One last recharge
Chris Toyne ??
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This week it's the turn of our year 11 students to get their results, and then, before we know it, it's back to school. The summer has flown by and I hope that the Ed & Tech Times has been helpful to every single reader in some way, shape or form over this summer break.
So without further ado, it's that time again to grab a beverage of choice, sit back, relax and enjoy this week's round-up of Ed & Tech.
DfE news
National funding formula tables for schools and high needs: 2024 to 2025
On the 21st of August, 2023, the DfE updated its guidance to include supplementary information on the national funding formula notional allocations.
The tables are mainly for schools and local authorities. They cover the?national funding formulae (NFF)?allocations for 2024 to 2025, and an update to the COLLECT system will allow schools and local authorities to view the detailed calculations behind their notional school block allocations.
To access your NFF notional allocations, you will need an active?DfE?sign-in account with the?NFF?option enabled. Once you have this, you follow these steps:
The DfE are unable to provide multi-academy trusts (MAT) with direct access to the?NFF?reports for all their schools.
MAT?staff members may already have a?DfE?sign-in account for each of their schools and be able to access them individually. Alternatively, each school should be able to access these reports.
To access a?MAT’s individual school data in COLLECT, the user will need the?DfE?sign-in approver for each school to create an account with the appropriate COLLECT access. The approver should follow the instructions to?add?NFF?access to your account.
Alternatively, a?MAT?member can submit a request for a copy of the COLLECT data for all schools in the?MAT. To do this, request a confidentiality declaration using the?ESFA?enquiry form. You will need to explain what data you require and why. However, accessing the data via COLLECT is usually the quickest and easiest option.
Common basic data set (CBDS): requests for change (RFC) 2023
The CBDS files contain information for suppliers developing software and management information systems (MIS) for local authorities and schools.
Recent requests for changes have been actioned, and the following changes made:
To find out more, click here.
Applying to be a delivery partner for the Enrichment Partnerships Pilot
Summary of grant funding
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), jointly with the Department of Education, intends to provide a circa ￡2.7 million grant to an organisation or consortium of organisations to act as a delivery partner for the Enrichment Partnerships Pilot (EPP).
The pilot aims to test a system change approach to improve the enrichment offer in up to 200 secondary schools located in Education Investment Areas.
The final selection of a delivery partner will be made by a panel appointed by?DCMS, using the assessment criteria set out in the?Assessment section.
Application Timeline
The most recent update has seen the questions asked and responses given at the clarification workshop (and after) published. You can find the questions and responses here.
Pupils in disadvantaged areas to benefit from new free schools
On the 22nd of August 2023, the government announced that 15 new free schools are set to be opened in parts of the country where education outcomes are weakest, providing more opportunities for local young people.
Free schools are funded by the government but are not run by the local authority, instead, they are run by other organisations - most commonly academy trusts - but also industry and universities. They have greater freedom to innovate and drive up standards, for example more autonomy over?the teachers’ pay and their curriculum.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said "We want to make more good school places available to families, and these 15 new free schools will bring brand new opportunities to young people from Bradford to Bristol.
"Free schools bring high standards, more choice for parents and strong links to industry – and all in the areas where those opportunities are needed most.?
"These new schools build on this government’s work to drive up school standards since 2010, with 88% of schools now rated good or outstanding – up from 68% - and high performing academies and free schools in all parts of the country."
To read the full press release, click here.
Ofsted news
On the 22nd of August, Ofsted released a new blog setting out the resources they have published for people working in the early years sector.
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This includes details about inspection and the early years foundation stage (EYFS), answers to common questions, and their videos and webinars.
Read it here.
General education news
ASCL leader calls for a more humane GCSE system
The ASCL website reports that their General Secretary Geoff Barton is calling for a more humane qualification system as the number of pupils achieving a Grade 4 ‘standard pass’ in GCSE English and maths is expected to fall on GCSE results day, consigning many more young people to a demoralising cycle of retakes in post-16 education.?
Grading standards are being adjusted this year in England with the intention that they broadly reflect the grade distribution of 2019 as part of a return to normal following the disruption to public exams during the pandemic.
In 2019, more than a third of secondary pupils – 35.4% – fell short of at least a?Grade 4 in English and maths. During the pandemic, this figure fell to 27.8% in 2021 because a different approach to grading was used following the decision to cancel public exams. Last year, when grades were set at a midpoint between 2021 and 2019 the proportion who missed out stood at 31.2%.
Many students who do not achieve the benchmark of a Grade 4 in these subjects have to keep retaking them during post-16 education under the government’s?‘condition of funding’?rules – but most do not achieve Grade 4 at this point either. Last year, only 29.7% of?16–18-year-old students?passed this threshold in English and just 18.2% in maths.
Mr Barton said:?“The return to normality also means a return to the forgotten third. That is the proportion of young people who are left at the end of secondary school without a standard pass in GCSE English and maths – qualifications which are very important for onward progression and careers.
“This is baked into the system – there is very little room for it to change – because the percentage of pupils achieving each grade is kept largely consistent from one year to the next.
“These young people then have to go through the grind of retaking these qualifications in post-16 education – where most again fall below the benchmark. It is incredibly demoralising and instead of building confidence in the vital skills of literacy and numeracy it has precisely the opposite effect.
“We have to introduce a more humane qualification system in which this forgotten third is not accepted as some sort of necessary collateral damage.
“The answer is to develop a new style of English and maths qualification which can be taken by pupils at the point of readiness, which builds confidence, and which does not represent a cliff-edge over which many must fall. We are calling upon ministers to commit to a reform that is badly needed and long overdue.”
EdTech news
SENsible SENCO CIC daily blogs throughout August
Throughout this month Abigail Hawkins (FCCT) at the SENsible SENCO has produced daily blogs to help SENCO's and schools throughout their target setting processes.
You can just head over to the LinkedIn page for either the SENsible SENCO or Abigail to find out more.
3P Learning has made two big announcements over recent days.
A post on LinkedIn announced, "?? Unleash Students' Writing Potential with Writing Legends!
"??We're thrilled to introduce our latest educational solution for schools - Writing Legends!??
"Developed by the makers of ABC Reading Eggs, this innovative online writing program for years 1–6 ignites students' writing while fostering confidence and creativity.
"Writing Legends provides structured lessons, tailored units and printable units of work to simplify and extend writing instruction, plus immediate feedback for focused revision.
"Explore this dynamic, time-saving program for a limited time, with exclusive free access for your entire school until Oct 31st.
"Your school's gateway to engaging lessons, thrilling writing prompts, and an array of writing genres await. Writing Legends can be used on its own or combined with 3P Learning’s other leading literacy and maths education technology solutions."
The full post includes a link to a video. Click here to see the post.
The team also announced the arrival of the 'New Mathletics'.
Another post on LinkedIn read "The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived – new Mathletics is here, and it's a game-changer!??
"We're thrilled to introduce you to the stunning new Mathletics, designed to ignite student enthusiasm and drive exceptional math performance??"
You can see the second post (and a link to a video) here.
That's all for this week, folks. Enjoy the last days of the summer break, and ensure you're feeling recharged.
For students, parents and secondary schools, good luck with GCSE results tomorrow. I hope you all receive the results you have worked hard for, but remember that no matter what happens, this is not a moment that defines the rest of your life. No matter what, you control your journey to the top.
People Operations Business Partner
1 年Interesting read about GCSE Maths & English. As a Mum to an 18 year old the 'grind' of retaking and failing Maths is real, and totally demoralising. He's got 7 GCSE passes but it's not enough. Maths has now become a huge psychological barrier.
Very informative .??The CBDS files contain information for suppliers developing software and management information systems (MIS) for local authorities and schools.