SI Weekly Update
09 September 2024:
OFSTED
Single headline Ofsted grades scrapped in landmark school reform
Government pushes ahead with reform agenda by scrapping single headline Ofsted judgements for schools with immediate effect.
Building a better Ofsted: the response to the Big Listen
Ofsted has published a detailed response to its ‘Big Listen’ consultation, setting out how the inspectorate will reset its relationship with the sectors it inspects and regulates, while continuing to raise standards for children and learners. Ofsted Big Listen: supporting documents
Ofsted Big Listen: The 12 policies schools need to know (schoolsweek.co.uk)
DfE:
Updated statutory attendance guidance
The new statutory attendance guidance has been publsihed, you can read it in full here.
FAO Heads of Sixth Form and SLT Curriculum Leads:
16 to 19 study programmes guidance: 2024 to 2025 academic year
This is non-statutory guidance and is intended to help recipients understand their obligations and duties in relation to the provision of 16 to 19 study programmes in their institution. Further information on 16 to 19 funding is available.
KS2 September checking exercise opens on Monday 9 September
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that the 2024 key stage 2 (KS2) September checking exercise will be open to schools from Monday 9 September to Friday 20 September.
During the checking exercise, schools will be able to check their data for the academic year 2023 to 2024 and, if necessary, submit requests to remove pupils, subject to specified criteria.
To access the checking exercise, you will need a DfE Sign-in account.
You can find more information and guidance on the CYPMD help centre.
Marking and clerical review outcomes for KS2 SATs available on Wednesday 11 September
Marking and clerical review outcomes will be available on the PAG on Wednesday 11 September 2024.
In the ‘Completed activity’ section, schools with review outcomes will find a:
- letter confirming the outcome of their review applications
- notification of changes sheet
- marking review report for each subject, per pupil, where a marking review was requested
In the ‘Available activity’ section, schools will be able to access the reviewed test scripts using the ‘View and download KS2 test results’ form. This will show the review marks for each pupil, including those where pupil results have been amended as a result of a review.
Outcomes of marking and clerical reviews will not be included in the September checking exercise, but they will be reflected in the revised school-level data published in December.
Reception Baseline Assessment
Action: administer the reception baseline assessment
Schools must administer the reception baseline assessment (RBA) to all eligible pupils in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception.
To do so, sign in to the Baseline ePortal (BeP) using your school ID, username and password which your school should have received in August. Schools in multi-academy trusts should each have received separate account details.
All pupils must be uploaded to the system. If it is not appropriate for a pupil to take the assessment, the headteacher must use their account to set the pupil’s status to ‘disapplied’.
More information is available in the 2024 RBA assessment and reporting arrangements. We have also updated the RBA information leaflet for parents.
If you have any questions or did not receive sign-in details for the BeP, please call the RBA helpline on 0330 088 4171.
Action: view and download multiplication tables check results by Friday 27 September
Schools can continue to view and download their MTC results in the ‘View pupil results’ section of the MTC service until Friday 27 September.
After this date, the MTC service will close. It will reopen on Monday 28 April 2025.
A message from the Secretary of State for Education (govdelivery.com)
Keeping children safe in education
The September 2024 version of the keeping children safe in education guidance is now in force, replacing previous versions.
Monitor your school attendance: user guide
Guidance for schools, academy trusts and local authorities using the monitor your school attendance tool.
