John Roberts
@johngroberts.bsky.social
Deputy news editor at Tes. Dad of 2. SEND parent. john.roberts@tes.com
There are fears that some schools are identifying too many - or too few - pupils as having SEND, that SEND registers can be “grossly neglected” and that staff lack information on how to use them, A @tesmagazine.bsky.social investigation has found. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
SEND register decisions are a ‘mystery’, warn experts
Lack of guidance on using the SEND register leaves schools under- and over-recording pupils as needing support for special educational needs and disabilities, say leaders
www.tes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:38 AM
There are fears that some schools are identifying too many - or too few - pupils as having SEND, that SEND registers can be “grossly neglected” and that staff lack information on how to use them, A @tesmagazine.bsky.social investigation has found. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
There is no sign of "stubbornly high" absence levels coming down from last year's levels according to new analysis from the start of the 2025-26 year by @fftedudatalab.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Pupil absence remains ‘stubbornly high’ this year
Analysis of 2025-26 attendance rates so far shows absence levels remain similar to figures from the same time last year
www.tes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:36 AM
There is no sign of "stubbornly high" absence levels coming down from last year's levels according to new analysis from the start of the 2025-26 year by @fftedudatalab.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
More than a third of teachers who run enrichment clubs do so outside of directed time and without pay, a survey shows, raising questions about how schools will meet the government’s new enrichment expectations. Exclusive by @jabedahmed.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Extra enrichment isn’t possible, teachers warn
The DfE is introducing enrichment benchmarks to push schools to deliver more extracurricular clubs - but research shows that teachers are already working unpaid and out of hours to deliver such activi...
www.tes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:33 AM
More than a third of teachers who run enrichment clubs do so outside of directed time and without pay, a survey shows, raising questions about how schools will meet the government’s new enrichment expectations. Exclusive by @jabedahmed.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by John Roberts
The DfE has introduced new AI-driven attendance targets for every school, telling leaders that keeping up momentum on attendance this term will help to guard against ‘the common mid-year dip’
DfE sets AI-powered attendance targets for schools
Headteachers’ leaders dismiss new individual attendance targets for every school as a ‘Whitehall diktat’ that will be an extra burden on staff
www.tes.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The DfE has introduced new AI-driven attendance targets for every school, telling leaders that keeping up momentum on attendance this term will help to guard against ‘the common mid-year dip’
Reposted by John Roberts
There are no signs of ‘stubbornly high’ absence rates falling so far this year, despite a renewed government drive to improve attendance, data experts warn
Pupil absence remains ‘stubbornly high’ this year
Analysis of 2025-26 attendance rates so far shows absence levels remain similar to figures from the same time last year
www.tes.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:43 PM
There are no signs of ‘stubbornly high’ absence rates falling so far this year, despite a renewed government drive to improve attendance, data experts warn
The way SEND registers are used to identify and support students with additional needs is a “mystery” that needs clarifying before schools can be judged on inclusion, experts are warning. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
SEND register decisions are a ‘mystery’, warn experts
Lack of guidance on using the SEND register leaves schools under- and over-recording pupils as needing support for special educational needs and disabilities, say leaders
www.tes.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:48 AM
The way SEND registers are used to identify and support students with additional needs is a “mystery” that needs clarifying before schools can be judged on inclusion, experts are warning. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by John Roberts
The DfE has announced the latest wave of attendance and behaviour hub lead schools, with 24 secondaries and 12 primary schools joining the programme
DfE announces 36 new attendance and behaviour hubs
The latest cohort brings the total number of hub lead schools to 57, with more expected to be announced
www.tes.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The DfE has announced the latest wave of attendance and behaviour hub lead schools, with 24 secondaries and 12 primary schools joining the programme
Reposted by John Roberts
Exclusive: The majority of science teachers say their school lacks the capacity and resources to offer triple science GCSE to all students, a @teachertapp.bsky.social survey shows
Most science teachers say school lacks capacity for triple GCSE
The government has said that schools should ensure that any student who wishes to study triple science at GCSE can do so, but concerns have been raised over a lack of teachers
www.tes.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Exclusive: The majority of science teachers say their school lacks the capacity and resources to offer triple science GCSE to all students, a @teachertapp.bsky.social survey shows
Reposted by John Roberts
Shakespeare as you like it – using oracy to bring the Bard’s words to life in the classroom is the secret to engaging students in his work, writes @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social
Why Shakespeare and oracy go hand in hand
The curriculum and assessment review cements Shakespeare’s place in classrooms, but teaching must focus on bringing his words to life, writes Geoff Barton
www.tes.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Shakespeare as you like it – using oracy to bring the Bard’s words to life in the classroom is the secret to engaging students in his work, writes @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social
Reposted by John Roberts
The government is launching AI-powered attendance targets for every school, as part of efforts to return to pre-Covid levels of attendance.
But @ascl-uk.bsky.social has warned that it is another “diktat dreamt up in Whitehall” & not the solution for the absence crisis.
But @ascl-uk.bsky.social has warned that it is another “diktat dreamt up in Whitehall” & not the solution for the absence crisis.
DfE sets schools AI-powered attendance targets
Headteachers’ leaders dismiss new attendance baseline improvement targets as a Whitehall diktat
www.tes.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:15 AM
The government is launching AI-powered attendance targets for every school, as part of efforts to return to pre-Covid levels of attendance.
But @ascl-uk.bsky.social has warned that it is another “diktat dreamt up in Whitehall” & not the solution for the absence crisis.
But @ascl-uk.bsky.social has warned that it is another “diktat dreamt up in Whitehall” & not the solution for the absence crisis.
DfE to introduce AI powered individual attendance improvements targets for schools. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
DfE sets AI-powered attendance targets for schools
Headteachers’ leaders dismiss new individual attendance targets for every school as a ‘Whitehall diktat’ that will be an extra burden on staff
www.tes.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:43 AM
DfE to introduce AI powered individual attendance improvements targets for schools. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Schools policy is again the focus of a potential High Court battle. A bid for a judicial review has been filed over the government’s decision not to include a mandatory ban on smartphones in schools. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Legal battle for mandatory school phone ban files with High Court
The claimaints’ call for a judicial review over smartphones in schools argues that DfE guidance does not go far enough to protect pupils
www.tes.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Schools policy is again the focus of a potential High Court battle. A bid for a judicial review has been filed over the government’s decision not to include a mandatory ban on smartphones in schools. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by John Roberts
Yes finances can be a significant driver, but it is the SAT's board of trustees who will take the decision - and often locality is very important to them. We have a schools system which is very confused - at least on paper - about place. This needs more thought. The White Paper can't ignore place
The number of single academy trusts has fallen by almost a third in 5 years. This direction of travel is likely to continue given the DfE’s rumoured policy for all schools to join a MAT.
@jabedahmed.bsky.social looks at what it will take for the remaining SATs to merge:
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
@jabedahmed.bsky.social looks at what it will take for the remaining SATs to merge:
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
What will push the last single-academy trusts to merge?
Nearly 850 single-academy trusts remain, including some of the highest performing schools in England. Labour wants them to join multi-academy trusts, but persuading them won’t be easy, finds Jabed Ahm...
www.tes.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Yes finances can be a significant driver, but it is the SAT's board of trustees who will take the decision - and often locality is very important to them. We have a schools system which is very confused - at least on paper - about place. This needs more thought. The White Paper can't ignore place
Headteachers' leaders have called for schools who have volunteered to be the first to be inspected by Ofsted to be allowed to withdraw over concerns about changes in the way the watchdog will use data in new inspections. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
‘Major concerns’ over Ofsted data changes
Schools that volunteered to be first for new inspections should be allowed to withdraw because of changes announced by Ofsted just days before the new system begins, say heads’ leaders
www.tes.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Headteachers' leaders have called for schools who have volunteered to be the first to be inspected by Ofsted to be allowed to withdraw over concerns about changes in the way the watchdog will use data in new inspections. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by John Roberts
How do you persuade single academy trusts with some of the best attainment scores in England to join a MAT, if they’re managing ok financially? And do MATs even want them?
@jabedahmed.bsky.social speaks to heads and trust leaders to find out.
@jabedahmed.bsky.social speaks to heads and trust leaders to find out.
What will push the last single-academy trusts to merge?
Nearly 850 single-academy trusts remain, including some of the highest performing schools in England. Labour wants them to join multi-academy trusts, but persuading them won’t be easy, finds Jabed Ahm...
www.tes.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:49 AM
How do you persuade single academy trusts with some of the best attainment scores in England to join a MAT, if they’re managing ok financially? And do MATs even want them?
@jabedahmed.bsky.social speaks to heads and trust leaders to find out.
@jabedahmed.bsky.social speaks to heads and trust leaders to find out.
Reposted by John Roberts
Excl: Diversity and anti-racism should be embedded into teacher training, according to an open letter from ITT providers.
There should be an "explicit focus” on addressing inequalities within ITT programmes, including in trainees’ reflective tasks.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
There should be an "explicit focus” on addressing inequalities within ITT programmes, including in trainees’ reflective tasks.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Embed diversity and antiracism into teacher training, DfE told
Teacher training providers also call on government to set up a national body for early career and trainee teachers
www.tes.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Excl: Diversity and anti-racism should be embedded into teacher training, according to an open letter from ITT providers.
There should be an "explicit focus” on addressing inequalities within ITT programmes, including in trainees’ reflective tasks.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
There should be an "explicit focus” on addressing inequalities within ITT programmes, including in trainees’ reflective tasks.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by John Roberts
The number of single-academy trusts has been dropping for years, but some of those that remain are top performers. So how will the government persuade them to merge with MATs, asks @jabedahmed.bsky.social
Can single-academy trusts survive?
Nearly 850 single-academy trusts remain, including some of the highest performing schools in England. Labour wants them to join multi-academy trusts, but persuading them won’t be easy
www.tes.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 AM
The number of single-academy trusts has been dropping for years, but some of those that remain are top performers. So how will the government persuade them to merge with MATs, asks @jabedahmed.bsky.social
Reposted by John Roberts
The new GCSE in AI could quickly become out of date, the chief of England’s largest exam board has warned.
Exclusive by @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Exclusive by @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
AI qualification at risk of rapid obsolescence, warns exam chief
In an exclusive interview, AQA chief Colin Hughes warns that an AI qualification stemming from this week’s curriculum and assessment review may not have a long-term future
www.tes.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
The new GCSE in AI could quickly become out of date, the chief of England’s largest exam board has warned.
Exclusive by @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Exclusive by @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Teacher training providers are to call on the government to embed diversity and antiracism into ITT. Exclusive for @tesmagazine.bsky.social by @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Embed diversity and antiracism into teacher training, DfE told
Teacher training providers also call on government to set up a national body for early career and trainee teachers
www.tes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Teacher training providers are to call on the government to embed diversity and antiracism into ITT. Exclusive for @tesmagazine.bsky.social by @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
The government will struggle to solve the crisis in special educational needs and disabilities support or close the disadvantage-related attainment gap under its current spending plans, a new policy analysis warns www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Government ‘will struggle to fix SEND crisis by 2029’
The government’s approach to SEND reform is ‘disjointed’ and its ambitions will be restricted by the budget it has set for this parliament, new analysis warns
www.tes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:27 AM
The government will struggle to solve the crisis in special educational needs and disabilities support or close the disadvantage-related attainment gap under its current spending plans, a new policy analysis warns www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by John Roberts
In Scotland, @eisunion.bsky.social is recommending that teachers accept a two-year pay offer – leading to an initial 4.25% rise, followed by 3.25% in 2026-27
EIS recommends members accept two-year pay offer
Accepting the teacher pay offer would lead to initial 4.25 per cent rise for Scottish teachers, followed by 3.25 per cent in second year
www.tes.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:05 AM
In Scotland, @eisunion.bsky.social is recommending that teachers accept a two-year pay offer – leading to an initial 4.25% rise, followed by 3.25% in 2026-27
Reposted by John Roberts
Primary and secondary teachers have been encouraged to apply to the Teacher Reference Group as part of the department’s commitment to “engage teachers in national education policy”.
For @tesmagazine.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
For @tesmagazine.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
DfE seeks teachers for policy ‘sounding board’
The government is looking for primary and secondary teachers to join the latest cohort of its Teacher Reference Group
www.tes.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Primary and secondary teachers have been encouraged to apply to the Teacher Reference Group as part of the department’s commitment to “engage teachers in national education policy”.
For @tesmagazine.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
For @tesmagazine.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by John Roberts
Which of the curriculum and assessment review proposals has the DfE rejected or will not implement as prescribed?
There are only a few areas of disagreement - @cerysturner.bsky.social has the lowdown below
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
There are only a few areas of disagreement - @cerysturner.bsky.social has the lowdown below
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Francis review: the recommendations rejected by government
The DfE wants full rather than phased implementation of curriculum reform - from 2028 - and puts the brakes on inclusion of RE in the national curriculum
www.tes.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Which of the curriculum and assessment review proposals has the DfE rejected or will not implement as prescribed?
There are only a few areas of disagreement - @cerysturner.bsky.social has the lowdown below
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
There are only a few areas of disagreement - @cerysturner.bsky.social has the lowdown below
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by John Roberts
Ofsted has revealed what it has learned from more than 100 pilot inspections using its new report card system – @johngroberts.bsky.social breaks down the key insights ⬇️
Ofsted: 7 findings from pilot inspections
The schools watchdog has published findings from its pilot of new report card inspections, along with the changes it plans to make. Here is everything you need to know
www.tes.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Ofsted has revealed what it has learned from more than 100 pilot inspections using its new report card system – @johngroberts.bsky.social breaks down the key insights ⬇️
Reposted by John Roberts
The curriculum review ‘treats teachers as the experts they are, acknowledges what’s working before rushing to dismantle it, and grounds every recommendation in evidence’, writes MAT chief @moremorrow.bsky.social
Why this curriculum review is a rare thing the sector should savour
After years of policy turbulence, we finally have an evidence-based blueprint for change that trusts teachers as the experts, writes MAT chief executive Dan Morrow
www.tes.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:38 AM
The curriculum review ‘treats teachers as the experts they are, acknowledges what’s working before rushing to dismantle it, and grounds every recommendation in evidence’, writes MAT chief @moremorrow.bsky.social