Time to recharge and relax - you deserve it!

For most of you reading this episode of the Ed & Tech Times, you will have either started your school holidays or, if you are in the EdTech space, be experiencing a quiet(er) period. So, I wanted to remind you to relax and recharge. Your work impacts the life chances of our children and young people, and this academic year has been as challenging, if not more challenging, than any I remember.

For those working in schools, you have had all the usual challenges you face in your roles, plus the pressures of energy price increases, legacy challenges from the pandemic and the emotional challenges associated with pay disputes.

For those working on EdTech, you have had the knock-on effects of the above, which leads to longer sales cycles, challenges around customer success and much more.

Alternatively, if you are someone reading this genuinely interested in all things education and technology, it is important that we take time to understand the above.

So before I jump into the round-up this week, one last rallying cry to remind you that whether you are staying at home, enjoying a staycation in the UK, or loving the sun on a lounger in Bali, resist the urge to mark that work or create that resource. You need to chill for a bit ??

Last week seemed to work well, so from now on, all episodes of this newsletter will be split into the following areas:

1. Ofsted news
2. Department for Education news
3. EdTech news

Ofsted News

How useful is the 'good or better' data?

When looking at inspections under the Education Inspection Framework (EIF), data shows that the percentage of schools judged to be good or better by Ofsted is on the rise and currently sits at 86% of all primary schools. The figures are so impressive that they have been shared by the Prime Minister recently.

But I want to explore just how reliable and robust these figures are.

Under the section titled 'New Schools' Ofsted guidance published here states:

"Academy schools account for most new schools. These include free schools, former maintained schools that have voluntarily converted to become academies (academy converters), and former maintained schools that were judged as inadequate by Ofsted and were required to become academies.".

There is also a second section titled 'Re-brokered academies', which states:

"Academies that transfer from one academy trust to another are known as ‘re-brokered’ academies.

An academy that is re-brokered to a new academy trust for performance reasons may receive a new URN and legally become a new school. However, an academy that is re-brokered to a new academy trust for non-performance reasons normally retains its existing URN and legally remains the same school. The decision on whether an academy keeps its URN is made at the discretion of the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC).

Exceptionally, the RSC may agree for re-brokered academies to retain their existing URN, or receive a new URN, regardless of their reasons for re-brokering."

Taking the above into account, how reliable can the data be? Take a look at these slides and then make your own mind up.

Ofsted's annual report and accounts for 2022-23

The above report was printed on the 18th of July, 2023. Here are some interesting points from the report:

1. Less than 1 in 4 headteachers use the findings from inspection reports to make changes in the year following their inspection.
2. Ofsted commissioned Teacher Tapp to survey teachers and ask whether they had read Ofsted's research. Only 51% had read the research, and less than half (41%) had made any changes to their practice as a result.
3. The report shows that Ofsted carried out 160 fewer inspections than planned in 2022-23. The report states, "We lost a number of inspections due to industrial action. Despite this, we remain on course to meet our commitment of inspecting every school at least once by July 2025."
4. The mean length of service of Inspectors for 2022-23 has dropped from 3.7 years the previous year to 3.1 years this year.
5. Amanda Speilman, the Chief Inspector, has had a reported salary increase that sees her salary fall in the range of ￡190k to ￡195k per year, taking her salary and pension package to a reported ￡265k to ￡270k per annum in 2022-23

The DfE has confirmed that they back Sir Martyn Oliver as the next Ofsted chief

A high-profile critic of the way Ofsted's curriculum-focused Inspections have been implemented, Sir Martyn Oliver has been selected as the previously mentioned Amanda Speilman's replacement.

The Department for Education said he had been chosen as the preferred candidate because “he is an accomplished school and trust leader with a track record of driving up standards in areas with high levels of disadvantage”.

His appointment is yet to be finalised, with Sir Martyn Oliver set to face questions from MPs on the Commons Education Select Committee in September, after which he will start a five-year term in 2024.

Sir Martyn said: “I am deeply honoured and hugely privileged to have been recommended for this role. Subject to the pre-appointment hearing, I can promise that I will work extremely hard and very closely with the whole sector so that we can together build on what has been done to date to create the best system in all areas of education, children’s services and skills for the benefit of children and young people.

Working with others, prioritising inclusion and aiming for the highest standards in all areas have been key principles for Outwood Grange Academies Trust under my leadership, and these would remain the case if I am appointed to the Ofsted role.”

Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: ”Sir Martyn Oliver has demonstrated exemplary leadership and an unwavering commitment to driving up standards in areas of disadvantage in his time as a school and trust leader.

I want to sincerely thank Amanda Spielman for successfully steering Ofsted over the last seven years, introducing key reforms, including hugely important new education and social care inspection frameworks. I am confident the breadth of Martyn’s experience will enable him to build on this vital work as Ofsted moves into the future.”

Department for Education news

School suspensions have hit an all-time high

As the rest of the country has been returning to normal following the Covid lockdowns, school suspension rates have hit an all-time high, according to published figures.

According to the latest data from the Department for Education, school suspensions have reached a record high in the academic year 2021-22. The number of suspensions surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with over half a million recorded. This is the highest figure reported in government data in nearly two decades. Additionally, the data reveals that more than a quarter of a million students (252,643) received one or more suspensions during the year.

However, it's worth noting that exclusions from school in the same period were lower than pre-pandemic levels. These findings indicate that while suspensions have increased, overall exclusions have decreased in the first full year without Covid-related disruptions.

Find the relevant data here

￡40 million added to the hardship fund, but no further details yet

The DfE has announced that it will provide an extra ￡40 million to the existing hardship fund with the goal “to support those schools facing the greatest financial challenges”.

While the news of an additional ￡40 million is welcome, the government is urged to inform schools how and when they can apply to the fund, which was announced as part of the teacher pay offer.

Nick Gibb (Schools minister) told the Commons Education Select Committee last Tuesday that the department was “still working on the criteria that schools will need to fulfil to apply for the fund”.

Geoff Barton (General Secretary of the ASCL) stated, “We would urge the government to provide the mechanism and criteria for the hardship fund as soon as possible and to ensure that this funding pot is accessible to all schools in need of this financial support.

The funding situation is very tight for schools and trusts in general, and because of the variability of school funding and circumstances there are a number facing particularly severe challenges.

These schools and trusts require certainty that they are able to access the hardship fund and on the funding support they will receive.”

EdTech news

MIS Discovery Sessions

Last week Nick Finnemore of Finnemore consulting made the following announcement on LinkedIn:

"On the back of a lot of requests from schools, academies, partners and MATS, we’re pleased to be hosting a series of #MIS Discovery Sessions this September.

With everything going on in the MIS market at the moment, there’s a real appetite amongst schools to understand all the MIS+Finance options available to them.?

They’ve told us they’d like to take a look at the three largest multi-phase MIS suppliers in England & Wales initially and we’re pleased that Bromcom, Arbor Education and SIMS have all confirmed they’ll be participating in a series of MIS Discovery Sessions from 19th-21st September 2023.

The sessions are open to all schools, MATs and academies in England and Wales, plus anyone else who works in the sector and would like to find out more.

Sarah and I are hosting the MIS Discovery Sessions as virtual events and they are completely free of charge to participate in and to attend. All the information is on our website (link in the comments) including a booking form to register your interest."

I'll tag the post and Nick in the comments for this Episode, and the graphic with dates is below.

Brighton & Hove City Council Announce Bromcom Finance

This week Bromcom announced that they had been awarded a contract by Brighton & Hove Council. The announcement on LinkedIn read, "We are thrilled to announce that Bromcom Finance has been awarded a contract by the Brighton & Hove City Council ?? A massive thank you to all the wonderful schools involved in this process – your trust and support are massive to us.

We eagerly anticipate beginning our work with the schools of Brighton & Hove, and we're committed to making their financial processes less taxing! ??

Recognizing the demanding nature of school life, we are committed to offering impactful solutions that not only alleviate their workload, but also greatly improve functionality and efficiency ?

Our team will be working with the Local Authorities and Schools ICT to transition schools to their new finance system in the near future."

Insight Provides Provisional National Estimates

A bit late to the table with this one, but it could still be of interest if you're looking into tracking systems. Insight Tracking has been a revolution over recent years, and this year they announced that they were aggregating assessment data to give provisional national estimates. Their data is based on a sample size of 65,000+ pupils, and the last table I could find is to the right.

For most of you, the summer holidays are underway, so I'll finish as I started. Enjoy the sun, your family, your friends, and your pets. In fact, enjoy everything precious to you, including yourself. I sincerely hope you are all reading this with a cocktail or mocktail in hand, but if not, put down the phone, tablet or PC and go grab a drink, snap a photo of said drink with the Ed & Tech Times in the background and post a photo in the comments ??

As always, I hope this newsletter is helpful to you. We are close to 500 subscribers, so if you are a fan, please like and share ??