
HEP Talks
By Haringey Education Partnership
Follow along on socials @HaringeyEduc

HEP TalksNov 28, 2022

The Brief: 5 June 2023
The Education Brief: Monday 5th June 2023 - Top stories include:
Five members of an independent expert advisory panel will assist the DfE’s review of relationships, sex and health education guidance.
The Standards and Testing Agency has released the 2023 scaled scores for key stage 1 SATs.
Spending policies aimed at schools in disadvantaged areas are gradually being eroded.
The government wants the dangers of vaping to be included in schools’ health education.
This week’s deep dive:
Generative AI
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

Anti-racist Governance with Penny Rabiger
In this HEP Talks episode, we have the privilege of delving into a thought-provoking podcast interview with Penny Rabiger, an ex-teacher and educational consultant who has worked with the Key for School Leaders, Lyfta, and the BAMEed Network, and who is also a member of HEP’s Racial Equity Steering Group as well as a school governor. This podcast explores anti-racist school governance and provides actionable insights for combating systemic racism.

The Brief: 22 May 2023
The Education Brief: Monday 22nd May 2023 - Top stories include:
Capita is delaying the marking of Year 6 Sats papers by a week due to “technical issues”.
Only 6 percent of schools are planning to extend lesson times to hit the 32.5-hour DfE-advised target.
The DfE is reviewing its early headship coaching offer after low uptake.
Multi-academy trusts will not yet be inspected by Ofsted.
This week’s deep dive:
Schools and Academies Show London 2023
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

The Brief: 15 May 2023
The Education Brief: Monday 15th May 2023 - Top stories include:
The key stage 2 Sats reading paper worried many school leaders.
Primary school pupils have still not caught up to pre-Covid levels of attainment in maths.
Mounting workload is a barrier to teachers taking part in professional development and training.
Ofsted wants GPs and pharmacies to help schools combat “overly risk-averse” parental approaches to illness.
This week’s deep dive:
Leadership 55 - Episode 5 with Alex Quigley
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

The Brief: 9 May 2023
The Education Brief: Tuesday 9th May 2023 - Top stories include:
NAHT union general secretary says school leaders are in a “fight for the heart and soul of education.”
Appeals against GCSE and A-level exam grades have plummeted below pre-Covid levels in the wake of the pandemic grading fiasco.
An increasing number of trainee teachers are being forced to take on part-time jobs.
This week’s deep dive:
Succession planning with John Tomsett
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

The Brief: 2 May 2023
Tuesday 2nd May 2023 - Top stories include:
The NAHT school leaders’ union will re-ballot its members for strikes over pay, school funding, workload and wellbeing.
The Standards and Testing Agency published a ‘lessons learned’ review on Thursday last week.
The National Foundation for Educational Research’s latest teacher recruitment figures are dismal.
The government is to axe its support programme for schools and trusts with “weak” governance.
This week’s deep dive:
Leadership 55 with Bennie Kara
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

Getting behind The Power of Teams with Sam Crome, Part 2
A few months ago, Sam Crome, Deputy Head at St. Peter's Catholic School, delivered a talk for HEP's Big Idea on the 'power of teams'. The talk was powerful, inviting both leaders and members of teams think deeply about what is involved in becoming and maintaining a successful team. If you haven't yet seen the recording of it, I highly recommend you take a look before listening to this episode.
In this episode of HEP Talks, I wanted to get deeper behind the concepts behind the 'power of teams' and discover what some of the most important traits of high-performing teams are, and why. I asked Sam questions about how to establish a sense of psychological safety in schools, why debriefing is important, and whether or not teams are humans' most important tool.
This is part 2 of that interview, and we hope it will be useful for everyone who leads, creates, or partakes in team activities in schools. You can find part 1 earlier in our podcast feed
Sam's Big Idea talk: https://vimeo.com/799081076
Sam's Blog: https://pocketwisdom.blog/author/samcrome1/

The Brief: 24 April 2023
Monday 24th April 2023 - Top stories include:
Ofsted is making changes to acknowledge the continuing debate over the death of Ruth Perry.
ASCL announced its first ever ballot on strike action.
Schools are grappling with high levels of student absence and the threat of AI cheating on exams.
Suspensions in England jumped up by nearly 25 percent compared with pre-pandemic levels.
This week’s deep dive:
The BETT Show London 2023
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wNwhWs3iB5bXhdE3h8WnQ

The Brief: 17 April 2023
Monday 17th April 2023 - Top stories include:
NASUWT will re-ballot teachers for strikes after members voted to reject the government’s pay offer.
The EEF will be evaluating the impact of Sadiq Khan’s £130 million emergency FSM scheme.
Many schools remain unsure about how to implement a key government pledge that all schools provide a 32.5-hour minimum school week.
This week’s deep dive:
WalkThrus - explained!
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://vimeo.com/813466778
Listening - https://open.spotify.com/show/6QGsJkgG8zbRyXREykIffg
Reading - https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/designing-great-hinge-questions
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wNwhWs3iB5bXhdE3h8WnQ

Getting behind The Power of Teams with Sam Crome, Part 1
A few months ago, Sam Crome, Deputy Head at St. Peter's Catholic School, delivered a talk for HEP's Big Idea on the 'power of teams'. The talk was powerful, inviting both leaders and members of teams think deeply about what is involved in becoming and maintaining a successful team. If you haven't yet seen the recording of it, I highly recommend you take a look before listening to this episode.
In this episode of HEP Talks, I wanted to get deeper behind the concepts behind the 'power of teams' and discover what some of the most important traits of high-performing teams are, and why. I asked Sam questions about how to create a sense of belonging, how the ideas of performance have permeated our work culture, and what makes a team dysfunctional.
This is part 1 of that interview, and we hope it will be useful for everyone who leads, creates, or partakes in team activities in schools.

Everyday Ubuntu - Interview with Mungi Ngomane
Happy Easter! HEP Talks has a lot of new content coming up, but today we're going to return to an episode that deserves more attention. If you haven't heard it yet, you're in for a treat. In this episode, Evelyn Davies, a HEP leadership consultant, interviews Mungi Ngomane, author and granddaughter of Desmond Tutu, about her book and the concept of Ubuntu, the African philosophy of interconnectedness. Topics include human dignity and respect, her book Everyday Ubuntu: Living better together, the African way, and how Ubuntu can relate to education.

The Brief: 27 March 2023
Monday 27th March 2023 - Top stories include:
The Department of Education has launched a consultation on the Early Career Framework and initial teacher training.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has said that the government is aiming to publish transgender guidance for schools.
Greenhouse School Websites has developed an algorithm that they claim can accurately predict Ofsted visits.
The National Foundation for Educational Research released its annual labour market report, which contains worrying stats about the teacher ‘recruitment crisis’.
The suicide of a headteacher has triggered a massive outpouring of discontent and frustration targeted at Ofsted.
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wNwhWs3iB5bXhdE3h8WnQ

The Brief: 20 March 2023
Monday 20th March 2023 - Top stories include:
Ofsted is looking for a new chief inspector to replace Amanda Spielman once she steps down. Last week, the National Education Union took strike action on both Wednesday and Thursday. New DfE data finds high levels of persistent absence among pupils. The government wants schools to increase the supply of wraparound care.This week’s deep dive:
What’s Going On? The 2023 HEP Governors’ ConferenceWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/blog/2022/11/30/explained-adaptive-teaching/
Listening - https://educationbookcast.libsyn.com/141-behaviourism-cognitivism-constructivism-a-message-for-zo
Reading - https://marymyatt.substack.com/p/subject-insights-design-and-technology
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wNwhWs3iB5bXhdE3h8WnQ

The Brief: 13 March 2023
Monday 13th March 2023 - Top stories include:
The deadlock over pay talks between education unions and the government continues. The coronation of King Charles is pushing back testing dates. The DfE is concerned over the education children are receiving outside of school grounds. The number of increasingly serious incidents involving school-age pupils on social media is on the rise.This week’s deep dive:
The SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement PlanWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
HEP Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/user118208820
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wNwhWs3iB5bXhdE3h8WnQ

Ofsted - Interview with Karen Tate, Chair of Governors at South Harringay School
In preparation for the Governors' Conference coming up this Saturday at HEP HQ, we are bringing back a HEP Talks episode about governors and their role in Ofsted inspections.
In this episode of HEP Talks, Neetha Atukorale from HEP's Governor Services talks to Karen Tate, governor at South Harringay School about the school's most recent Ofsted inspection. Topics covered include Ofsted preparation, the inspection process, and choosing the right team for the job, among others.
We hope this HEP Talk provides valuable insight into the Ofsted process for school leaders, governors, and staff alike.

The Brief: 6 March 2023
Monday 6th March 2023 - Top stories include:
The government published the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan last Thursday. UCL has been awarded a £14.9 million programme to create three-year Language Hubs. Mixed MATs are being forced to divert more funding toward their primary schools.This week’s deep dive:
NIA Academy Celebration EventWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wNwhWs3iB5bXhdE3h8WnQ

What does it mean to make schools and classrooms ‘inclusive’ with Margaret Mulholland: The SEND and AP Green Paper, Part 2
In July, 2022, I spoke to Margaret Mulholland, SEN and Inclusion Policy Specialist for the Association of School and College Leaders, or ASCL, about the SEND and AP Green Paper, which had been released by the DfE in March. We published part one of this interview recently - you can listen here.
In part two of the interview, Margaret and I talked more about inclusivity and discussed how we can embed it into mainstream education.
The government has just published its response to the SEND Review – The SEND and AP Improvement Plan – and you can expect a HEP summary in our weekly Monday Briefing. We will be speaking to Margaret again in the next few weeks to gain more of her insight into the next phase of the government’s plans for SEND and alternative provision.

The Brief: 27 February 2023
Monday 27th February 2023 - Top stories include:
Gillian Keegan has invited unions to formal talks over pay if they call off their planned strike this week. Schools may be forced to plug a 39 million pound shortfall in funding due to free school meals extension. The largest Multi-Academy Trusts have given raises to their top earners. The DfE has recommended that teachers receive a pay rise of 3 per cent.This week’s deep dive:
HEP Talks The Big Idea: The Power of Teams with Samuel CromeWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2viDhIppIws
Listening - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001hwrp?mc_cid=57feab06b0&mc_eid=74c9343839
Reading - https://gesherschool.com/issue-02/
The Big Idea with Sam Crome: The Power of Teams: https://vimeo.com/799081076
Haringey Creates Chair Based Dance - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chair-based-dance-cpd-tickets-537666804887

What does it mean to make schools and classrooms ‘inclusive’ with Margaret Mulholland: The SEND and AP Green Paper, Part 1
In March 2022, the Department for Education released the SEND and AP Green Paper, a document which summarised the challenges faced by SEND and AP provision, and set out ambitious reforms to create a single, well-regulated, national SEND and AP system (Read a summary of the paper here). There was a consultation on the paper soon after, which closed in July 2022, and that’s when I spoke to Margaret Mulholland, SEN and Inclusion Policy Specialist for the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).
Margaret has a wealth of knowledge and ideas about how the SEND and Alternative Provision system operates and also casts her expert eye over how well the Green Paper addressed its issues. This HEP Talks episode is a must-listen for anyone keen to gain a greater understanding of how this system works.

The Brief: 20 February 2023
Monday 20th February 2023 - Top stories include:
Teacher pay talks with the education secretary have once again ended with no new offer. Seven unions have asked the government to take action on deteriorating school buildings. A SchoolDash report analyses which words are most common in positive Ofsted inspections. SchoolsWeek tracked which policies from the schools white paper are still alive.This week’s deep dive:
Area-based Education Partnership Association 2023 Conference: Leading Education LocallyWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://vimeo.com/799081076
Listening - https://freshedpodcast.com/menashy-zakharia/
Reading - https://snacks.pepsmccrea.com/p/consistency-before-challenge

In conversation with Baroness Estelle Morris
This episode of HEP Talks is a conversation between HEP Chief Executive James Page and Estelle Morris, Baroness of Yardley and Co-Chair of the Area-based Education Partnerships Association (AEPA). It comes ahead of the AEPA annual conference which takes place on Friday, 10 February at 10:30am at the Coram Centre in London. Topics included are the relationship between politics and education at the moment, the role and future role of education partnerships, and a little of what to expect at the AEPA conference, among other things. Listen now and sign up for the AEPA conference at the link here: https://aepa.org.uk/aepa-annual-conference-2023/

The Brief: 6 February 2023
Monday 6th February 2023 - Top stories include:
Over half of schools closed partially or fully due to the NEU strike of around 300,000 teachers. Female Ofsted inspectors are more likely to hand out harsher grades for primary schools. Oak National Academy saw a spike in traffic during the first day of teacher strikes.This week’s deep dive:
Nursery World Show 2023We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

The Brief: 30 January 2023
Monday 30th January, 2023 - Top stories include:
The DfE released several interesting research publications. Schoolsweek found four downgraded ‘outstanding’ schools with provisional Progress 8 scores among the highest 100 in the country. Fewer schools are meeting the government’s proposed “parent pledge” than before the policy was announced. the NAHT and National Education Union have told their members that school staff should not be put under pressure to work on strike days or to cross picket lines.This week’s deep dive:
Leadership 55 - Breaking the Ofsted BarrierWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Link to Leadership 55: https://hepbookinghub.co.uk/product/school-leadership-leadership-55-series-22-23/

The Brief: 23 January 2023
Monday 23rd January, 2023 - Top stories include:
Schools are being asked to prioritise attendance for certain groups of pupils and “consider” remote education during strikes. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has raised the prospect of paying teachers in shortage subjects more. A survey found that one in ten pupils in England have felt unsafe at school. 78 percent of schools previously judged as ‘requires improvement’ have improved to ‘good’ last term.This week’s deep dive:
James Page and Estelle Morris at the upcoming AEPA ConferenceWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Link to Conference: AEPA Annual Conference: Leading Education Locally

The Brief: 16 January 2023
Monday 16th January, 2023 - Top stories include:
Ofsted has admitted that its complaints policy “is not working” and will be reviewed. Teachers’ Union NASUWT failed to meet the threshold for strike action. Absence rates hit 14.3 percent across all schools at the end of last term, mainly due to illness. The DfE has updated the non-statutory ‘Teaching online safety in schools’ guidance.This week’s deep dive:
London Councils’ report on managing school places
And…
Looking forward to 2023 with the HEP Team
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Link to London Councils’ report: https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/our-key-themes/children-and-young-people/education-and-school-places/managing-surplus-school-places

An unorthodox journey to headship and Gen Z in the workplace with Alex Atherton
In this episode, Luke speaks with Alex Atherton, former headteacher and current HEP Improvement Partner and leadership coach. In the first part of the interview, Luke speaks to Alex about the way he landed his headship at quite a young age, and to see if he thought that journey was replicable nowadays. They also cover key themes of privilege and how education has changed (especially in terms of technology, data, and the focus of schools).
One key topic that continually came up is how skills developed by education professionals in their field are very translatable to other fields, despite that not usually being the perception. Heads and teachers deal with multiple management, behaviour, psychological, and administrative issues every day. When they look for jobs outside of school, they fail to realise how much their experience is worth.
In the second part of the interview, we find out more about what Alex is doing now, specifically about leadership coaching and his work concerning Gen Z. They again discuss translatable educational skills, change over time and how to deal with an increasingly multi-generational workforce.
If you're interested in finding out more about Alex's leadership coaching, follow this link: https://www.alexatherton.com/
To read the accompanying blog post head to the HEP Insights page: https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/hep-insights/

Murals and the curriculum: using art to understand the world around us with Sally Newton
In this episode, HEP's Luke Kemper talked to artist Sally Newton at South Harringay School, where she has painted two large staircase murals. They spoke about how she became an artist, what it’s like to paint a curriculum on the walls, and how students react to art, among other things. If you’d like to see more of Sally’s work, you can check out her website at www.sallynewton-mural-artist.com.
This podcast has an accompanying blog post where you can find some images of the murals that Sally and Luke spoke about. If you like what you see, get in touch! Maybe she can paint a mural at your school as well!
Special thanks Ian, Kelly, and Joe at South Harringay for their time and hospitality.

The Brief: 12 December 2022
Monday 12th December, 2022 - Top stories include:
The School’s Bill is dead, but many of its priorities live on. The National Tutoring Programme has failed in its goal of tutoring 65 percent disadvantaged pupils. 500 million pounds aimed at making school buildings more energy efficient have been “repurposed” for energy bill savings. Ofsted is nearly 2000 inspections behind schedule.This week’s deep dive:
The Big Idea with Jade PearceWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

The Brief: 5 December 2022
Monday 5th December, 2022 - Top stories include:
The DfE missed their targets for primary and secondary teacher trainees by a long shot. Three organisations have launched a joint legal challenge against the government’s decision to establish Oak National Academy as a publicly funded arm’s-length body. Capacity checkers will be sent into secondary schools to see if they have space for more pupils. The cost of living crisis is increasingly affecting young people’s education, with a growing number of pupils arriving at school tired, cold and hungry.This week’s deep dive:
researchED Oxford 2022We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

The Brief: 28 November 2022
Monday 28th November, 2022 - Top stories include:
Hunt’s school budget increase is actually slower than increases during the 2000s. Around 40 councils have kept funding designated for special schools for themselves. The number of very low-attaining pupils in Year 2 reading has more than tripled The Queen Street Group warned the government that its policies were encouraging “vulnerable” schools to join inexperienced MATs.This week’s deep dive:
Haringey Creates Cultural Education SummitWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

What outstanding early years provision looks like with Sian McDermott at Rowland Hill
In this episode of HEP Talks, Luke Kemper, HEP Insight and Intelligence Lead, talks to Sian McDermott, Headteacher at Rowland Hill Nursery School & Children Centre, about her school and the outstanding grade it received from its latest Ofsted inspection. Topics covered include how Rowland Hill achieved a grade of 'outstanding' from Ofsted, how the school fostered an environment of joy, how the staff delivers such high-quality and inclusive SEND provision, and what sets Rowland Hill's curriculum apart, among others.
The conversation was both enlightening and fun, and hopefully offers other nursery school teachers and leaders a glimpse at what 'outstanding' early years provision looks like. Of course, there is no magic formula for perfect provision, but Rowland Hill definitely ticked all of Ofsted's boxes and more.
Link to blog post: https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/blog/2022/11/25/what-outstanding-early-years-provision-looks-like-with-sian-mcdermott-at-rowland-hill/

The Brief: 21 November 2022
Monday 21st November, 2022 - Top stories include:
Jeremy Hunt, the current chancellor, delivered the Autumn Statement, announcing an extra £2.3 billion a year for schools in the next 2 years. Academies Minister Baroness Barran has accepted the need for greater “transparency” in decision-making over academisation. The Department for Education has set up a ‘strategic tutoring advisory group’. The Chartered College has launched membership for teaching assistants and other support staff.This week’s deep dive:
Leadership 55 Episode 2 with Becky AllenWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-evidence-based-education-podcast/id1269102364

The Brief: 14 November 2022
Monday 14th November, 2022 - Top stories include:
The gap in average A-level grades between poorer students and their peers this summer was the widest since 2016-17. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan believes that tackling inflation is more important than boosting school budgets. The Guardian reports that children not eligible for free school meals are coming to school with mouldy bread, empty wraps, and sometimes nothing at all. Issues with NTP underspending mean that more than £100 million will return to the Treasury.This week’s deep dive:
The 2022 Annual HEP Leaders Conference - Kaleidoscope of EducationWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

The Brief: 7 November 2022
Monday 7th November, 2022 - Top stories include:
Teach First has recruited its lowest number of trainees in four years. Unions have accepted a pay raise for school support staff, including teaching assistants, and other council workers. Multi-academy trusts have put expansion on hold while they deal with financial pressures. 65 percent of headteachers in England felt highly anxious about work during the pandemic.This week’s deep dive:
Demystifying Adaptive Teaching - with Fran Hargrove and Luke KemperWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRzHbY_t3NhZi-sIlGNVegA
Listening - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6fqkgmh4jtm1ZwphlGzJF5
Reading - https://repec-cepeo.ucl.ac.uk/cepeow/cepeowp22-08.pdf

The Brief: 31 October 2022
Monday 31st October, 2022 - Top stories include:
Old faces are returning as education ministers under new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. A TES investigation revealed the dire recruitment situation in schools. Due to rising costs, most schools are being forced to cut staff, increase class sizes, and forgo building repairs in the coming years. New Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance warns schools not to penalise or exclude pupils for wearing their hair in natural afro styles, braids, cornrows, or plaits.This week’s deep dive:
Horizons Charity launch eventWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unq5571cDyU
Listening - https://freshedpodcast.com/flux-yu/

Taking action on racial inequality in education with Marva Rollins
It's half-term, so in place of the weekly brief, HEP has released another episode of HEP Talks! In this episode, Luke Kemper, HEP Insight and Intelligence Lead, talks to Marva Rollins, a HEP School Improvement Partner and member of the Racial Equity Steering Group, about racial inequality in education. Topics covered include National Foundation for Education Research report titled “Racial equality in the teacher workforce", the earlier report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, and what Marva herself, along with HEP, do to combat racism and inequalities in education.
There is a newly released blog post on HEP's website called Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Education and Beyond that gives background information and complements this podcast. In it, we analysed racial disparities in Haringey and compared them to the national figures. Please feel free to give it a read using the link above. We'll be back next week on Monday with The Brief, and more HEP Talks episodes coming soon!

Take It Serious with Patricia Lamour and Linda Sarr
In this episode of HEP Talks, Luke Kemper, HEP Insight and Intelligence Lead, talks to Patricia Lamour, MBE, CEO of Aspire Education Group, and Linda Sarr, Headteacher of Risley Avenue Primary School, about Take It Serious, a new disaster management education project. Topics covered include what disaster management education means and how schools can engage with the Take It Serious curriculum, among others.
On 20 October, a national multiplier conference will be held at HEP to explain more about the project and trial parts of their curriculum (there is a game involved!). Sign up for the event and read more about the project through the links below:
"This project, TAKE IT SERIOUS, recognises the importance of imparting necessary knowledge to educationalists and pupils in order to develop disaster management skills, and to increase awareness about disaster-related issues. The project aims to create outputs and activities which are centred on effective, holistic and inclusive approaches and is aimed at pupils between the ages of ten and thirteen years old. Innovative technological methodologies and the use of gamified learning, based on authentic scenarios, is widely recognised as the most effective way to achieve this. The envisaged long-term effect of the project is to strengthen the profiles of teachers, school authorities and school support staff, and to mainstream holistic and effective disaster management in Europe."
Website: https://takeitserious.co.uk/
Event registration: bit.ly/take-it-serious

The Brief: 17 October 2022
Monday 17th October, 2022 - Top stories include:
Headteacher turnover has increased by more than a third since before the pandemic. A report by The COVID Social Mobility & Opportunities has confirmed that the pandemic widened existing inequalities between poorer pupils and their better-off peers. Ofsted has refused calls to conduct separate annual safeguarding audits. Hugely increased interest rates on CIF loans may cost schools tens of thousands of pounds.This week’s deep dive:
Leadership 55 with John TomsettWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Listening - https://www.ollielovell.com/errr/katharinebirbalsingh/?mc_cid=715bdf839e&mc_eid=74c9343839
Reading - https://psych.athabascau.ca/open/engelmann/theory.php?mc_cid=715bdf839e&mc_eid=74c9343839

The Brief: 10 October 2022
Monday 10th October, 2022 - Top stories include:
Headteachers are “appalled” by Kit Malthouse’s comments of “mediocrity” in the school system. Ofsted has snubbed calls from school leaders to publish inspection training sheets. KS1 maths and literacy results took a plunge this year in the first batch of KS1 tests since 2019.This week’s deep dive:
The Ofsted LeaksWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/548792179?mc_cid=3153a0616e&mc_eid=74c9343839

The Brief: 3 October 2022
Monday 3rd October - Top stories include:
Exams will go back to normal in 2023. Schools are having trouble finding enough support staff. Oak National Academy will not threaten teachers’ autonomy, says Chief. The government’s school behaviour adviser is urging headteachers to crack down on vaping.This week’s deep dive:
Behaviour in schools: Advice for headteachers and school staffWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-rqMc40eUo
Reading - https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/michael-young-powerful-knowledge-curriculum

The Brief: 26 September 2022
Monday 26th September - Top stories include:
The energy bill support for schools has been revealed. The results of a new DfE energy cost survey have been published. Research has emerged about the efficacy of class dogs exciting children about reading. The government has widened eligibility for a teaching internship programme to chemistry and language students.This week’s deep dive:
Education secretary on opening new grammar schools in EnglandWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Listening - https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZpML53UfPpRBLJn8OiL5F?si=bbcb60aa7a264d3b&nd=1
Reading - https://twitter.com/CEPEO_UCL/status/1570787199528103944

The Brief: 20 September 2022
Tuesday 20th September - Top stories include:
The government said it “will confirm further details” of its energy support scheme this week. Teacher vacancies have risen by almost two-thirds this September. Over 80% of cold calls made to schools to check whether they were using the National Tutoring Programme failed. A new report from the National Governance Association shows governing boards have become less diverse.This week’s deep dive:
Education Inequalities Report https://ifs.org.uk/inequality/education-inequalities/We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

How to set up a MAT - Interview with Kate Turnpenney, former CEO of Children First Academy Trust
In this episode of HEP Talks, Luke Kemper, HEP Insight and Intelligence Lead, talks to Kate Turnpenney, former CEO of Children First Academy Trust, about how to set up a MAT. Topics covered include how Children First was established, what are its values, and the role of place in the formation of the trust, among others.
Attention to multi-academy trusts, or MATs, has drastically increased since the Schools White Paper was released earlier this year and stated that all schools will be members of an academy trust by 2030. For schools thinking about converting to or joining an academy trust, we hope that this is an illuminating listen for you, as Kate details the process she and others went through in order to set up Children First, which is now the first MAT to join HEP. She also nails down some of the most important requirements and gives advice for starting a MAT.

The Brief: 12 September 2022
Monday 12th September - Top stories include:
A period of National Mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has now started. New prime minister Liz Truss has named Kit Malthouse as the latest education secretary. Liz Truss has announced a six-month government support scheme in order to combat upcoming energy cost increases. The Schools Bill is experiencing further delays as it moves through Parliament.This week’s deep dive:
Haringey’s exam resultsWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

The HEP Science Curriculum - Interview with Brenda Hayles
In this episode of HEP Talks, Luke Kemper, HEP Lead for Insight and Intelligence, interviews Brenda Hayles about the HEP Science Curriculum, of which she is both the author and illustrator. Topics include Brenda's journey into science education, what the HEP Science Curriculum entails, and how her CPD sessions can help teachers use the curriculum effectively, among others.
HEP members can use the HEP Booking Hub to order the science curriculum as well as register for the upcoming CPD sessions, which detail how to use the curriculum in schools and classrooms.
For non-HEP members, we will be inviting schools from around the country to take part in our curriculum offer starting next September.
Follow Brenda Hayles on Twitter @advisoryscience

The Brief: 5 September 2022
Monday 5th September - Top stories include:
29 Local Authorities have applied to launch their own MATs via the ‘test and learn’ pilot programme. Oak National Academy, the government arms-length curriculum body, is finally scheduled to launch, but with a drastically reduced curriculum. SchoolsWeek has compiled a list of key trends for the 2022 GCSE results.This week’s deep dive:
Reports on Assessment Reform from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the Institute for Government https://institute.global/sites/default/files/articles/Ending-the-Big-Squeeze-on-Skills-How-to-Futureproof-Education-in-England.pdf https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/The-exam-question.pdfWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPHDJI17sH4
Listening - https://www.ollielovell.com/errr/lynstone/
Reading - https://soundcloud.com/penguin-audio/how-the-other-half-learns-by

Everyday Ubuntu - Interview with Mungi Ngomane
In this episode of HEP Talks, Evelyn Davies, a HEP leadership consultant, interviews Mungi Ngomane, author and granddaughter of Desmond Tutu, about her book and the concept of Ubuntu, the African philosophy of interconnectedness. Topics include human dignity and respect, her book Everyday Ubuntu: Living better together, the African way, and how Ubuntu can relate to education, among others.
We hope this HEP Talk will be an inspiring start to the new academic year, getting school leaders and teachers thinking about the ways in which Ubuntu could help socialise, energise, and unite their students and staff.

The Brief: 18 July 2022
Monday 18th July - Top stories include:
A heat warning is in effect in the UK, with temperatures possibly reaching 40C. Schools must “assess and balance” the risk of potential strip searches to pupils’ wellbeing before calling the police. Two-thirds of school or trust governing boards have at least one vacancy as the number of empty posts hits a six-year high.This week’s deep dive:
New Suspension and Permanent Exclusion and Behaviour Guidance https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1089688/Suspension_and_Permanent_Exclusion_guidance_July_2022.pdf https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1089687/Behaviour_in_Schools_guidance_July_2022.pdfWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Listening - https://educationbookcast.libsyn.com/128-nuance

The Brief: 11 July 2022
Monday 11th July - Top stories include:
The position of education secretary swaps hands three times in two days. the supply of trainee teachers in parts of the country could be disrupted by teacher training provider “deserts”. Fifty Chinese students in the past three years have been forced to leave the UK after Britain tightened its procedures to prevent theft of sensitive academic research.This week’s deep dive:
The 2022 HEP Headteachers’ Conference and National Key Stage 2 Attainment DataWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UojwMiRpNM
Reading - https://education-reimagined.org/pathways-to-purpose-amazed-learning-environment/

The Brief: 4 July 2022
Monday 4th July - Top stories include:
A government attendance adviser has urged the Department for Education to fund dozens more “attendance hubs”. The DfE has launched a review into how Multi-Academy Trusts will be held to account. A group of sixth formers in east London have come up with an alternative inspection regime that they say would better hold schools to account and improve young people’s wellbeing.This week’s deep dive:
The Power of Music to Change Lives: A National Plan for Music EducationWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://prideinlondon.org/parade/
Reading - https://blog.policy.manchester.ac.uk/posts/2022/06/lgbt-inequalities-in-adolescent-wellbeing/
Listening - https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510338/all-guides

The Brief: 27 June 2022
Monday 27th June - Top stories include:
Rail strikes potentially affected hundreds of thousands of students taking GCSE and A-level exams. The DfE has launched a new consultation on attendance data. TES has uncovered a discrepancy in the success of schools applying for funding to fix crumbling school buildings. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi accused an exam board of “cultural vandalism” after it removed poems from the English GCSE.This week’s deep dive:
HEP’s 2022/2023 CPD BrochureWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OkVLUMt1LM
Listening - https://soundcloud.com/freshed-podcast/282-bryan

The Brief: 20 June 2022
Monday 20th June - Top stories include:
School governors are “increasingly concerned” their work is becoming less visible in Ofsted inspections. Oak National Academy may not be fully operational by the start of the next school year. A new study shows that anxiety does not seem to have a large impact upon the grades that students leave school with. Trusts identify growth as both a priority and a challenge, according to a CST survey.This week’s deep dive:
Haringey Learning Partnership’s Windrush Day Celebration https://haringeycommunitypress.co.uk/voyage-hope-and-style-celebrating-windrush-fashion#articleWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cdtqyf
Reading - https://haringeycommunitypress.co.uk/how-haringey-is-celebrating-windrush-day#article
Listening - https://shows.acast.com/talkart/episodes/sonia-boyce

The Brief: 13 June 2022
Monday 13th June - Top stories include:
The proportion of free school meal-eligible pupils has risen to 22.5%. The DfE wants schools and trusts to find another £1 billion of savings to prepare for rising energy and other costs. Almost one-third of schools’ buildings include expiring materials or “pose a serious risk of imminent failure.” In 2023, a new system will allow applicants from other countries to “apply for qualified teacher status in England”.This week’s deep dive:
Racial Inequalities in Education and BeyondWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.channel4.com/programmes/troy-deeney-wheres-my-history
Reading - https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/5-questions-about-motivation-with-daniel-pink

The Brief: 6 June 2022
Monday 6 June - Top stories include:
Schools Week reported almost one in four pupils in England were persistently absent from school last autumn. As fuel prices hit record levels, pupils are missing out on experiences outside of the classroom. A new poll by T E S has revealed that 4 in 10 teachers would not go back into the profession if they had the chance. The schools bill will potentially require more than 10,000 new trustees for multi-academy trust boards. The government confirmed a group of four multi-academy trusts will establish and run the new £121 million National Institute of Teaching.This week’s deep dive:
Implementing school system reform in 2022 to 2023We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Reading - https://www.edutopia.org/article/3-tips-partnering-parents-student-success
Listening - https://www.thisamericanlife.org/605/kid-logic

The Brief: 23 May 2022
Monday 23 May - Top stories include:
Chartered College Chief, Dame Alison Peacock, says the DfE left teachers isolated and at risk during COVID. The EEF published new research that shows younger children were most affected by Covid lockdowns. The Key for School Leaders has published top tips for improving attendance. School pupils have been warned by Ofqual about peddlers of “fake exam papers”.This week’s deep dive:
The Early Career Framework Part IIWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Reading - https://impacted.org.uk/impactinpractice
Listening - https://open.spotify.com/episode/61YfJpjxNeUgOY32DUPagx?si=6SFcuuq1TMGMZEoUmGGeIQ&nd=1

The Brief: 16 May 2022
Monday 16 May - Top stories include:
On the 12th of May, the government published the Schools Bill. An education charity has lodged a High Court legal challenge against Nadhim Zahawi. The Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition has announced an inquiry into behaviour and mental health in schools.This week’s deep dive:
The Early Career FrameworkWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BacHtPrh-qQ
Listening - https://soundcloud.com/dynamicdeps/effective-explanations-adam-boxer
Reading - https://theconversation.com/primary-school-children-get-little-academic-benefit-from-homework-181652

The Brief: 9 May 2022
Monday 9 May - Top stories include:
Exams watchdog Ofqual has released a new three-year vision plan. Much of Ofqual’s new plan is focused on the use of technology in exams. Schools may be forced to hand back late catch-up cash. Half of secondary pupils continued to wear face masks in school.This week’s deep dive:
The IEA and UNESCO Responses to Educational Disruption SurveyWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

The Brief: 3 May 2022
Tuesday 3 May - Top stories include:
Female, non-white and part-time staff are significantly less likely to be promoted to headteacher roles, according to new research from the DfE. The cost of the SEND system has hit a total of £1.3 billion this year as the places crisis bites and flaws in the system become more visible. The government has called issues with ECF “teething problems” and said they can be fixed with “tweaks” by ministers. Recently-appointed chair of the Social Mobility Commission came under fire for gendered remarks about girls taking A-level physics. Ofsted published its new 5-year strategy.This week’s deep dive:
The 2022 Haringey BAME Achievement ConferenceWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30LjUmzOE9s
Listening - https://freshedpodcast.com/hastedt-meinck/
Reading - https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2016/fall/feature/one-and-the-many

The Brief: 25 April 2022
Monday 25 April - Top stories include:
A new poll by the NASUWT teachers’ union confirmed a significant culture of sexual harassment and misogyny in classrooms. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi expressed his views on education in front of Parliament. Schools are facing logistical issues around exam season due to the end of free COVID testing and unclear government guidance. Polling by Teacher Tapp revealed that only 14 percent of Early Career Teachers and 9 percent of mentors think the ECT training is a good use of time. Due to Covid-related exam invigilator shortages, schools are training staff members to step in.This week’s deep dive:
The Send Review: Right Support, Right Place, Right TimeWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - Learning Styles Don’t Exist by Prof. Daniel Willingham - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIv9rz2NTUk&t=406s
Listening - A Refresh of Primary Curriculum, Team Coaching and New Resources for Teachers on Mind the Gap - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-refresh-of-primary-curriculum-team-coaching/id1516532537?i=1000557453123
Reading - Place 2 Be’s response to the Education White Paper - https://www.place2be.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/2022/april/schools-white-paper-a-missed-opportunity/
Link to the SEND Review summary: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1064655/SEND_Review_Right_support_right_place_right_time_summary.pdf
Link to the SEND Review consultation: https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-review-division/send-review-2022/

The Brief: 19 April 2022
Episode Summary
Monday 19 April - Top stories include:
This week’s deep dive:
The White Paper: Opportunities for All: Strong Schools with Great Teachers for Your ChildWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - Why knowledge matters in the common core era
Listening - A New Movement on Standing Rock on Code Switch
Reading - Five things we’ve learned this term about pupil absence from the FFT Datalab Education blog
Content links:
https://www.brookings.edu/events/why-knowledge-matters-in-the-common-core-era/
https://ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2022/04/five-things-weve-learned-this-term-about-pupil-absence/

The Brief: 28 March 2022
Monday 28 March - Top stories include:
Over one in five secondary schools in England are now full or over capacity. Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has pledged £150 million for every school in England to gain access to high-speed internet by 2025. The DfE unveiled its first set of digital and technology standards for schools. Chancellor Rishi Sunak leaves schools out of funding plans as poverty and living costs hit record levels.This week’s deep dive:
30 Years of Ofsted - how Ofsted has changed over the years and what the data shows us.We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - FFT Education Datalab Virtual Research Conference
Listening - An Ethic of Excellence in Action with Tracey Adams and Sonia Thomson
Reading - The Miseducation of Maria Montessori
Content links:
https://ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2022/03/30-years-of-ofsted/

Ofsted - Interview with Karen Tate, Chair of Governors at South Harringay School
In this episode of HEP Talks, Neetha Atukorale from HEP's Governor Services talks to Karen Tate, governor at South Harringay School about the school's most recent Ofsted inspection. Topics covered include Ofsted preparation, the inspection process, and choosing the right team for the job, among others.
We hope this HEP Talk provides valuable insight into the Ofsted process for school leaders, governors, and staff alike.

The Brief: 21 March 2022
Monday 21 March - Top stories include:
On the 17th of March, the government published its response to the Sewell Report. The Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review found that safeguards were bypassed and race was likely to have been an influencing factor in the strip-search of a young Black girl. The EEF is looking for schools with promising initiatives to increase attendance for a new grant-funded study. Year 1 pupils have fallen furthest behind in reading as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.This week’s deep dive:
International Day for the Elimination of Racial DiscriminationWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!

The Brief: 14 March 2022
Monday 14 March - Top stories include:
Most councils were unable to say how many children missed school while waiting for a placement or how many are educated at home or in private schools. Some school leaders are seeking to end gas contracts with Russian firm Gazprom. The government is giving a new UK-wide online curriculum contract to the remote learning provider Oak National Academy. Only 29% of disabled students in England are receiving the disabled students’ allowance, or DSA, according to a recent report.This week’s deep dive:
DfE Guidance for political impartiality - We separate fact from fiction in the government-issued guidance for schools about political impartiality.We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Watching - email info@haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk
Listening - https://www.schoolcolorspodcast.com/
Reading - https://www.guernicamag.com/good-questions-are-a-kind-of-salvation/
Content from the guidance for political impartiality deep dive:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/extra-support-to-safeguard-political-impartiality-in-schools
https://talk.economistfoundation.org/headlines/russia-whats-the-next-move/

HEP Brief: 7 March 2022
Monday 7 March - Top stories include:
Full inspections of Early Career Framework and National Professional Qualification providers are being delayed until next year, says Ofsted. This year has not seen the usual surge in pupils applying for state secondary school places, allowing more families to gain their first choice of schools. Women have experienced greater negative social and economic impacts from Covid-19 than men. The government is under fire for two recent actions it took concerning education - the proposal to link student loans eligibility to GCSE results and the breakfast clubs scheme.This week’s deep dive:
Exam Revision - and the most effective techniques according to research.We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Content from the revision deep dive:
https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/review-revise-and-refresh
https://educationblog.oup.com/secondary/english/effective-revision
https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2016/apr/19/students-revise-exams-revision-science
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22565912
https://www.bcu.ac.uk/exams-and-revision/best-ways-to-revise/best-revision-techniques
Why teacher training needs to embrace the complexities of SEND, written by Margaret Mulholland for TES: https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/why-teacher-training-needs-embrace-complexities-send

The Brief: 28 February 2022
Monday 28 February - Top stories include:
DfE published new advice on testing and self-isolation for education settings. TES has reported that new special schools aren’t being built quickly enough to cope with the rising demand for places. DfE attendance survey data estimates that on-site attendance has risen to above 90%, but staff absences remain high. The Prince’s Trust NatWest Youth Index, released on the 23rd of February, highlights the devastating emotional effects of the pandemic on young people.This week’s deep dive:
We examine ‘The Gove reforms a decade on: What worked, what didn’t, what’s next?’ The Institute for Government report by Sam Freedman, focusing on the structure of the education system, SEND support, and teacher recruitment/retention.We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Links to content:
Latest advice on testing and self-isolation in education settings from DfE https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/02/21/what-the-latest-advice-on-testing-and-self-isolation-means-for-education-settings/ SEND Review by Simon Knight for TES https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/specialist-sector/send-review-special-school-places-problem Prince’s Trust NatWest Youth Index https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/about-the-trust/news-views/princes-trust-natwest-youth-index-2022?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=YouthIndex2022 Attendance data https://schoolsweek.co.uk/school-attendance-at-highest-since-november-as-covid-absences-fall/ Sam Freedman’s Report https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/gove-reforms Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8opg6U-_bc Reading - https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-black-history-thought-and-culture-through-art Listening - https://soundcloud.com/freshed-podcast/270-sowton
The Brief: 21 February 2022
Monday 21 February - Top stories include:
The DfE has extended its Covid workforce fund for schools Ofsted has extended the grace period for bringing the curriculum in line with the new framework until September 2022 Schools following the DfE’s proposed new behaviour guidance could end up breaking the law New government guidance to support teachers in tackling sensitive issues in the classroom in a politically impartial way was publishedThis week’s deep dive:
We take a look at the State of the Nation Report to see how pupils and young people’s wellbeing is faringWe’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Links to content:
Political impartiality in schools guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=1fdc2208-0210-4344-be50-fdfe0608c19c&utm_content=daily
How language shapes the way we think, Lera Boroditsky

The Brief: 14 February 2022
Monday 14 February - Top stories include:
Unions have launched legal action against the government for pre-approving plans to academise. Student Covid-related absences have fallen, but teacher absences due to Covid have risen. Initial Teacher Training applications have dropped by almost 25% compared with January last year. GCSE results entered early in the last two years will not count towards school league tables this year.This week’s deep dive:
ExamsThe DfE has given the go-ahead for the release of advanced information to support revision for GCSE and A-level exams. We explain what this support package includes and how teachers are reacting.
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Links to content:
What kids wish their teachers knew | Kyle Schwartz | TEDxKyoto
Haringey Music Service Conference - Dame Alison Peacock and Prof Nate Holder
Child in Mind podcast is available here

The Brief: 7 February 2022
Monday 7 February - Top stories include:
Critiques of the National Tutoring Programme New DfE guidance on behaviour Judging schools on inclusion metrics Wales trialling longer school daysThis week’s deep dive:
The Levelling Up White Paper - what has it got in store for schools?We see a focus on development outside London, and a hint at the DfE's preference of schools joining MATs.
We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Links to content:
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO3lMjbO5ic&t=430s
Listening - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/audio-stories-chinese-new-year-the-swimming-race/zdd8cqt
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/audio-stories-the-dragon-and-the-phoenix/zdppxyc

The Brief: 31 January 2022
Monday 31 January - Top stories include:
Nadhim Zahawi’s plans for the education sector The DfE trials a daily attendance tracker in schools Ofsted returns to a full team of inspectorsThis week’s deep dive:
The debate over phonics has returned with a new study from UCL’s Institute of Education. HEP takes a look at the study and the arguments for and against phonics and asks, what is the most effective way of teaching children to read?We’ll also tell you what’s happening at HEP this week and what we’ve been watching, listening to, and reading!
Links to content:
Watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhgwIhB58PA
Listening: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/edtech2022/
Chris Such: https://twitter.com/suchmo83
Attendance consultation: https://bit.ly/35qCg3r