Lydia Chantler-Hicks
@lydiach.bsky.social
Senior reporter at Schools Week, with a special focus on Ofsted and the teacher workforce
Email lydia.chantler-hicks@schoolsweek.co.uk
Email lydia.chantler-hicks@schoolsweek.co.uk
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
More research is needed into the impact of AI tutoring for pupils, experts have warned after the government announced plans to trial it in England’s schools
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfes-ai-tuto...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfes-ai-tuto...
More research needed for AI tutoring trial, experts say
Experts warn evidence on AI provision 'in its infancy'
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 5:16 PM
More research is needed into the impact of AI tutoring for pupils, experts have warned after the government announced plans to trial it in England’s schools
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfes-ai-tuto...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfes-ai-tuto...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Ofsted latest: First report cards for non-voluntary school inspections offer an early look at grading, while the watchdog has refuted claims AI is being used to write report cards amid concerns over 'generic' wording, and a special school has been recommended for special measures
Read more here...
Read more here...
Alarm over ‘generic’ wording in 12 Ofsted report cards
An investigation revealed the same paragraph was used in report cards for 12 different schools
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Ofsted latest: First report cards for non-voluntary school inspections offer an early look at grading, while the watchdog has refuted claims AI is being used to write report cards amid concerns over 'generic' wording, and a special school has been recommended for special measures
Read more here...
Read more here...
Ofsted has found 'no evidence' to substantiate concerns about political impartiality at a school that postponed the visit of an MP due to planned pro-Palestine protests
schoolsweek.co.uk/no-evidence-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/no-evidence-...
Ofsted: No political bias at school that postponed MP visit
Inspectors praise 'diverse and inclusive' Bristol school after emergency monitoring inspection
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Sector leaders have criticised the 'limited breadth and diversity' of experts recruited to help write the new national curriculum
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/concerns-over-make-up-of-curriculum-drafters-group/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/concerns-over-make-up-of-curriculum-drafters-group/
Concerns over make-up of curriculum drafters group
Leaders criticise 'lack of diversity and representation' among experts helping to write new curriculum
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Sector leaders have criticised the 'limited breadth and diversity' of experts recruited to help write the new national curriculum
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/concerns-over-make-up-of-curriculum-drafters-group/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/concerns-over-make-up-of-curriculum-drafters-group/
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
The House of Lords has amended the children’s wellbeing and schools bill to include a clause that would force ministers to enact a social media ban for under-16s
schoolsweek.co.uk/lords-passes...
schoolsweek.co.uk/lords-passes...
Lords passes bill amendment demanding social media ban
It places further pressure on the government to enact a ban amid growing calls
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 3:13 PM
The House of Lords has amended the children’s wellbeing and schools bill to include a clause that would force ministers to enact a social media ban for under-16s
schoolsweek.co.uk/lords-passes...
schoolsweek.co.uk/lords-passes...
This joint judgment area has prompted lots of discussion since the first Ofsted report cards were published. At least one school has been downgraded because their attendance was lacking, despite inspectors praising good behaviour.
Martyn Oliver says it's something he'll be watching...
Martyn Oliver says it's something he'll be watching...
Ofsted boss Sir Martyn Oliver has admitted merging the behaviour and attendance judgment areas in the watchdog’s new inspections 'did bother' him 'tremendously'
schoolsweek.co.uk/merging-beha...
schoolsweek.co.uk/merging-beha...
Ofsted chief: Merging behaviour and attendance 'bothered' me
Leaders take issue with the new joint judgment area, but Oliver says it's what consultation called for
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 4:48 PM
This joint judgment area has prompted lots of discussion since the first Ofsted report cards were published. At least one school has been downgraded because their attendance was lacking, despite inspectors praising good behaviour.
Martyn Oliver says it's something he'll be watching...
Martyn Oliver says it's something he'll be watching...
The gov is investing £23mil to expand its edtech pilot in schools into a four-year programme, education secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced at #BettUK2026
It will 'put the latest tech and AI tools through their places in...classrooms across the country'
It will 'put the latest tech and AI tools through their places in...classrooms across the country'
January 21, 2026 at 9:35 AM
The gov is investing £23mil to expand its edtech pilot in schools into a four-year programme, education secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced at #BettUK2026
It will 'put the latest tech and AI tools through their places in...classrooms across the country'
It will 'put the latest tech and AI tools through their places in...classrooms across the country'
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Breaking: Ofsted will check every school’s policy on mobile phones during inspections and ministers will issue 'tougher guidance for schools' on restricting the devices, the government has announced
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-to-ch...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-to-ch...
Ofsted to check phone policies and 'tougher' guidance coming
Government will also consult on a potential social media ban for children
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Breaking: Ofsted will check every school’s policy on mobile phones during inspections and ministers will issue 'tougher guidance for schools' on restricting the devices, the government has announced
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-to-ch...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-to-ch...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Artificial intelligence used in schools should look out for signs of 'distress' in pupils and flag concerning behaviour to safeguarding leads, new government guidance states
schoolsweek.co.uk/ai-used-in-s...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ai-used-in-s...
AI used in schools should look for signs of pupil 'distress'
The DfE has updated AI guidance around emotional and social development and 'manipulation'
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Artificial intelligence used in schools should look out for signs of 'distress' in pupils and flag concerning behaviour to safeguarding leads, new government guidance states
schoolsweek.co.uk/ai-used-in-s...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ai-used-in-s...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
All teaching staff in England will be eligible for SEND training as part of a £200 million new development package, government has announced
schoolsweek.co.uk/new-200m-sch...
schoolsweek.co.uk/new-200m-sch...
DfE announces new SEND training for 'all teaching staff'
All teaching staff in England are to be eligible for SEND training as part of a £200mil new development package, government has announced
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 12:18 AM
All teaching staff in England will be eligible for SEND training as part of a £200 million new development package, government has announced
schoolsweek.co.uk/new-200m-sch...
schoolsweek.co.uk/new-200m-sch...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
🔍 Ofsted has announced it has inspected a school that postponed a visit by its local MP because of a planned protest by pro-Palestine activists
Ofsted inspects school that postponed MP's visit
Inspection 'necessary due to potential concerns', says watchdog
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 4:45 PM
🔍 Ofsted has announced it has inspected a school that postponed a visit by its local MP because of a planned protest by pro-Palestine activists
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
The government looks set to hand itself sweeping powers to close MATs based on trust-level education failures alone, once new Ofsted trust inspections are introduced
Here's everything you need to know...
schoolsweek.co.uk/trust-inspec...
Here's everything you need to know...
schoolsweek.co.uk/trust-inspec...
Trust inspections and intervention: What we know so far
Ofsted to inspect academy trusts for the first time and DfE plans sweeping intervention powers
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 8, 2026 at 4:05 PM
The government looks set to hand itself sweeping powers to close MATs based on trust-level education failures alone, once new Ofsted trust inspections are introduced
Here's everything you need to know...
schoolsweek.co.uk/trust-inspec...
Here's everything you need to know...
schoolsweek.co.uk/trust-inspec...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Big story from @lydiach.bsky.social - buried in Treasury documents, the government confirms it intends to allocate disadvantage funding to schools based on income data, not free school meals eligibility.
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
Exclusive: Family income data will replace free school meals eligibility as the trigger for pupil premium and other deprivation funding for schools, the government has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-premiu...
schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-premiu...
Income to replace FSM as trigger for disadvantage funding
Government 'will design new model' for allocating the pupil premium and other disadvantage cash
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Big story from @lydiach.bsky.social - buried in Treasury documents, the government confirms it intends to allocate disadvantage funding to schools based on income data, not free school meals eligibility.
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
The DfE's post came the same day the Teacher Wellbeing Index revealed teacher wellbeing is at a record low.
ASCL's @pepediiasio.bsky.social says the timing is 'ill-advised at best'. 'At worst it suggests a real lack of understanding'.
@danielkebedeneu.bsky.social calls it 'completely tone deaf'
ASCL's @pepediiasio.bsky.social says the timing is 'ill-advised at best'. 'At worst it suggests a real lack of understanding'.
@danielkebedeneu.bsky.social calls it 'completely tone deaf'
A social media post by the Department for Education lauding its achievements appears to have gone viral for the wrong reasons, as sector leaders slammed it as 'smug' and 'tone deaf'
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-social-m...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-social-m...
Viral DfE social media stunt slammed as 'completely tone deaf'
A social media post by the Department for Education lauding its achievements appears has been widely lambasted by the sector and members of the public
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The DfE's post came the same day the Teacher Wellbeing Index revealed teacher wellbeing is at a record low.
ASCL's @pepediiasio.bsky.social says the timing is 'ill-advised at best'. 'At worst it suggests a real lack of understanding'.
@danielkebedeneu.bsky.social calls it 'completely tone deaf'
ASCL's @pepediiasio.bsky.social says the timing is 'ill-advised at best'. 'At worst it suggests a real lack of understanding'.
@danielkebedeneu.bsky.social calls it 'completely tone deaf'
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Changes to Ofsted inspections 'should feel energising' to leaders, the chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/leaders-shou...
schoolsweek.co.uk/leaders-shou...
Leaders should feel energised about Ofsted changes - Oliver
Chief inspector says he wants heads to feel 'comfortable and motivated by the changes'
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Changes to Ofsted inspections 'should feel energising' to leaders, the chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/leaders-shou...
schoolsweek.co.uk/leaders-shou...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Exclusive: Staff are set to strike for six days in December and January over a school’s roll-out of a 'virtual teacher', who teaches maths remotely to secondary pupils
schoolsweek.co.uk/staff-to-str...
schoolsweek.co.uk/staff-to-str...
Staff to strike over school's 'dystopian' virtual teacher
NEU members are to strike for six days in December and January over a school's use of a 'virtual teacher' to teach maths to secondary pupils
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Exclusive: Staff are set to strike for six days in December and January over a school’s roll-out of a 'virtual teacher', who teaches maths remotely to secondary pupils
schoolsweek.co.uk/staff-to-str...
schoolsweek.co.uk/staff-to-str...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Increasing numbers of university students are taking up paid internships at schools to get a taste for teaching, new figures show.
But are any of them going on to teacher training? And how much does it all cost? Schools Week investigates...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-rise-of-...
But are any of them going on to teacher training? And how much does it all cost? Schools Week investigates...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-rise-of-...
The rise of teaching internships – a recruitment solution?
We look at how many teaching interns go on to train as teachers, and the pros and cons of internships
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Increasing numbers of university students are taking up paid internships at schools to get a taste for teaching, new figures show.
But are any of them going on to teacher training? And how much does it all cost? Schools Week investigates...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-rise-of-...
But are any of them going on to teacher training? And how much does it all cost? Schools Week investigates...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-rise-of-...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Ofsted has again refused to release data showing how many people supported or opposed its report card inspection plans – saying the 'vast majority' of the 6,500 responses were not actually categorised by 'sentiment'
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-slamm...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-slamm...
Ofsted slammed over secret consultation analysis method
Experts warn of 'risk' decision-makers at inspectorate were not 'provided with the relevant information'
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Ofsted has again refused to release data showing how many people supported or opposed its report card inspection plans – saying the 'vast majority' of the 6,500 responses were not actually categorised by 'sentiment'
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-slamm...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-slamm...
📋Ofsted's new education inspections have launched this week, and I'm keen to find out what leaders and teachers make of them.
If your school's inspected this week or next and you're up for sharing your thoughts, anonymously or otherwise, please do get in touch! Email in bio.
If your school's inspected this week or next and you're up for sharing your thoughts, anonymously or otherwise, please do get in touch! Email in bio.
November 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
📋Ofsted's new education inspections have launched this week, and I'm keen to find out what leaders and teachers make of them.
If your school's inspected this week or next and you're up for sharing your thoughts, anonymously or otherwise, please do get in touch! Email in bio.
If your school's inspected this week or next and you're up for sharing your thoughts, anonymously or otherwise, please do get in touch! Email in bio.
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
❌ Ministers have suggested rising numbers of assistant heads could be the place to target cost-cutting as schools are forced to make savings to fund future teacher pay rises.
So what’s behind the rise, and is a cut do-able? Schools Week investigates...
So what’s behind the rise, and is a cut do-able? Schools Week investigates...
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 5:10 AM
❌ Ministers have suggested rising numbers of assistant heads could be the place to target cost-cutting as schools are forced to make savings to fund future teacher pay rises.
So what’s behind the rise, and is a cut do-able? Schools Week investigates...
So what’s behind the rise, and is a cut do-able? Schools Week investigates...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Government has announced schools are to be judged on new enrichment benchmarks, despite record numbers cutting extracurricular activities due to funding constraints
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Government has announced schools are to be judged on new enrichment benchmarks, despite record numbers cutting extracurricular activities due to funding constraints
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
A thread rounding up all our curriculum review coverage ...
🚨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...
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...
New curriculum to be introduced in 2028 as review published
Government commits to scrap the EBacc and make citizenship compulsory in primary schools
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 6:20 AM
A thread rounding up all our curriculum review coverage ...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has called for 'state school standards enshrined in law' to stop the watchdog 'tinkering' with what it assesses in future
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-chief...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-chief...
Ofsted chief wants state school standards 'enshrined in law'
Oliver says new legislation would 'stop Ofsted from tinkering' and 'deciding to do something new'
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has called for 'state school standards enshrined in law' to stop the watchdog 'tinkering' with what it assesses in future
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-chief...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-chief...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Exclusive: Reform UK-run Kent council plans to raid £2 million from schools’ already-squeezed budgets to pay for vital services it can no longer afford, sparking fears of more classroom cuts
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
Reform-run Kent council plans £2m school budget raid
Leaders say proposals fly in face of pre-election pledges to identify efficiencies from 'DOGE' unit
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Exclusive: Reform UK-run Kent council plans to raid £2 million from schools’ already-squeezed budgets to pay for vital services it can no longer afford, sparking fears of more classroom cuts
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
Reposted by Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Exclusive: Teachers will use 'deepfake' technology to create an AI avatar of themselves to deliver catch-up lessons for pupils who have missed school
Watch one of the school’s ‘deepfake’ teachers in our story below
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
Watch one of the school’s ‘deepfake’ teachers in our story below
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
'Deepfake' teacher avatars to help pupils catch up
Academy trust staff to use AI generator to introduce resources for pupils returning to school
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Exclusive: Teachers will use 'deepfake' technology to create an AI avatar of themselves to deliver catch-up lessons for pupils who have missed school
Watch one of the school’s ‘deepfake’ teachers in our story below
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
Watch one of the school’s ‘deepfake’ teachers in our story below
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...