Latest news with #PepeDi'Iasio
Western Telegraph
30-06-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
Language GCSE take-up much lower in less affluent schools in England
Around half of GCSE students in state schools in England study a modern foreign language (MFL) – except in the most affluent areas where take-up is significantly higher, according to the British Council's Language Trends report. The survey of teachers at 1,011 schools in England suggests that recruitment challenges hit schools serving disadvantaged communities hardest. Around two in three (68%) of the least affluent schools reported difficulties hiring qualified MFL teachers, compared with 57% in the most affluent schools, according to the report. Schools in more affluent areas are more likely, by over 20 percentage points, to have more pupils learning a language Report In the most affluent schools (quintile one), teachers reported that 69% of Year 11 pupils were studying a language for GCSE on average, compared with 47% in the most deprived schools (quintile five). Overall, teachers reported that 53% of pupils study a language for GCSE. Researchers calculated the quintiles, from least to most deprived areas, based on the percentage of pupils on free school meals (FSMs) – quintile one with the lowest percentage of children on FSMs and quintile five with the highest. The report said: 'Schools in more affluent areas are more likely, by over 20 percentage points, to have more pupils learning a language.' Vicky Gough, schools adviser at the British Council, said: 'This year's report shows a clear gap in language learning linked to socioeconomic background. 'Last year, we found just 6% of students across the UK thought it was very likely they'd use another language in their future career. 'Together, these findings highlight a stark reality: young people from less privileged backgrounds are missing out on opportunities their peers are more likely to access.' The report also suggested that small class sizes are making it harder for schools to keep language courses running at A-level. Just over half of schools reported having the capacity to offer A-level languages, either delivered within the school or in partnership with a neighbouring school. But among the least affluent schools, this figure dropped to just 31%. Report author Dr Ian Collen, from Queen's University Belfast, said: 'I continue to be concerned about small MFL classes not running at A-level. 'Local decisions have national consequences; when multiplied throughout England, it means that the language learning journey stops for hundreds of young people. 'We must invest at post-16 to ensure a healthier pipeline into further and higher education, and indeed the economy. This is one of the subject areas that is affected by severe teacher shortages across the country and these can be most acute in schools serving disadvantaged communities Pepe Di'Iasio, ASCL Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'Schools in all communities work very hard to provide excellent opportunities for their students to learn languages and fully recognise the benefits of language learning. 'However, this is one of the subject areas that is affected by severe teacher shortages across the country and these can be most acute in schools serving disadvantaged communities. 'In addition, languages are perceived as a difficult option, and this may deter children from disadvantaged backgrounds who lack academic confidence, and who may have had fewer opportunities to travel than their peers and, therefore, less exposure to other languages. 'We would like to see further action taken to support schools in boosting language learning.' Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'There are huge benefits for children learning a foreign language and there is some excellent language teaching in both primary and secondary schools. 'However, as this report shows, some schools are struggling to recruit the language teachers they need to offer courses at GCSE and beyond, with recruitment targets for modern foreign languages missed in the last couple of years. 'This needs addressing urgently if more pupils are to learn a language.'
Western Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
School leaders' unions consider encouraging members to quit as Ofsted inspectors
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) have threatened to take the 'unprecedented step' in the autumn term if there are no changes to the timescale for inspection reform or to the five-point grading scale. In a letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver, the unions said the proposed action 'underlines the strength of feeling' about the reforms. This would be an unprecedented step for ASCL and NAHT and underlines the strength of feeling about the proposed reforms Letter to Education Secretary from ASCL and NAHT This month, Ofsted said it would delay setting out its final plan for school inspections in England until September – just weeks before new report cards are due to be rolled out in November. Under the plans, set out in February, schools in England could be graded across eight to 10 areas of a provision using a colour-coded five-point scale. They would receive ratings, from the red 'causing concern' to orange 'attention needed', through the green shades of 'secure', 'strong' and 'exemplary' for each area of practice. But in a letter on Tuesday, the leaders of the ASCL and the NAHT highlighted heads' concerns over the timetable for reforms and the five-point grading scale. The unions have both warned that the intention to start inspecting under a new system in the autumn term is 'entirely unacceptable' and it will negatively affect staff's wellbeing and mental health. It comes after four education unions called on the Government to delay the introduction of school inspection report cards to the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year earlier this week. The latest letter – signed by the ASCL's Pepe Di'Iasio and the NAHT's Paul Whiteman – said: 'We are writing to you further to our joint letter with NASUWT and NEU to inform you ASCL Council recently determined that unless there are changes to both the timeframe of implementation and to the five-point grading scale, then ASCL will consider encouraging its members to withdraw their service from Ofsted as OIs in the autumn term. 'At its meeting of June 20 the NAHT resolved to do the same. It feels as though we have exhausted the potential for compromise through discussion, and that we have little option other than to consider this more direct form of action Pepe Di'Iasio, Association of School and College Leaders 'This would be an unprecedented step for ASCL and NAHT and underlines the strength of feeling about the proposed reforms.' Ofsted had planned to publish its formal response to its consultation on proposed inspection reforms in the summer term, ahead of the changes coming into effect in November this year. But earlier this month, Sir Martyn said the watchdog now plans to publish its full response in September due to the scale of the feedback it received. The inspectorate has said it will give it more time to analyse responses and carry out further testing of proposals to improve the final approach. At the time, the Education Secretary called the delay of the publication of inspection materials – and Ofsted's consultation response – 'disappointing'. Ms Phillipson added that it was 'important' that Ofsted delivers to the expected timescales to avoid additional challenges for school leaders. Mr Di'Iasio said: 'We have voiced our concerns repeatedly over the past few months in discussions with Ofsted and the DfE (Department for Education), but the timetable for implementation has actually got worse rather than better, and there has been no indication so far of likely movement on the five-point grading scale. It is disappointing that unions are taking legal action and using disruption tactics to frustrate our vital work Ofsted spokeswoman 'It feels as though we have exhausted the potential for compromise through discussion, and that we have little option other than to consider this more direct form of action.' Last year, the Government announced that headline Ofsted grades for overall effectiveness for schools in England would be scrapped. Previously, Ofsted awarded one of four single-phrase inspection judgments: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate. The move came after Ofsted faced criticism after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry. Mrs Perry took her own life in January 2023 after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, from the highest to the lowest overall effectiveness rating over safeguarding concerns. An Ofsted spokeswoman said: 'Ofsted exists to keep children safe and raise standards. 'Our inspectors do vital work to improve children's lives, including by identifying schools, nurseries and colleges where standards are not high enough. 'It is disappointing that unions are taking legal action and using disruption tactics to frustrate our vital work.'
Evening Standard
24-06-2025
- General
- Evening Standard
School leaders' unions consider encouraging members to quit as Ofsted inspectors
The latest letter – signed by the ASCL's Pepe Di'Iasio and the NAHT's Paul Whiteman – said: 'We are writing to you further to our joint letter with NASUWT and NEU to inform you ASCL Council recently determined that unless there are changes to both the timeframe of implementation and to the five-point grading scale, then ASCL will consider encouraging its members to withdraw their service from Ofsted as OIs in the autumn term.
Powys County Times
14-06-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
One in 10 parents say children ask to miss school over concerns about toilets
More than one in 10 parents said their children have asked to miss school because of concerns about school toilets, a survey has suggested. A poll of 2,000 parents of school-aged children in the UK suggests around one in six (17%) parents rated the toilets at their child's school as unclean. Nearly a third (31%) of families said they have raised concerns about the toilets with school staff, according to a survey for charity Parentkind. One parent told the charity that the toilets were so dirty that their children 'felt like they were stepping into a horror movie', while another parent said their child had seen cockroaches in the school toilets. The Censuswide poll suggests that 11% of parents said their child had missed school, or asked to stay at home, because of worries about the toilets at school. The charity is calling on the Government to prioritise funds to improve 'disgusting' school toilets as part of plans to improve the school estate. It comes after the Chancellor announced around £2.3 billion per year for fixing 'crumbling classrooms' and £2.4 billion per year to rebuild 500 schools. Some surveyed parents suggested their children had wet themselves at school, or suffered constipation, because of avoiding the toilets at their school. Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, called for Government funds set out in the spending review to be used to make school toilets 'fit for use'. He said: 'With a million children facing humiliation because of the disgusting state of school toilets, we need to shine a light on the health and well-being of our children who are refusing to drink during the day to avoid going to the toilet and the millions of children suffering constipation because their school toilets are so dirty. 'Parents tell us that we need to set aside the cash to clean and upgrade school loos. 'Parents tell us their children have seen 'cockroaches coming out of the floors' and toilets 'covered in poo and urine'.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'Schools understand the vital importance of toilets being clean and in good order, work hard to ensure this is the case, and will be dismayed at the findings of this research. 'Many schools are struggling with old and outdated buildings which require a great deal of maintenance because of years of government underfunding, and this may play a role in the perceptions reflected by respondents. 'We urgently need improved investment in upgrading and modernising school buildings.' A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'We're investing in excellence everywhere for every child, which is why this government is dedicated to fixing the foundations by rebuilding crumbling school buildings. 'Despite inheriting a schools estate in disrepair, the government is creating safe learning environments through condition funding and ramping up the School Rebuilding Programme to give children growing up in our country the best start in life. 'We have increased overall capital budgets by over a billion pounds a year on average, the highest since 2010 – showing this government's strong and unwavering commitment to the maintenance and renewal of the education estate.'
Leader Live
14-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
One in 10 parents say children ask to miss school over concerns about toilets
A poll of 2,000 parents of school-aged children in the UK suggests around one in six (17%) parents rated the toilets at their child's school as unclean. Nearly a third (31%) of families said they have raised concerns about the toilets with school staff, according to a survey for charity Parentkind. One parent told the charity that the toilets were so dirty that their children 'felt like they were stepping into a horror movie', while another parent said their child had seen cockroaches in the school toilets. The Censuswide poll suggests that 11% of parents said their child had missed school, or asked to stay at home, because of worries about the toilets at school. The charity is calling on the Government to prioritise funds to improve 'disgusting' school toilets as part of plans to improve the school estate. It comes after the Chancellor announced around £2.3 billion per year for fixing 'crumbling classrooms' and £2.4 billion per year to rebuild 500 schools. Some surveyed parents suggested their children had wet themselves at school, or suffered constipation, because of avoiding the toilets at their school. Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, called for Government funds set out in the spending review to be used to make school toilets 'fit for use'. He said: 'With a million children facing humiliation because of the disgusting state of school toilets, we need to shine a light on the health and well-being of our children who are refusing to drink during the day to avoid going to the toilet and the millions of children suffering constipation because their school toilets are so dirty. 'Parents tell us that we need to set aside the cash to clean and upgrade school loos. 'Parents tell us their children have seen 'cockroaches coming out of the floors' and toilets 'covered in poo and urine'.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'Schools understand the vital importance of toilets being clean and in good order, work hard to ensure this is the case, and will be dismayed at the findings of this research. 'Many schools are struggling with old and outdated buildings which require a great deal of maintenance because of years of government underfunding, and this may play a role in the perceptions reflected by respondents. 'We urgently need improved investment in upgrading and modernising school buildings.' A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'We're investing in excellence everywhere for every child, which is why this government is dedicated to fixing the foundations by rebuilding crumbling school buildings. 'Despite inheriting a schools estate in disrepair, the government is creating safe learning environments through condition funding and ramping up the School Rebuilding Programme to give children growing up in our country the best start in life. 'We have increased overall capital budgets by over a billion pounds a year on average, the highest since 2010 – showing this government's strong and unwavering commitment to the maintenance and renewal of the education estate.'
