a major cost pressure potentially arising from SEND changes.
Budget 2025: what schools need to know
Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Budget sparks warnings about a real-terms drop in school funding but includes spending on school libraries and books. Here are all the key details for the sector
www.tes.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Slim pickings for schools in today's Budget - and a major cost pressure potentially arising from SEND changes.
Politicians love to talk about their time in '90s portakabins - a memory I share. Did schools really have more of them back then or is this a myth? FACT CHECK anyone?
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Politicians love to talk about their time in '90s portakabins - a memory I share. Did schools really have more of them back then or is this a myth? FACT CHECK anyone?
Follow @tesmagazine.bsky.social school funding reporter @jabedahmed.bsky.social for the latest on today's Budget 👇
THREAD: SEND costs to hit central government budgets
The cost of SEND support will shift entirely onto central government from 2028, and the OBR warns the DfE has no plan for how to pay for it, according to the OBR's Economic and fiscal outlook, published in error.
The cost of SEND support will shift entirely onto central government from 2028, and the OBR warns the DfE has no plan for how to pay for it, according to the OBR's Economic and fiscal outlook, published in error.
November 26, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Follow @tesmagazine.bsky.social school funding reporter @jabedahmed.bsky.social for the latest on today's Budget 👇
“The consequences are going to be devastating.”
Ahead of today’s Budget, a council warns it faces a £183 million black hole due to SEND costs, and is having (along with many other LAs) to make “impossible financial decisions”.
By @johngroberts.bsky.social
Ahead of today’s Budget, a council warns it faces a £183 million black hole due to SEND costs, and is having (along with many other LAs) to make “impossible financial decisions”.
By @johngroberts.bsky.social
Debt-hit council urges action on SEND reform
Council leader writes to Bridget Phillipson on eve of the Budget, warning financial crisis is forcing local authorities into ‘impossible decisions’
www.tes.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:59 AM
“The consequences are going to be devastating.”
Ahead of today’s Budget, a council warns it faces a £183 million black hole due to SEND costs, and is having (along with many other LAs) to make “impossible financial decisions”.
By @johngroberts.bsky.social
Ahead of today’s Budget, a council warns it faces a £183 million black hole due to SEND costs, and is having (along with many other LAs) to make “impossible financial decisions”.
By @johngroberts.bsky.social
Exclusive: The NAHT heads' union has lost its second bid to challenge Ofsted in court over the way it brought in new report card-style inspections.
By @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social
By @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social
Heads’ union loses appeal against Ofsted ruling
The NAHT had appealed against a decision not to grant a judicial review into the launch of new Ofsted school inspections
www.tes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Exclusive: The NAHT heads' union has lost its second bid to challenge Ofsted in court over the way it brought in new report card-style inspections.
By @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social
By @johngroberts.bsky.social for @tesmagazine.bsky.social
Teachers on mat leave get 22 weeks less full pay than many other public sector workers - including DfE officials.
What effect does this have on retention, and is it likely to improve? Important article by @cerysturner.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
What effect does this have on retention, and is it likely to improve? Important article by @cerysturner.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Why do teachers get such a bad deal on maternity pay?
With women making up the vast majority of the workforce, could better maternity leave pay help tackle the teacher retention crisis?
www.tes.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Teachers on mat leave get 22 weeks less full pay than many other public sector workers - including DfE officials.
What effect does this have on retention, and is it likely to improve? Important article by @cerysturner.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
What effect does this have on retention, and is it likely to improve? Important article by @cerysturner.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
The government is in danger of overlooking the importance of what is taught in special schools and needs to focus more on students who cannot access the national curriculum, special-school leaders have warned.
Exclusive by @johngroberts.bsky.social
Exclusive by @johngroberts.bsky.social
Special schools fear being an ‘afterthought’ on curriculum
In response to the curriculum review, leaders in the specialist sector urge the DfE to focus more on what is taught in special schools and how best practice can be shared
www.tes.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:10 AM
The government is in danger of overlooking the importance of what is taught in special schools and needs to focus more on students who cannot access the national curriculum, special-school leaders have warned.
Exclusive by @johngroberts.bsky.social
Exclusive by @johngroberts.bsky.social
If schools really want to cut exam time by a similar amount to that recommended in the CAR, they could just switch exam boards, the Ofqual chief has said.
He also, however, stressed that most schools don't choose exam boards on this basis, and he "never" did.
He also, however, stressed that most schools don't choose exam boards on this basis, and he "never" did.
Ofqual chief: Schools can already cut exam times
Choosing between exam boards enables schools to reduce exam times to a degree ‘not all that different’ to that envisaged by the Francis review, says Sir Ian Bauckham
www.tes.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:11 PM
If schools really want to cut exam time by a similar amount to that recommended in the CAR, they could just switch exam boards, the Ofqual chief has said.
He also, however, stressed that most schools don't choose exam boards on this basis, and he "never" did.
He also, however, stressed that most schools don't choose exam boards on this basis, and he "never" did.
Which group is right? 👀
Teachers far more likely than students to say phone rules are followed
Findings from the latest DfE behaviour survey also indicate that leaders, educators and pupils disagree about the extent to which their school is 'calm and orderly'
www.tes.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Which group is right? 👀