Jack Dyson
@jackydys.bsky.social
Senior reporter @schoolsweek.bsky.social. Email: Jack.dyson@schoolsweek.co.uk
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Exclusive: School governing boards are urging Ofsted to ensure cash-strapped leaders are using SEND funding for children and not to fill other budgetary holes
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-shoul...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-shoul...
Ofsted should check SEND funding not plugging budget holes
SEND system on a 'trajectory toward complete breakdown' and 'incremental change will not suffice', warns NGA
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Exclusive: School governing boards are urging Ofsted to ensure cash-strapped leaders are using SEND funding for children and not to fill other budgetary holes
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-shoul...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-shoul...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
❗The success of one of the highest-performing schools in the country has been 'achieved at too high a cost for some pupils', a safeguarding investigation has found
schoolsweek.co.uk/mossbourne-s...
schoolsweek.co.uk/mossbourne-s...
Top academy's success 'at too high a cost' to some pupils
Review details 'isolating, shaming' practices at Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
❗The success of one of the highest-performing schools in the country has been 'achieved at too high a cost for some pupils', a safeguarding investigation has found
schoolsweek.co.uk/mossbourne-s...
schoolsweek.co.uk/mossbourne-s...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Presenting edition 413 of Schools Week
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
December 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Presenting edition 413 of Schools Week
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
Some worrying findings here:
📈 71% rise in council-run schools in deficit in three years
❗️48 schools over £1m in the red
📝Deficit schools charged up to £340k in 'interest'
📈 71% rise in council-run schools in deficit in three years
❗️48 schools over £1m in the red
📝Deficit schools charged up to £340k in 'interest'
💸 Investigation: Dozens of council-run schools have deficits of over £1 million, shock figures reveal, with some even charged six-figure sums in 'interest' by councils for racking up the losses
The council schools with million pound budget deficits
Some maintained deficits dwarf those of multi academy trusts, and even face interest payments
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Some worrying findings here:
📈 71% rise in council-run schools in deficit in three years
❗️48 schools over £1m in the red
📝Deficit schools charged up to £340k in 'interest'
📈 71% rise in council-run schools in deficit in three years
❗️48 schools over £1m in the red
📝Deficit schools charged up to £340k in 'interest'
Amid the success, there are rumblings of discontent over admissions and inclusion on the Isle of Sheppey following one of England's biggest school restructures
We look in depth at all that's happened… 👇
We look in depth at all that's happened… 👇
📈 Nearly 1,300 pupils used to set off on the 'daily' exodus out of the Isle of Sheppey
But after one of the country’s biggest school restructures in recent years, pupils are now battling for a place
Schools Week investigates 🔽
But after one of the country’s biggest school restructures in recent years, pupils are now battling for a place
Schools Week investigates 🔽
Exodus reversed: How pupils are coming back to Sheppey
Teachers deemed the school too dangerous. Now pupils are flooding back, but with rumblings of discontent
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Amid the success, there are rumblings of discontent over admissions and inclusion on the Isle of Sheppey following one of England's biggest school restructures
We look in depth at all that's happened… 👇
We look in depth at all that's happened… 👇
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Exclusive: A pioneering three-school trust in London plans to join one of England’s biggest MATs in the latest high-profile academy merger
schoolsweek.co.uk/big-educatio...
schoolsweek.co.uk/big-educatio...
Big Education trust consults on merging with Oasis
Pioneering London trust plans merger with one of country's biggest MATs. Their leaders explain more ...
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Exclusive: A pioneering three-school trust in London plans to join one of England’s biggest MATs in the latest high-profile academy merger
schoolsweek.co.uk/big-educatio...
schoolsweek.co.uk/big-educatio...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
💸 A school has been refused permission to cut its intake by a quarter despite estimates of a 'catastrophic' £2 million deficit after the local authority opposed the plans
School’s intake cut blocked despite £2m deficit fear
Watchdog rejects plan despite admitting the change could help the academy 'attract more students'
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
💸 A school has been refused permission to cut its intake by a quarter despite estimates of a 'catastrophic' £2 million deficit after the local authority opposed the plans
Just days after government's big announcement of their launch, new AI-generated attendance reports have been suspended... 😬
❌ Exclusive: AI-driven reports that government said would help bring attendance 'back to – and beyond – pre-pandemic levels' have been suspended just days after they were launched
This comes after leaders noticed inaccuracies in the data provided...
schoolsweek.co.uk/embarrassing...
This comes after leaders noticed inaccuracies in the data provided...
schoolsweek.co.uk/embarrassing...
AI attendance reports suspended just days after launch
Government had said the reports would help bring attendance 'back to - and beyond - pre-pandemic levels'
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Just days after government's big announcement of their launch, new AI-generated attendance reports have been suspended... 😬
👀 Officials want to reduce the 'legal risks' schools face when buying MIS
This follows a string of costly court fights, involving local authorities and some of England's biggest MATs...
This follows a string of costly court fights, involving local authorities and some of England's biggest MATs...
Exclusive: The government is bidding to shield schools from the £200 million management information system (MIS) turf war by drawing up a new framework through which leaders can purchase the edtech
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-looks-to...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-looks-to...
DfE looks to reduce MIS ‘legal risk’ amid £200m turf war
Officials have launched a consultation on how they can simplify the process of buying the software
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 2:28 PM
👀 Officials want to reduce the 'legal risks' schools face when buying MIS
This follows a string of costly court fights, involving local authorities and some of England's biggest MATs...
This follows a string of costly court fights, involving local authorities and some of England's biggest MATs...
We revealed last year how almost £200m had been handed to trusts through this secret fund
There was no published guidance explaining what it was or who could access the money
But now DfE seems to have finally responded to calls for greater transparency...
There was no published guidance explaining what it was or who could access the money
But now DfE seems to have finally responded to calls for greater transparency...
The government has finally published guidance on a previously secretive capital fund for academy trusts that has shelled out tens of millions
Here's what schools need to know...
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/strategic-school-improvement-capital-budget-what-schools-need-to-know/
Here's what schools need to know...
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/strategic-school-improvement-capital-budget-what-schools-need-to-know/
Revealed: DfE finally explains shady academy capital fund
DfE finally publishes guidance on shady academy fund that has paid out tens of millions over the past decade
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 9:54 AM
We revealed last year how almost £200m had been handed to trusts through this secret fund
There was no published guidance explaining what it was or who could access the money
But now DfE seems to have finally responded to calls for greater transparency...
There was no published guidance explaining what it was or who could access the money
But now DfE seems to have finally responded to calls for greater transparency...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
👔 Schools must 'confirm as soon as possible' and consider legal advice on any uniform changes needed for a new cap on branded items, with parents able to escalate any disputes to government
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-unifo...
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-unifo...
School uniform: New rules to meet Labour's cap revealed
Guidance tells schools to confirm changes ASAP, consider legal advice and lets parents complain to government
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM
👔 Schools must 'confirm as soon as possible' and consider legal advice on any uniform changes needed for a new cap on branded items, with parents able to escalate any disputes to government
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-unifo...
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-unifo...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
💸 One in five council-run primaries could be plunged into deficit as the falling rolls crisis deepens, with 20 per cent of teachers already laid off in the worst-hit areas
1 in 5 teachers laid off in worst-hit falling roll areas
A fifth of maintained primaries could also fall into deficit, new research reveals
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 10:17 AM
💸 One in five council-run primaries could be plunged into deficit as the falling rolls crisis deepens, with 20 per cent of teachers already laid off in the worst-hit areas
❗️Seventy-five trusts – one with a deficit of almost £6 million – raised concerns about their ability to continue operating in 2023-24, more than double the year before
Our investigation ⬇️
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-scho...
Our investigation ⬇️
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-scho...
More standalone schools on the brink as deficits grow
Seventy-five trusts raised concerns about their ability to continue operating in 2023-24
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 9:46 AM
❗️Seventy-five trusts – one with a deficit of almost £6 million – raised concerns about their ability to continue operating in 2023-24, more than double the year before
Our investigation ⬇️
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-scho...
Our investigation ⬇️
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-scho...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
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...
This year, SATs moderators will be tested on questions written by AI, rather than actual children’s work
The pilot has been launched amid a government push to ‘harness the power of AI technology across the sector’
Our exclusive👇
The pilot has been launched amid a government push to ‘harness the power of AI technology across the sector’
Our exclusive👇
Exclusive: Standardisation tests for SATs moderators will include questions written by artificial intelligence under a new government trial to cut costs and school workload
schoolsweek.co.uk/ai-questions...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ai-questions...
AI questions to be trialled in SATs moderator tests
Government launches trial in bid to cut costs and school workload, amid push to 'harness the power of AI'
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 6, 2025 at 9:34 AM
This year, SATs moderators will be tested on questions written by AI, rather than actual children’s work
The pilot has been launched amid a government push to ‘harness the power of AI technology across the sector’
Our exclusive👇
The pilot has been launched amid a government push to ‘harness the power of AI technology across the sector’
Our exclusive👇
Reposted by Jack Dyson
💸 An academy trust broke rules after paying nearly £5,000 in 'consultancy services' to the mother of its CEO, a government investigation has found
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-trus...
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-trus...
Trust broke rules over payments to CEO's mum
Government probe finds trust breached rules over consultancy payments and £24k on training courses
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
💸 An academy trust broke rules after paying nearly £5,000 in 'consultancy services' to the mother of its CEO, a government investigation has found
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-trus...
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-trus...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
❌ Exclusive: A controversial decision allowing a school to introduce fair banding has been withdrawn by the admissions watchdog over allegations important evidence was ignored
Admissions watchdog rescinds fair banding approval
The controversial decision had allowed a school to introduce the practice
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 11:45 AM
❌ Exclusive: A controversial decision allowing a school to introduce fair banding has been withdrawn by the admissions watchdog over allegations important evidence was ignored
Our investigation found:
👤In a fifth of RISE schools, advisers brokered in support from organisations employing fellow advisers
🔁 Organisations providing RISE support have their own 'stuck' schools
👥️ MATs with more than one RISE school receiving support from different bodies
👤In a fifth of RISE schools, advisers brokered in support from organisations employing fellow advisers
🔁 Organisations providing RISE support have their own 'stuck' schools
👥️ MATs with more than one RISE school receiving support from different bodies
Exclusive: The government must be more transparent about how decisions about its RISE teams are made, leaders have said, after it emerged many advisers buy in support from their colleagues’ organisations
schoolsweek.co.uk/rise-adviser...
schoolsweek.co.uk/rise-adviser...
RISE advisers call on their own to support schools
Transparency call as advisers buy in support from RISE colleagues' organisations
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Our investigation found:
👤In a fifth of RISE schools, advisers brokered in support from organisations employing fellow advisers
🔁 Organisations providing RISE support have their own 'stuck' schools
👥️ MATs with more than one RISE school receiving support from different bodies
👤In a fifth of RISE schools, advisers brokered in support from organisations employing fellow advisers
🔁 Organisations providing RISE support have their own 'stuck' schools
👥️ MATs with more than one RISE school receiving support from different bodies
❗️This has reignited concerns over fair banding, with one head arguing it 'systematically discriminates against certain groups'
Full story ⬇️
Full story ⬇️
❌ The admissions watchdog has thrown out a council appeal to prevent a school from introducing fair banding over fears that it would 'deter vulnerable' youngsters from applying
schoolsweek.co.uk/admissions-w...
schoolsweek.co.uk/admissions-w...
Admissions watchdog sides with school over fair banding row
Bosses of the Carlton Bolling, in Bradford, have now introduced the controversial practice
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 26, 2025 at 9:18 AM
❗️This has reignited concerns over fair banding, with one head arguing it 'systematically discriminates against certain groups'
Full story ⬇️
Full story ⬇️
LAs have reported what they suggest are tactics by schools to skew cohorts
One council even accused secondaries of practices that 'amount to selection'
Our investigation into the issues hampering in-year pupil transfers ⬇️
One council even accused secondaries of practices that 'amount to selection'
Our investigation into the issues hampering in-year pupil transfers ⬇️
Investigation: Councils have accused schools of refusing so many challenging pupils it 'amounts to selection', capping cohorts to prevent in-year transfers of vulnerable pupils and wrongly turning away youngsters in care
schoolsweek.co.uk/shut-out-how...
schoolsweek.co.uk/shut-out-how...
Shut out: How schools are turning away vulnerable pupils
Schools accused of refusing so many pupils it 'amounts to selection', capping cohorts to prevent in-year transfers and wrongly turning away youngsters in care
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 11:36 AM
LAs have reported what they suggest are tactics by schools to skew cohorts
One council even accused secondaries of practices that 'amount to selection'
Our investigation into the issues hampering in-year pupil transfers ⬇️
One council even accused secondaries of practices that 'amount to selection'
Our investigation into the issues hampering in-year pupil transfers ⬇️
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Exclusive: A council has raised 'serious concerns' over Catholic schools lowering the importance of looked-after children in admissions after a youngster in care was refused a place at the school deemed 'most appropriate' by their social worker
schoolsweek.co.uk/serious-conc...
schoolsweek.co.uk/serious-conc...
Concern as children in care denied Catholic school places
Analysis suggests schools give priority to children of their faith before non-religious pupils in care
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Exclusive: A council has raised 'serious concerns' over Catholic schools lowering the importance of looked-after children in admissions after a youngster in care was refused a place at the school deemed 'most appropriate' by their social worker
schoolsweek.co.uk/serious-conc...
schoolsweek.co.uk/serious-conc...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Edition 404 done and dusted
Special school admissions investigation
The sector grades Ofsted
Our first Boardroom Leader
Northern Star Academies Trust takes the School Spotlight
@edsupportuk.bsky.social CEO talks defining high stakes
Special school admissions investigation
The sector grades Ofsted
Our first Boardroom Leader
Northern Star Academies Trust takes the School Spotlight
@edsupportuk.bsky.social CEO talks defining high stakes
September 18, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Edition 404 done and dusted
Special school admissions investigation
The sector grades Ofsted
Our first Boardroom Leader
Northern Star Academies Trust takes the School Spotlight
@edsupportuk.bsky.social CEO talks defining high stakes
Special school admissions investigation
The sector grades Ofsted
Our first Boardroom Leader
Northern Star Academies Trust takes the School Spotlight
@edsupportuk.bsky.social CEO talks defining high stakes
Here, we take a closer look at the RISE expansion, as analysis suggests hundreds of schools could fall within scope of the teams' new powers... ⬇️
📈 Exclusive: Government has been warned not to worsen off-rolling by placing leaders 'under unnecessary pressure to demonstrate rapid improvement' as RISE teams prepare to step into schools with 'concerning' attainment
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-pitfalls...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-pitfalls...
The pitfalls of RISE teams' new ‘low attainer’ push
Analysis suggests hundreds of schools could be in line for the targeted help
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 15, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Here, we take a closer look at the RISE expansion, as analysis suggests hundreds of schools could fall within scope of the teams' new powers... ⬇️
Reposted by Jack Dyson
🖥️ Exclusive: A management information system (MIS) outage at a major supplier has left schools unable to pay suppliers, run after-school clubs and respond to safeguarding concerns
MIS outage leaves schools in the lurch
Major supplier apologises as schools unable to pay suppliers and respond to safeguarding concerns
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM
🖥️ Exclusive: A management information system (MIS) outage at a major supplier has left schools unable to pay suppliers, run after-school clubs and respond to safeguarding concerns
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Edition 403, done and dusted
Scoop: Ofsted won’t publish full consultation findings
Investigation: armed forces now flag SEND failures
@lydiach.bsky.social hunts for education policy at Reform conference
@jackydys.bsky.social digs into new RISE expansion
Plus: can schools handle voting at 16?
Scoop: Ofsted won’t publish full consultation findings
Investigation: armed forces now flag SEND failures
@lydiach.bsky.social hunts for education policy at Reform conference
@jackydys.bsky.social digs into new RISE expansion
Plus: can schools handle voting at 16?
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Edition 403, done and dusted
Scoop: Ofsted won’t publish full consultation findings
Investigation: armed forces now flag SEND failures
@lydiach.bsky.social hunts for education policy at Reform conference
@jackydys.bsky.social digs into new RISE expansion
Plus: can schools handle voting at 16?
Scoop: Ofsted won’t publish full consultation findings
Investigation: armed forces now flag SEND failures
@lydiach.bsky.social hunts for education policy at Reform conference
@jackydys.bsky.social digs into new RISE expansion
Plus: can schools handle voting at 16?