Jack Dyson
@jackydys.bsky.social
Senior reporter @schoolsweek.bsky.social. Email: [email protected]
Reposted by Jack Dyson
🏫 When Dr Jenny Blunden took charge at her Cornish trust, its three schools were 'broken'
But in a fight against low aspirations, the CEO has added successful schools and continues to battle for them as budgets remain squeezed
Read our profile of her here 🔽
schoolsweek.co.uk/dr-jenny-blu...
But in a fight against low aspirations, the CEO has added successful schools and continues to battle for them as budgets remain squeezed
Read our profile of her here 🔽
schoolsweek.co.uk/dr-jenny-blu...
Dr Jenny Blunden, CEO, Truro and Penwith Academy Trust
Fighting low aspirations for children in Cornwall
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 10:33 AM
🏫 When Dr Jenny Blunden took charge at her Cornish trust, its three schools were 'broken'
But in a fight against low aspirations, the CEO has added successful schools and continues to battle for them as budgets remain squeezed
Read our profile of her here 🔽
schoolsweek.co.uk/dr-jenny-blu...
But in a fight against low aspirations, the CEO has added successful schools and continues to battle for them as budgets remain squeezed
Read our profile of her here 🔽
schoolsweek.co.uk/dr-jenny-blu...
Exclusive: A 'turnaround' trust once criticised for controversial behaviour policies has revealed plans to boost its academies’ 'emotional intelligence'
schoolsweek.co.uk/suspensions-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/suspensions-...
Suspensions fall as trust embraces ‘emotional intelligence’
Influential turnaround MAT criticised for high suspensions bidding to cut exclusions and 'keep kids in school'
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Exclusive: A 'turnaround' trust once criticised for controversial behaviour policies has revealed plans to boost its academies’ 'emotional intelligence'
schoolsweek.co.uk/suspensions-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/suspensions-...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
📝 Exclusive: A government consultation on the broadening of its RISE school improvement teams’ remit has been delayed into this term
schoolsweek.co.uk/rise-consult...
schoolsweek.co.uk/rise-consult...
RISE consultation pushed back to this term
Government to begin 'informal engagement' over schools with low attainment
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 12:33 PM
📝 Exclusive: A government consultation on the broadening of its RISE school improvement teams’ remit has been delayed into this term
schoolsweek.co.uk/rise-consult...
schoolsweek.co.uk/rise-consult...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
🔢 Exclusive: The government wants school management information systems (MIS) providers to help it 'harness the potential' of the real-time data they collect to inform policy decisions
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-wants-to...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-wants-to...
DfE wants to scrape real-time MIS data from schools
Department calls for tech companies to take part in trials to feed it data to inform policy
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 10:04 AM
🔢 Exclusive: The government wants school management information systems (MIS) providers to help it 'harness the potential' of the real-time data they collect to inform policy decisions
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-wants-to...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-wants-to...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
England’s biggest exam board has scrubbed the names of two photographers from one of its GCSE assessments over concerns their websites contain images that 'may not be appropriate' for students
schoolsweek.co.uk/photographer...
schoolsweek.co.uk/photographer...
Artists removed from GCSE assessment over website images
AQA deletes photographers' names from exam after images 'not appropriate for learners' found on their websites
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 5:39 PM
England’s biggest exam board has scrubbed the names of two photographers from one of its GCSE assessments over concerns their websites contain images that 'may not be appropriate' for students
schoolsweek.co.uk/photographer...
schoolsweek.co.uk/photographer...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
🔢 Exclusive: Ministers are set to publish data on the effectiveness of new RISE school improvement teams in the spring – but they won’t out individual advisers for poor performance
Impact of RISE teams to be published this year
But government will publish individual adviser objectives amid data protection concerns
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:11 AM
🔢 Exclusive: Ministers are set to publish data on the effectiveness of new RISE school improvement teams in the spring – but they won’t out individual advisers for poor performance
Reposted by Jack Dyson
❌ A trouble-hit academy trust has admitted it did not conduct internal financial checks as its deficit swelled to more than £8 million and it received another government loan to keep it afloat
schoolsweek.co.uk/no-internal-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/no-internal-...
Arthur Terry academy trust did no internal audit
The Arthur Terry Learning Partnership did not conduct an internal audit last year despite deficits swelling to more than £8 million
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 5:36 PM
❌ A trouble-hit academy trust has admitted it did not conduct internal financial checks as its deficit swelled to more than £8 million and it received another government loan to keep it afloat
schoolsweek.co.uk/no-internal-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/no-internal-...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Exclusive: One of England’s biggest academy trusts is set to give up two special schools after deciding they would be better off in a specialist chain
schoolsweek.co.uk/lift-academy...
schoolsweek.co.uk/lift-academy...
Lift set to hand over two special schools
The 58-school MAT believes both academies will be 'best supported within a specialist trust'
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 5, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Exclusive: One of England’s biggest academy trusts is set to give up two special schools after deciding they would be better off in a specialist chain
schoolsweek.co.uk/lift-academy...
schoolsweek.co.uk/lift-academy...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
👨🏫 When Andrew Truby took leadership of a Catholic trust, he was on his own and had no schools
He reveals how he built the 'home for orphans’ and secured its future, during a career that has been characterised by seizing opportunities... 🔽
schoolsweek.co.uk/andrew-truby...
He reveals how he built the 'home for orphans’ and secured its future, during a career that has been characterised by seizing opportunities... 🔽
schoolsweek.co.uk/andrew-truby...
Putting out the welcome MAT
Catholic academy trust CEO Andrew Truby reveals how he built the 'home for orphan schools’
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 9:08 AM
👨🏫 When Andrew Truby took leadership of a Catholic trust, he was on his own and had no schools
He reveals how he built the 'home for orphans’ and secured its future, during a career that has been characterised by seizing opportunities... 🔽
schoolsweek.co.uk/andrew-truby...
He reveals how he built the 'home for orphans’ and secured its future, during a career that has been characterised by seizing opportunities... 🔽
schoolsweek.co.uk/andrew-truby...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Exclusive: School governing boards are urging Ofsted to ensure cash-strapped leaders are using SEND funding for children and not to fill other budgetary holes
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-shoul...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-shoul...
Ofsted should check SEND funding not plugging budget holes
SEND system on a 'trajectory toward complete breakdown' and 'incremental change will not suffice', warns NGA
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Exclusive: School governing boards are urging Ofsted to ensure cash-strapped leaders are using SEND funding for children and not to fill other budgetary holes
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-shoul...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-shoul...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
❗The success of one of the highest-performing schools in the country has been 'achieved at too high a cost for some pupils', a safeguarding investigation has found
schoolsweek.co.uk/mossbourne-s...
schoolsweek.co.uk/mossbourne-s...
Top academy's success 'at too high a cost' to some pupils
Review details 'isolating, shaming' practices at Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
❗The success of one of the highest-performing schools in the country has been 'achieved at too high a cost for some pupils', a safeguarding investigation has found
schoolsweek.co.uk/mossbourne-s...
schoolsweek.co.uk/mossbourne-s...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Presenting edition 413 of Schools Week
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
December 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Presenting edition 413 of Schools Week
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
Some worrying findings here:
📈 71% rise in council-run schools in deficit in three years
❗️48 schools over £1m in the red
📝Deficit schools charged up to £340k in 'interest'
📈 71% rise in council-run schools in deficit in three years
❗️48 schools over £1m in the red
📝Deficit schools charged up to £340k in 'interest'
💸 Investigation: Dozens of council-run schools have deficits of over £1 million, shock figures reveal, with some even charged six-figure sums in 'interest' by councils for racking up the losses
The council schools with million pound budget deficits
Some maintained deficits dwarf those of multi academy trusts, and even face interest payments
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Some worrying findings here:
📈 71% rise in council-run schools in deficit in three years
❗️48 schools over £1m in the red
📝Deficit schools charged up to £340k in 'interest'
📈 71% rise in council-run schools in deficit in three years
❗️48 schools over £1m in the red
📝Deficit schools charged up to £340k in 'interest'
Amid the success, there are rumblings of discontent over admissions and inclusion on the Isle of Sheppey following one of England's biggest school restructures
We look in depth at all that's happened… 👇
We look in depth at all that's happened… 👇
📈 Nearly 1,300 pupils used to set off on the 'daily' exodus out of the Isle of Sheppey
But after one of the country’s biggest school restructures in recent years, pupils are now battling for a place
Schools Week investigates 🔽
But after one of the country’s biggest school restructures in recent years, pupils are now battling for a place
Schools Week investigates 🔽
Exodus reversed: How pupils are coming back to Sheppey
Teachers deemed the school too dangerous. Now pupils are flooding back, but with rumblings of discontent
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Amid the success, there are rumblings of discontent over admissions and inclusion on the Isle of Sheppey following one of England's biggest school restructures
We look in depth at all that's happened… 👇
We look in depth at all that's happened… 👇
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Exclusive: A pioneering three-school trust in London plans to join one of England’s biggest MATs in the latest high-profile academy merger
schoolsweek.co.uk/big-educatio...
schoolsweek.co.uk/big-educatio...
Big Education trust consults on merging with Oasis
Pioneering London trust plans merger with one of country's biggest MATs. Their leaders explain more ...
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Exclusive: A pioneering three-school trust in London plans to join one of England’s biggest MATs in the latest high-profile academy merger
schoolsweek.co.uk/big-educatio...
schoolsweek.co.uk/big-educatio...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
💸 A school has been refused permission to cut its intake by a quarter despite estimates of a 'catastrophic' £2 million deficit after the local authority opposed the plans
School’s intake cut blocked despite £2m deficit fear
Watchdog rejects plan despite admitting the change could help the academy 'attract more students'
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
💸 A school has been refused permission to cut its intake by a quarter despite estimates of a 'catastrophic' £2 million deficit after the local authority opposed the plans
Just days after government's big announcement of their launch, new AI-generated attendance reports have been suspended... 😬
❌ Exclusive: AI-driven reports that government said would help bring attendance 'back to – and beyond – pre-pandemic levels' have been suspended just days after they were launched
This comes after leaders noticed inaccuracies in the data provided...
schoolsweek.co.uk/embarrassing...
This comes after leaders noticed inaccuracies in the data provided...
schoolsweek.co.uk/embarrassing...
AI attendance reports suspended just days after launch
Government had said the reports would help bring attendance 'back to - and beyond - pre-pandemic levels'
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Just days after government's big announcement of their launch, new AI-generated attendance reports have been suspended... 😬
👀 Officials want to reduce the 'legal risks' schools face when buying MIS
This follows a string of costly court fights, involving local authorities and some of England's biggest MATs...
This follows a string of costly court fights, involving local authorities and some of England's biggest MATs...
Exclusive: The government is bidding to shield schools from the £200 million management information system (MIS) turf war by drawing up a new framework through which leaders can purchase the edtech
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-looks-to...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-looks-to...
DfE looks to reduce MIS ‘legal risk’ amid £200m turf war
Officials have launched a consultation on how they can simplify the process of buying the software
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 2:28 PM
👀 Officials want to reduce the 'legal risks' schools face when buying MIS
This follows a string of costly court fights, involving local authorities and some of England's biggest MATs...
This follows a string of costly court fights, involving local authorities and some of England's biggest MATs...
We revealed last year how almost £200m had been handed to trusts through this secret fund
There was no published guidance explaining what it was or who could access the money
But now DfE seems to have finally responded to calls for greater transparency...
There was no published guidance explaining what it was or who could access the money
But now DfE seems to have finally responded to calls for greater transparency...
The government has finally published guidance on a previously secretive capital fund for academy trusts that has shelled out tens of millions
Here's what schools need to know...
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/strategic-school-improvement-capital-budget-what-schools-need-to-know/
Here's what schools need to know...
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/strategic-school-improvement-capital-budget-what-schools-need-to-know/
Revealed: DfE finally explains shady academy capital fund
DfE finally publishes guidance on shady academy fund that has paid out tens of millions over the past decade
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 9:54 AM
We revealed last year how almost £200m had been handed to trusts through this secret fund
There was no published guidance explaining what it was or who could access the money
But now DfE seems to have finally responded to calls for greater transparency...
There was no published guidance explaining what it was or who could access the money
But now DfE seems to have finally responded to calls for greater transparency...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
👔 Schools must 'confirm as soon as possible' and consider legal advice on any uniform changes needed for a new cap on branded items, with parents able to escalate any disputes to government
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-unifo...
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-unifo...
School uniform: New rules to meet Labour's cap revealed
Guidance tells schools to confirm changes ASAP, consider legal advice and lets parents complain to government
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM
👔 Schools must 'confirm as soon as possible' and consider legal advice on any uniform changes needed for a new cap on branded items, with parents able to escalate any disputes to government
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-unifo...
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-unifo...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
💸 One in five council-run primaries could be plunged into deficit as the falling rolls crisis deepens, with 20 per cent of teachers already laid off in the worst-hit areas
1 in 5 teachers laid off in worst-hit falling roll areas
A fifth of maintained primaries could also fall into deficit, new research reveals
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 10:17 AM
💸 One in five council-run primaries could be plunged into deficit as the falling rolls crisis deepens, with 20 per cent of teachers already laid off in the worst-hit areas
❗️Seventy-five trusts – one with a deficit of almost £6 million – raised concerns about their ability to continue operating in 2023-24, more than double the year before
Our investigation ⬇️
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-scho...
Our investigation ⬇️
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-scho...
More standalone schools on the brink as deficits grow
Seventy-five trusts raised concerns about their ability to continue operating in 2023-24
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 9:46 AM
❗️Seventy-five trusts – one with a deficit of almost £6 million – raised concerns about their ability to continue operating in 2023-24, more than double the year before
Our investigation ⬇️
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-scho...
Our investigation ⬇️
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-scho...
Reposted by Jack Dyson
Exclusive: Reform UK-run Kent council plans to raid £2 million from schools’ already-squeezed budgets to pay for vital services it can no longer afford, sparking fears of more classroom cuts
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
Reform-run Kent council plans £2m school budget raid
Leaders say proposals fly in face of pre-election pledges to identify efficiencies from 'DOGE' unit
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Exclusive: Reform UK-run Kent council plans to raid £2 million from schools’ already-squeezed budgets to pay for vital services it can no longer afford, sparking fears of more classroom cuts
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
schoolsweek.co.uk/reform-run-k...
This year, SATs moderators will be tested on questions written by AI, rather than actual children’s work
The pilot has been launched amid a government push to ‘harness the power of AI technology across the sector’
Our exclusive👇
The pilot has been launched amid a government push to ‘harness the power of AI technology across the sector’
Our exclusive👇
Exclusive: Standardisation tests for SATs moderators will include questions written by artificial intelligence under a new government trial to cut costs and school workload
schoolsweek.co.uk/ai-questions...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ai-questions...
AI questions to be trialled in SATs moderator tests
Government launches trial in bid to cut costs and school workload, amid push to 'harness the power of AI'
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 6, 2025 at 9:34 AM
This year, SATs moderators will be tested on questions written by AI, rather than actual children’s work
The pilot has been launched amid a government push to ‘harness the power of AI technology across the sector’
Our exclusive👇
The pilot has been launched amid a government push to ‘harness the power of AI technology across the sector’
Our exclusive👇
Reposted by Jack Dyson
💸 An academy trust broke rules after paying nearly £5,000 in 'consultancy services' to the mother of its CEO, a government investigation has found
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-trus...
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-trus...
Trust broke rules over payments to CEO's mum
Government probe finds trust breached rules over consultancy payments and £24k on training courses
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
💸 An academy trust broke rules after paying nearly £5,000 in 'consultancy services' to the mother of its CEO, a government investigation has found
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-trus...
schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-trus...