Schools which cheat system by entering children for easy exams face crackdown, new Ofsted chief to announce
New Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman will use her first key note speech as chief inspector of schools in England to warn that the situation in some schools is "nothing short of a scandal".
The head of the watchdog will use her address to the Association of School and College Leaders' annual conference to announce a major Ofsted investigation into how schools are ensuring that children receive a broad education.
The announcement follows a warning from Ofsted earlier this month that an increasing number of schools are entering pupils for non-academic qualifications, which aren’t in the best interests of pupils, in order to boost their performance data.
Ms Spielman is expected to tell the conference in Birmingham: "We know that there are some schools that are narrowing the curriculum, using qualifications inappropriately, and moving out pupils who would drag down results.
"There is more to a good education than league tables. Vitally important though a school's examination results are, we must not allow curricula to be driven just by SATs, GCSEs and A-Levels."
Youngest HMC head in England appointed to lead Durham school
Tony Jackson has been appointed headmaster of Barnard Castle School, County Durham, and will lead a fresh phase of development for the school when he takes over in September.
Mr Jackson, who succeeds Alan Stevens, joined Barnard Castle School last year as second master from Radley College, one of the leading public schools for boys in the UK.
At 37, Mr Jackson will be the youngest head of an English independent school in the Headmasters’ Conference, the professional association of heads of the world’s leading independent schools.
The Chair of governors at Barnard Castle School, Alan Fielder, said Mr Jackson was selected from a strong field of candidates in part for his energy, enthusiasm and passion for education, and the school in particular.
http://independentleader.co.uk/youngest-hmc-head-in-england-appointed-to-lead-durham-school/