Tutor Trust - Equity in education’s Post

Some good news for your Friday in case you missed it... The agreement between the Australian and Northern Territory Governments to fully fund all public schools in the NT by 2029. This $1 billion investment marks a transformative step towards equality in education. Here’s what this means: 💢 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS): For the first time, NT public schools will meet this critical funding level, ensuring that every student receives the resources they deserve. 💢 Boosted Federal and Territory Funding: The Australian Government will provide an additional $737.7 million, while the NT Government will contribute at least $350 million from 2025-2029. This joint effort will double the previous federal investment and elevate the NT's funding share to 60% 💢 Prioritizing the Most Disadvantaged: Schools with the greatest needs will receive support first, helping to close the educational gap and offer better opportunities for all students 💢 Comprehensive Improvements: The funds will enhance everything from teacher salaries to classroom sizes and technology, paving the way for a world-class education system in the Territory https://lnkd.in/g8atFNjp #EducationForAll #NorthernTerritory #EqualOpportunity #EducationalReform #FutureLeaders

Whilst I support the increase in funding, what I am mindful of is that this funding needs to inform need not spaces to keep busy our learners with SEND, out the way. 👉Whole school inclusion is not units and alternative provision. 👉Equal opportunity is not capital interest in profitable learners. 👉Quality of education is not a reduced curriculum with less opportunity. 👉 Pastoral support is not heavy behaviourist SEMH settings where disruption is rife. The local authorities with the highest deficit will be supported by the DfE with increased funding, however, it begs the question to ask ‘what else is going on that contributed to this deficit?’ to really identify solutions that are both tangible and significant for the individuals this funding is aimed at, not the beneficiaries. https://lnkd.in/e49E8RM8

I usually rate Schoolsweek but the title of this article is utterly misleading. Schools did not snub tutoring in the last year of the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) . There were 2 key factors for low take-up last year: 1. The requirement to match fund the subsidy given ridiculously stretched school budgets; and 2. The overwhelming workload on senior leaders which didn't allow time for planning and implementation of tutoring in their setting. The fact that around 6 in 10 schools did access the programme despite these factors is actually a significant win and shows how many did prioritise an initiative they could see was working for their young people. Closing the disadvantage gap is a priority for the new Labour government. Let's hope that inflammatory headlines like this don't undermine what has repeatedly been shown to be an effective, low cost intervention strategy that's been welcomed by students, schools and parents. The NTP needs a rebrand and relaunch and let's keep the good work going. https://lnkd.in/eDMwkeNK

We are extremely disappointed to see that funding for the National Tutoring Programme looks set to come to an end. The NTP has been a powerful intervention, mitigating inequalities in access to tutoring. It should be seen as a core, long-term part of the school system. Our research has shown that schools are already having to make cuts to essentials like teaching assistants. Additionally, Pupil Premium funding - which is given to schools specifically to support disadvantaged pupils - is also being used to plug gaps in schools' general budgets. With finances stretched, schools will struggle to fund the NTP themselves. https://lnkd.in/e68mARJz

I whole heartedly support this. As Nick Hillman puts it, it has always seemed an "odd thing to do in public policy". We all known what's wrong with this system, so these are the things I would love to see incentivised instead: 1) Widening access: if your school has demographics less likely to progress to higher education you should be actively working with them to ensure everyone who has the potential and who wants to progress to HE can, and be rewarded for success. This is not a problem HE providers can tackle without buy-in from schools. 2) Progression to higher technical study: if the government is serious about backing HTQs then let's see just how much. Incentivise schools to raise awareness of this route and dispel misconceptions about these kinds of qualifications.

Schools Week reports that suspended secondary school pupils are about a year behind their peers on average by the time they take their GCSEs, new research has found, putting a number on the “suspension grades gap” for the first time.  Read the full article here: 👉https://ow.ly/AGOA50QZMHv #Students #Education #GCSE #Learning

Fantastic cross party op-ed piece in The i Paper from Lord David Blunkett, (Former Labour SoS for education), Robin Walker (former Conservative Schools Minister) and Munira Wilson (LibDem education spokesperson) highlighting that the plan to remove funding for the National Tutoring Programme (NTP), will be a 'tragedy'. As our work highlights, tutoring is powerful in closing the attainment gap and we need a long-term commitment to funding for sustainable change for pupils facing disadvantage. The spring budget on March 6th is a prime opportunity for the Chancellor to commit to extending this valuable funding. Read more here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e3kAVEMb For more insights and thoughts, delve into another article in The i on the topic here, including highlighting why pupil premium funding isn't the answer. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e68mARJz #NTP #education #UK #SpringBudget #AttainmentGap #EdPolicy #EdChat

The attainment gap between 16-year-olds from low-income families and their wealthier classmates has grown across all regions of England since before the pandemic, with the exception of London. Research from the Education Policy Institute found that disadvantaged pupils are now more than 19 months behind their peers by the time they sit their GCSEs, with the gap having increased at every stage of their schooling aged five, 11 and 16. How is your school trying to close the attainment gap? https://bit.ly/46eEoXC #ReedEducation #Education #AttainmentGap #Schools #GCSE

Single headline grades for schools will be scrapped to boost school standards and increase transparency for parents, as announced by the government today. Learn more about this landmark school reform here: #Education #SchoolReform #ofsted

The original stated claim of a Free School following the USA Charter School/Swedish Free School model to serve areas of high deprivation/where there is a shortage of school places had deviated early on in this policy with many vanity projects taking taxpayers money with an oxymoron on the lines of a community with a school and a school without a community. In the most serious cases criminal misconduct such as fraud and also banning orders for some employees of Free Schools. In the more 'successful' start up schools, very high academic outcomes where Every Grade Matters rather than Every Child Matters built on regimented routines and zero tolerance modelled on 'Teach Like a Champion' Lemov Charter School blueprints. The disproportionately low number of 'successful' Free Schools versus the millions of pounds spent on Free Schools that are neither oversubscribed nor outstanding academically or inspection wise makes the strong case for cessation of this type of academy. #FreeSchools #Academies #EducationEngland