Latest news with #ex-Ofsted
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bridget Phillipson tells critics to ‘leave London for a change' to see scale of schools crisis as reform row escalates
A war of words has erupted over Bridget Phillipson's school reforms, with the education secretary urging critics to 'try leaving London for a change'. Ms Phillipson said she was being attacked by Tory shadow ministers and 'their friends in the commentariat' all based in the capital, with many academies outside London struggling or failing altogether. She wrote in The Daily Telegraph: 'Opposition shadow ministers and their friends in the commentariat should try leaving London for a change: they'll find plenty of underperforming academies which need new answers to drive up standards in their classrooms.' It came after former education secretary Michael Gove and ex-Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman rounded on her over planned changes to academy schools and a review of the curriculum. Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Gove said Ms Phillipson's plans risked 'blighting the prospects of children and holding our economy back'. 'I am concerned that the emphasis on ambition and rigour in the education system will be diluted,' he said. Mr Gove added: 'Any attempt to divert and water down the commitment to excellence will be to surrender to the trade union-led war on knowledge at a time when the government at last begins to get it right on defence, welfare and health.' Labour's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill aims to ensure all state schools – academies and those run by councils – follow the same pay and conditions framework. Academies, which are independent of local authorities, currently have the freedom to set their own pay and conditions for staff, and some academies exceed the national pay scales for teachers. But the new bill would bring all teachers onto the same core pay and conditions framework, whether they work in a local authority-run school or an academy. It would also see academies forced to teach the national curriculum for the first time, while they would also lose the power to recruit teachers without qualifications. Ms Phillipson is also expected to publish an interim review of the English school curriculum on Tuesday morning, the Telegraph reported. Mr Gove said he was particularly concerned about the future of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), which he introduced as education secretary so pupils would take a wide range of GCSEs including English, mathematics, science, a language and either geography or history. 'Any move away from an ambitious curriculum – particularly moving away from the EBacc – will only blight the prospects of children and hold our economy back,' he added. It came a day after Ms Spielman launched her own stinging attack on Ms Phillipson, accusing her of caring more about the interests of trade unions than schoolchildren. A government official hit back, saying Ms Spielman should 'spend less time criticising the reforms this government is bringing and more time reflecting on her failure at Ofsted and on a teaching profession that entirely lost confidence in her as chief inspector'. But Ms Spielman doubled down, saying: 'That's fascinating in itself because that's a union line.' Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One programme on Monday, Ms Spielman said: 'For over 20 years now we've had a steady policy of giving schools and academy chains quite significant levels of autonomy, balanced by strong accountability, and over that time it's very clear that the performance of the English system relative to others has been very strong. 'Indeed we have many people looking to us and visiting, wanting to learn from what's happened in England, to take into their own systems. 'So at just that point, to see a whole raft of initiatives – these academy provisions in this bill, the curriculum and assessment review, the review of teacher training standards, and several other initiatives – that seem to add up to a very significant reversal, without any analysis of what's been good and what's been less good.' Asked if the changes would damage children's education, she said: 'I think it's very likely they will add up to something that will – because the common thread running through seems to be they are about changes that are likely to please unions, that essentially put unions and union members ahead of children.' The National Education Union (NEU) has welcomed Labour's proposals, saying they would 'make a meaningful difference to the lives of staff and children', but has also vowed to push for more investment. A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'Our landmark Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill – alongside our new regional improvement teams and Ofsted reforms – delivers on our mission for every child to have a good, local school, will get high-quality teachers into every classroom, and [will] ensure that all schools can innovate to attract and retain the best talent.'
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Bridget Phillipson tells critics to ‘leave London for a change' as school reform row escalates
A war of words has erupted over Bridget Phillipson 's school reforms, with the education secretary urging critics to 'try leaving London for a change'. Ms Phillipson said she was being attacked by Tory shadow ministers and 'their friends in the commentariat' all based in the capital, with many academies outside London struggling or failing altogether. It came after former education secretary Michael Gove and ex-Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman rounded on her over planned changes to academy schools and a review of the curriculum. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Gove said Ms Phillipson's plans risked 'blighting the prospects of children and holding our economy back'. 'I am concerned that the emphasis on ambition and rigour in the education system will be diluted,' he said. Mr Gove added: 'Any attempt to divert and water down the commitment to excellence will be to surrender to the trade union-led war on knowledge at a time when the government at last begins to get it right on defence, welfare and health.' Labour's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill aims to ensure all state schools – academies and those run by councils – follow the same pay and conditions framework. Academies, which are independent of local authorities, currently have the freedom to set their own pay and conditions for staff, and some academies exceed the national pay scales for teachers. But the new bill would bring all teachers onto the same core pay and conditions framework, whether they work in a local authority-run school or an academy. It would also see academies forced to teach the national curriculum for the first time, while they would also lose the power to recruit teachers without qualifications. Ms Phillipson is also expected to publish an interim review of the English school curriculum on Tuesday morning, The Telegraph reported. Mr Gove said he was particularly concerned about the future of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), which he introduced as education secretary so pupils would take a wide range of GCSEs including English, mathematics, science, a language and either geography or history. 'Any move away from an ambitious curriculum – particularly moving away from the EBacc – will only blight the prospects of children and hold our economy back,' he added. It came a day after Ms Spielman launched her own stinging attack on Ms Phillipson, accusing her of caring more about the interests of trade unions than schoolchildren. A government official hit back, saying Ms Spielman should 'spend less time criticising the reforms this government is bringing and more time reflecting on her failure at Ofsted and on a teaching profession that entirely lost confidence in her as chief inspector'. But Ms Spielman doubled down, saying: 'That's fascinating in itself, because that's a union line.' Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One programme on Monday, Ms Spielman said: 'For over 20 years now we've had a steady policy of giving schools and academy chains quite significant levels of autonomy, balanced by strong accountability, and over that time it's very clear that the performance of the English system relative to others has been very strong. 'Indeed we have many people looking to us and visiting, wanting to learn from what's happened in England, to take into their own systems. 'So at just that point, to see a whole raft of initiatives – these academy provisions in this bill, the curriculum and assessment review, the review of teacher training standards, and several other initiatives – that seem to add up to a very significant reversal, without any analysis of what's been good and what's been less good.' Asked if the changes would damage children's education, she said: 'I think it's very likely they will add up to something that will, because the common thread running through seems to be they are about changes that are likely to please unions, that essentially put unions and union members ahead of children.' The National Education Union (NEU) has welcomed Labour's proposals, saying they would 'make a meaningful difference to the lives of staff and children', but has also vowed to push for more investment. A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'Our landmark Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill – alongside our new regional improvement teams and Ofsted reforms – delivers on our mission for every child to have a good, local school, will get high-quality teachers into every classroom, and [will] ensure that all schools can innovate to attract and retain the best talent.'
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-Ofsted boss says education secretary wants 'to please unions'
The former head of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman, has criticised the education secretary and accused her of giving "a great deal of time and attention" to the teaching unions. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Ms Spielman claims "effective reforms are being reversed" - referring to potential changes to academy schools' powers. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is set to change the rules around how academies pay their staff and the material they can teach, which critics say threatens their autonomy. But the Department for Education (DfE) says its "landmark" reforms deliver on its mission to ensure all schools can attract and retain the best teachers. In a piece covering academies, qualifications, the curriculum and Ofsted itself, the ex-chief of the organisation says the education secretary should reconsider the reforms in the bill "before the damage is done". Ms Spielman stepped down as head of Ofsted at the end of 2023. An inquiry into Ofsted was launched that year, after the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted inspection. Ms Spielman accuses the education secretary of using "polished verbiage and jazz hands" when announcing policies, and claimed some policies had been "influenced by education union leaders and activists". While education unions have supported the government in some areas, they have also been critical in others, including on the proposals for new Ofsted report cards. But Ms Spielman claimed the changes to Ofsted were being done "to please unions", by making it "much less likely that inspection will detect weaknesses or convey a negative message." The ex-Ofsted head also says the government's proposals for academies will "cut the autonomy of schools and school groups right back". She says she is "astonished by the speed and thoroughness with which Bridget Phillipson has moved to dismantle every main pillar of the system". The schools bill, due to go before MPs again on Monday, includes measures to create a register of children who are not in school and allow local authorities to intervene if a child's home environment is assessed as unsuitable or unsafe. Several issues covered by the bill, including safeguarding, have been met positively by school leaders. More controversial and debated elements have been around academy reforms, which may limit academies' powers to manage their pay and working practices differently to schools ran by local authorities. After facing opposition from academy leaders, the government has since clarified that it intends the pay framework to be a "floor not a ceiling", meaning academy bosses will still be able to pay teachers more if they choose to. Phillipson previously called political attempts to halt the bill "utterly sickening", telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme the children's bill was "the single biggest piece of children safeguarding legislation in a generation". Responding to Ms Spielman's claims, a DfE spokesperson said the bill, alongside other reforms, "delivers on our mission for every child to have a good, local school, will get high-quality teachers into every classroom, and ensure that all schools can innovate to attract and retain the best talent". Poorest children missing more school and further behind after Covid Schools bill is an act of vandalism, says Kemi Badenoch Phillipson says new Ofsted report cards will help struggling schools
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ex-Ofsted boss says education secretary wants 'to please unions'
The former head of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman, has criticised the education secretary and accused her of giving "a great deal of time and attention" to the teaching to the Daily Telegraph, Ms Spielman claims "effective reforms are being reversed" - referring to potential changes to academy schools' Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is set to change the rules around how academies pay their staff and the material they can teach, which critics say threatens their the Department for Education (DfE) says its "landmark" reforms deliver on its mission to ensure all schools can attract and retain the best teachers. In a piece covering academies, qualifications, the curriculum and Ofsted itself, the ex-chief of the organisation says the education secretary should reconsider the reforms in the bill "before the damage is done".Ms Spielman stepped down as head of Ofsted at the end of inquiry into Ofsted was launched that year, after the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted Spielman accuses the education secretary of using "polished verbiage and jazz hands" when announcing policies, and claimed some policies had been "influenced by education union leaders and activists".While education unions have supported the government in some areas, they have also been critical in others, including on the proposals for new Ofsted report Ms Spielman claimed the changes to Ofsted were being done "to please unions", by making it "much less likely that inspection will detect weaknesses or convey a negative message."The ex-Ofsted head also says the government's proposals for academies will "cut the autonomy of schools and school groups right back".She says she is "astonished by the speed and thoroughness with which Bridget Phillipson has moved to dismantle every main pillar of the system".The schools bill, due to go before MPs again on Monday, includes measures to create a register of children who are not in school and allow local authorities to intervene if a child's home environment is assessed as unsuitable or issues covered by the bill, including safeguarding, have been met positively by school controversial and debated elements have been around academy reforms, which may limit academies' powers to manage their pay and working practices differently to schools ran by local facing opposition from academy leaders, the government has since clarified that it intends the pay framework to be a "floor not a ceiling", meaning academy bosses will still be able to pay teachers more if they choose previously called political attempts to halt the bill "utterly sickening", telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme the children's bill was "the single biggest piece of children safeguarding legislation in a generation".Responding to Ms Spielman's claims, a DfE spokesperson said the bill, alongside other reforms, "delivers on our mission for every child to have a good, local school, will get high-quality teachers into every classroom, and ensure that all schools can innovate to attract and retain the best talent".
