Teachers and Students Feel Pressure over New Grading System

This year’s teacher assessed GCSE and A-Level grading system has put immense pressure on both teachers and students.  Students particularly feel overwhelming pressure due to the amount of mock exams and assessments they have had to perform in order to generate evidence for their grades. Unfortunately, this has taken its toll on the mental health…

Ofsted Warns of Insufficient SEND Support

After a new study reviewing the experiences of 21 SEND pupils in mainstream primary and secondary schools, Ofsted claims that some of these pupils are not receiving sufficient support. Many of the schools and families that took part in the research had experienced long waiting times and high levels of bureaucracy in the Education, Health…

Ofsted Identifies the Key Principles of Good Science Teaching

In the first instalment of its research review series, Ofsted has determined what it believes to be the key principles of good science teaching. Through their inspections they are planning to closely examine how science is being taught in schools. Thorough subject investigation will be used to gather evidence concerning the quality of education in…

Why Some Teachers Are Happy With Hybrid Teaching

Since the pandemic, many teachers have naturally moved into a hybrid teaching and blended learning model. Whilst some may still prefer more traditional methods, others have fully embraced the new approach. For many it has become second nature to use a mixture of online learning resources with homeschoolers, and face-to-face teaching with those in school….

Schools Fear a Potential Second Grading Disaster

Summer is soon approaching, which likewise indicates that GCSE exam results are impending. After last year’s grading disaster through Ofqual’s predictive algorithm, many teachers fear the outcome of this year’s new grading approach. New government instructions require headteachers to carry out an “excessive” amount of assessments on students, as well as use historical data on their…

Why Teachers Fear Relaxing Covid Rules

With lockdown rules relaxing in the UK this month, some teachers are concerned that this will discourage students from following Covid safety rules. Teachers’ leaders have warned that a potential third wave of Coronavirus cases could threaten schools after Easter unless strict safety measures remain in place. The NASUWT teachers’ union have suggested that the government…

Will Online Exams Become a Reality?

Since the dependency of online learning due to Covid, some are predicting that it could lead to the transitioning of paper to online exams much sooner than expected. The Department for Education (DfE) has suggested that a shift in attitude towards digital GCSEs has occurred due to the cancellation of summer exams. Sources close to…