News

There are currently seven new primary school academy proposals; compulsory academisation; two new secondary Free Schools announced on site of Chaucer Technology College and in Thanet; academy takeovers of Community College Whitstable and the Charles Dickens School, Broadstairs. There has also been plans unveiled for mixed Sixth Form at Sevenoaks Annex; Hoo Peninsula to become first local area to become academies only, creating a squeeze on secondary school options.
Whilst there were no new academies opened in March, four new primary schools applied to become Converter Academies, Priory Fields and St Martin’s, both in Dover, along with Hoo St Werburgh and Walderslade in Medway. In addition, the following schools are all to become Sponsored Academies: St Nicholas CofE Primary, New Romney (Diocese of Canterbury) and Barming Primary, Maidstone (Allington Primary Schools Academy Trust); together with Cedar Primary School, Strood (Thinking Schools Academy Trust).

If a school becomes an academy are the results more likely to improve?

Baseline tests for reception pupils in England are not reliable enough to measure progress this year, says a study for the Department for Education.

Too much of teachers’ time is taken up by “mind-numbingly useless” bureaucracy which saps staff morale and fuels the staffing crisis, says a union leader.

Teachers have warned that the government’s anti-extremism strategy is “shutting down” open debate in school.

Every nursery in England should have a qualified early years teacher to help toddlers develop skills like speech and language, a children’s charity says.

Teachers are calling for tackling staff shortages to be made a priority rather than “politically motivated” projects such as academies and free schools.

A loophole exempting thousands of England’s schools from healthy eating standards must be closed to combat child obesity, say council leaders.

Calling all Primary Teachers in Canterbury…

Calling all Teachers and Teaching Assistants in Kent and Medway

We would like to invite you to register with us over breakfast in our Maidstone office.