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ICYMI: @Ofstednews annual report kept the @tes news team busy yesterday! The truncated version:
1. First we had a warning about "poor phonics teaching’". Schools were urged not to "explain'" poor results by pointing to pupils' backgrounds, @tweetsbyames reported https://www.tes.com/news/pupils-lost-legacy-poor-phonics-teaching
2. Then we had @amanda_spielman saying schools were still narrowing the curriculum and in some cases encouraging students onto “high grade” courses that could “harm” their chances. These findings were pre-Covid. https://www.tes.com/news/ofsted-schools-pushing-exams-risk-student-harm
3. School closures during the first lockdown had a "dramatic impact" on the number of child protection referrals, it was reported. A worrying finding which clearly needs to be considered in the debate about rotas or ending term early. https://www.tes.com/news/covid-vulnerable-suffered-out-sight-teachers
4. We knew school inspections were due to restart in the new year, but @amanda_spielman revealed yesterday that she’s “not expecting” grades to be issued. Hooray? https://www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-schools-ofsted-not-expecting-graded-inspections-next-month
5. In the meantime, Ofsted’s “visits” continue - and the watchdog's clarified that schools in any of the tiers coming into force today can request a deferral. https://www.tes.com/news/how-ofsted-will-defer-visits-covid-hit-schools
6. Woke campaigners are trying to 'commandeer’ the school curriculum, according to @amanda_spielman, citing environmental activists and anti-racism campaigns. https://www.tes.com/news/warning-over-quasi-religious-teaching-climate To what extent is this influencing teachers?
7. A nice exclusive by @JohnGRoberts to round things off: Ofsted inspections are set to assess schools’ remote learning provision when full inspections resume. This hasn’t gone down well with teachers on social media so far: https://www.tes.com/news/exclusive-ofsted-inspections-assess-remote-learning
