Education | The Journalistic

Government Decision on School Performance Tables 2021/22

20Jul

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Education

Government Decision on School Performance Tables 2021/22

19-07-2021 The continued mistreatment of education professionals brings shame on this Government. Commenting on the Government's decision on school performance tables, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Even in a normal year to attempt use qualifications results to put schools and colleges in league tables is a dangerously inaccurate use of statistics: whilst qualifications are important, they are designed to measure the attainment of individuals and not the quality of teaching and learning that took place at an institution. Context, which is non-existent in these tables, is key and whilst qualifications are important for the individual, schools and colleges are about so much more than the results achieved on one particular day in a set of te...

19Jun

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Education, Europe, World News

School Workforce Data

17-06-2021 The school workforce data must be seen in the context of the severe recruitment and retention problems that have developed over the past decade. Commenting on the Government’s publication of census data on the school workforce in England, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The school workforce data must be seen in the context of the severe recruitment and retention problems that have developed over the past decade. In the years leading up to the pandemic recruitment targets were missed and the number of teachers leaving the profession increased significantly. Too few teachers were recruited and retained to match pupil number increases, resulting in higher workload and pupil/teacher ratios. "Government policy directly contribut...

13Jun

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Education, Health, Health & Social

Reintroduce Face Coverings

08-06-2021 Government must reintroduce face coverings to minimise Covid disruption in schools, say education unions Four education unions representing teachers and support staff are today (Tuesday) calling on the government to reinstate face coverings in schools to limit coronavirus spread. With infections on the rise once more, the unions have issued a joint statement demanding a range of safety measures to keep education on track and reduce the risk of further closures. The unions that have signed are UNISON, GMB, UnFour education unions representing teachers and support staff are today (Tuesday) calling on the government to reinstate face coverings in schools to limit coronavirus spread.ite and NEU. The joint statement says: "Education unions are deeply concerned that second...

Ofsted Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges

13Jun

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Education, Health & Social, Social

Ofsted Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges

10-06-2021 Sexual harassment is still trivialised and normalised throughout society, and we urgently need to boost the focus around both preventing and responding to the sexual harassment. Commenting on the Inspectorate’s publication detailing how sexual harassment, including online sexual abuse, has become ‘normalised’ for children and young people, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: "Sexual harassment is still trivialised and normalised throughout society, and we urgently need to boost the focus around both preventing and responding to the sexual harassment which happens in every school and college. Listening actively to girls and women staff is crucial. "The Ofsted review finds a very similar picture to that revealed by the work of th...

PM Calls on G7 to Help Educate Every Child in the World

11Jun

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Education, Europe, World News

PM Calls on G7 to Help Educate Every Child in the World

Over one billion children in the world’s poorest countries will see a transformation in their educational opportunities thanks to £430 million of new UK aid announced by the Prime Minister today. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP 11 June 2021 PM used first session of the G7 Summit to rally world leaders to build back better for all £430 million of new UK aid announced to get world’s most vulnerable children, particularly girls, into school Next month Global Education Summit will take place in London to raise further funding Over one billion children in the world’s poorest countries will see a transformation in their educational opportunities thanks to £430 million of new UK aid announced by the Prime Minister today (Friday 11th...

New Education Award Empowers Young People to Tackle Plastic Pollution

8Jun

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Education, Health & Social, Social

New Education Award Empowers Young People to Tackle Plastic Pollution

The Environment Agency has joined forces with national school network Partners in Excellence to launch a plastic pollution-focused award for young people. Environment Agency 8 June 2021 Key Stage 3 and 4 students from Partners in Excellence (PiXL) member schools can sign up for the ‘Green Edge Award’ programme from September and undertake one of three award levels – Apprentice, Pioneer and Graduate. The award is centred around character development with each award level focussing on 5 attributes – leadership, organisation, resilience, initiative and communication. Students will be encouraged to demonstrate these skills through a series of activities, including plastic waste surveys, organising litter picks, and setting up repair cafes. The award content has been produced by th...

5Jun

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Education, Health, Health & Social

Labour’s Children’s Recovery Plan

02-06-2021 Labour is right to recognise that children need to recover through play and through greatly improved mental-health support. Commenting on a new education plan for the immediate post-Covid period, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “This is good thinking from the Labour Party. Their education recovery plan meets the needs of the nation’s children and young people now and is ambitious for the future. Breakfast clubs, expanded extra-curricular activities and greater opportunities for children to play and socialise will develop their interpersonal skills. Labour is right to recognise that children need to recover through play and through greatly improved mental-health support. Research has shown that high-quality individual and smal...

29May

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Education, Europe, World News

Fairness on Grading

28-05-2021 As workload rockets for grading season, 10,000 educators write to Gavin Williamson demanding he provides compensation The Government’s failure to adequately plan and prepare a system to give fairness to 14-19 students this year has left educators picking up the pieces. Workload has soared due to the process of awarding qualification grades this term. Typically, teachers work in excess of the working time regulations of 48 hours per week. Members are telling us that the current grading season has added an average of 12 hours per week to this toll. The vast majority (94%) have seen no reduction in their usual workload to mitigate this. It is unacceptable that, because of Government inaction, school and college staff have been forced to bear the brunt of huge additional workl...

Over Half a Million Children Reliant on Free School Meals

29May

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Education, Health & Social, Social

Over Half a Million Children Reliant on Free School Meals

25-05-2021 Labour Party figures show over half a million children have become reliant on free school meals during the pandemic. Commenting on Labour’s figures estimating 500k children have become reliant on FSM during the pandemic and the need to extend FSM provision over the half term holidays, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “No child in 2021 should be coming to school too hungry to learn, but food insecurity is a blight across our country. This latest research shows it is only getting worse. It confirms the reports by our members that learning impeded hunger is facing many children in our country. Last year, the public outcry around Free School Meal (FSM) provision, and the Government’s heartless refusal to ensure every child h...

Barry’s Award Shines a Light on UKAEA Apprenticeships Excellence

28May

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Education, Europe, World News

Barry’s Award Shines a Light on UKAEA Apprenticeships Excellence

UKAEA's Barry Preston was a winner in this year's Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards. UK Atomic Energy Authority 28 May 2021 UKAEA engineer Barry Preston has triumphed in the Shining Star category of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2021. Barry – shortlisted as one of three nominees – took home the award in recognition of “outstanding career progression” following apprenticeship training. Barry, who now works at UKAEA’s robotics centre RACE, joined as an Electrical Engineering apprentice in 2013 and graduated in 2017. “The award is a real testament to everyone at UKAEA who supported me through the apprenticeship,” Barry said. “It was challenging and enjoyable, and I recommend UKAEA’s apprenticeship to any young people interested in starting out as an engineer. The op...