We have compiled the most important education news nationwide for December 2018 to keep you up-to-date on the most pressing issues affecting children and their schooling. Whether it’s reports on the benefits of tuition, government-led school reforms, research surveys of exams, or hard-hitting journalism about the social aspects of education in the UK, you’ll be the first to know!
18th December – What stopped you applying to Oxbridge?
A report from the Sutton Trust has highlighted that the brightest state school students are much less like to apply to Oxford or Cambridge than those educated in the private sector. This article speaks to a number of pupils in order to find out why state-school pupils are less likely to apply to Oxbridge.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/dec/18/what-stopped-you-applying-to-oxbridge
13 December – Achievement gap between students is closing
The achievement gap between wealthy and poorer students is closing a report finds. As a result of rigorous reforms under Michael Gove, the attainment of wealthy pupils and their poorer peers has reduced by the greatest margin in over six years.
10 December – UK teachers are potentially the world’s best teachers
It’s good news for the UK as three teachers are up for the title of “World’s best teacher.” Now in its fifth year, the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize will be awarded to one of 50 shortlisted teachers from around the world. Three of these candidates are from the UK: Emma Russo, a physics teacher from London, Andrew Moffat, an assistant headteacher from Birmingham, and Jimmy Rotheram, a music teacher from Bradford. If one of these three Brits is lucky enough to be selected as a finalist they will attend an award ceremony in Dubai where the winner will receive a $1 Million prize.
9th December – Inspection of Steiner Schools
An investigation by the Telegraph has led to the Education Secretary ordering the urgent inspection of Steiner Schools. This comes after concerns were raised by Ofsted about child safety at some Steiner schools.
5 December – Santa wouldn’t be impressed with this ho ho homework…
A school has been accused of taking away the magic of christmas after students as young as 9 were asked to research whether Santa really existed as part of a homework assignment. A parent argued in the The Lancashire Telegraph that this assignment “takes away from the magic of Christmas” whilst the project convenor, West End actor Paul Simpson, argued in defense that “the children really enjoyed it, coming down decisively in favour of Santa’s existence.”
4 December – Ofstead warns that children with special needs are receiving “disjointed and inconsistent” support.
Writing in The Independent, Eleanor Busby reports on the uneven provision for children with learning difficulties. Ofstead argues that it is often taking too long for children to be correctly diagnosed and that approved education, health and care (EHCs) are not always being correctly implemented. Ms Amanda Spielman, launching Ofsted’s annual report in London on Tuesday, notes in particular that more should be done for children from poorer backgrounds who “have the deck stacked against them”
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