This week has seen the Government’s Education Bill become law implementing a significant number of proposals from the Schools White Paper. This includes the introduction of targeted free early years care for children under compulsory school age and abolishing five quangos.
Other developments have seen the Department for Education write this week to schools across the country to make sure they register children who are entitled to Free School Meals (FSMs), as data shows that between three to five per cent of school children could be missing out on the extra £488 per pupil funding which comes through the Pupil Premium. The Department also announced that new measures will be included in the performance tables that will capture the achievement of pupils covered by the Pupil Premium. From September 2012, the Government will also require schools to publish online information about how they have used the premium, to ensure that parents and others are made aware of the progress and attainment of pupils covered by the premium.
In other news, the Prime Minister has warned of 'coasting' comprehensive schools accusing teachers in affluent shires of complacency.
Meanwhile the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned against changes to the schools funding formula arguing that at least one in six schools will have budget cuts of 10% or more if the government pushes ahead with its funding reforms.