Bill Watkin at SSAT NC15 – Making sense of change
At SSATNC15, Bill Watkin, SSAT’s director of policy and public affairs, gave an overview of government changes in education and some of their implications.
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SFCA announce new chief executive
SSAT’s Bill Watkin will take up a new appointment as Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association.
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A period of calm and stability… and the Ebacc
Bill Watkin explores the implications of proposed cuts to non-Ebacc subjects.
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A period of calm and stability – latest update
Bill Watkin considers the latest termly email from the Secretary of State and the ongoing changes in education.
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What’s to do about transition?
Nicky Morgan’s recent announcement on assessment in primary schools confirms there’s a problem with transition between phases. Bill Watkin explores.
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The Ebacc: a consultation or Hobson’s Choice?
On Tuesday, the government launched the long awaited consultation on the implementation of the Ebacc. Bill Watkin highlights the key questions posed.
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Raising standards or raising fears?
Bill Watkin responds to a recent New Schools Network report on the teaching of the three Rs in primary schools.
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Caught between a rock and a hard place…
In a fourth blog about the ‘Ebacc for all’ issue, Bill Watkin suggests that there has been a slight shift in the government’s approach.
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A period of calm and stability?
Bill Watkin on the most significant changes to the education system in 2015-16.
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The Ebacc is not suitable for all
Operational Director Bill Watkin reports his findings from a recent meeting at the DfE regarding the Ebacc for all issue.
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A period of calm and stability . . . . . . and another change in the rules
Bill Watkin explores the issues surrounding whether or not legacy GCSEs can be counted in performance tables once the new GCSEs are in place.
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The English Baccalaureate and Progress 8. All clear now?
Bill Watkin explores the changes to secondary school accountability measures and highlights key developments regarding the Ebacc and progress 8.
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Can today’s sponsored academies hope to emulate the achievements of the early pioneers, the first academies?
Can a new wave of Sponsored Academies emulate the success of the original Academies? SSAT Operational Director Bill Watkin investigates.
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Reformed GCSEs and A Levels – an overview
SSAT Operational Director, Bill Watkin, gives an overview of the reformed GCSEs and A-levels to be taught in school in September 2015.
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How should we measure primary schools?
SSAT’s Bill Watkin explores how primary school measures are changing and why and how we should review what is measured.
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How can the school system better protect young people’s mental health?
Second in a series of three articles presenting highlights from discussions and debates hosted by SSAT relating to educational reform and policy-making.
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Schools’ role in young people’s mental health – understanding, acceptance and inclusion
SSAT relationship manager Matt Smitheman reflects on a recent visit to High Arcal School.
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Schools for human flourishing – the whole child is the whole point
Schools for human flourishing published. An SSAT and Woodard Schools publication.
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SSAT’s 10 most popular blogs of January 2016
A roundup of our most popular blogs of January 2016. Featuring SSAT educationalists, teachers and other guest bloggers.
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Responses to EBacc consultation – round-up
We pick out a number of responses to the DfE’s consultation on the proposed EBacc measures.
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EBacc for all? The findings from SSAT’s national survey of school leaders, June 2015: a synopsis
A report on the findings from SSAT’s national survey of school leaders in response to the latest eBacc developments.
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SSAT’s national survey of school leaders
Bill Watkin, Operational Director SSAT, writes… Following the announcement by Nick Gibb, minister of state for school reform, on 11 June, that the government was committed to honouring its manifesto pledge to require pupils to study the EBacc, SSAT, the
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Re-sit SATs in Y7… why just the re-sits?
Bill Watkin, Operational Director SSAT, writes… The context The government has confirmed that pupils who do not pass the KS2 SATs at the end of primary schooling will have to re-sit them in the first year of secondary school. What
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Establishing a new school and getting it right from the start
Establishing a new school and getting it right from the start. A collection of essays designed to help those considering starting a new school, by SSAT & the Woodard family of schools.
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SSAT Regional Evening Forum: Policy Update – East Midlands
SSAT schools in every region are invited to attend our expert policy updates sessions, free of charge. SSAT is constantly distilling the key points of new policies as we move through this time of seismic change. Make sure you’re fully
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SSAT Regional Evening Forum: Policy Update – North West
SSAT’s brand new series of member-only evening seminars that keep you updated with the latest policy changes.
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GCSE Results 2014: Is there a level playing field?
Bill Watkin, Operational Director SSAT, writes… SSAT extends warmest congratulations to all schools, teachers and students for their outstanding work in achieving examination successes this summer. Alongside the rigour agenda on which government changes have concentrated, schools continue to get
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Reform report
SSAT’s first survey into the impact and effectiveness of academisation, Plan A+, was carried out between December 2011 and February 2012. Since that time, the educational landscape has changed drastically; the pace, scope and scale of change in education over
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Confirmed. The new orthodoxy at Ofsted is that there is no orthodoxy.
Bill Watkin, Operational Director SSAT, writes… The latest guidelines for inspectors, published in the last few days, reassert the principle that there is not just one way of doing things right in the classroom. Anything goes, as long as it works.
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School leaders see the value in early entry
Bill Watkin, SSAT Operational Director, writes… The announcement by the Secretary of State on Sunday has reignited the debate about early and multiple exam entry strategies and the accountability framework. Although the consultation about school accountability closed in May, the
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Do academies really increase the divisions between the rich and the poor?
Bill Watkin, SSAT Operational Director, writes… So academies “increase divisions between the rich and the poor”, do they?! Today’s attention-grabbing headline on the front page of The Independent is in stark contrast with SSAT’s earlier research about the effectiveness of
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GCSEs 2013: an emerging picture
Please share your insights and perspectives at gcse@ssatuk.co.uk Bill Watkin, SSAT Operational Director, writes… Unlike last year, when by midday on ‘Exams Wednesday’ dozens of headteachers and principals had come together with an almost identical experience, the picture this week appears
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Performance management and performance-related pay
Bill Watkin, SSAT Operational Director, writes… School leaders are now – if they have not already completed the exercise – developing their strategies for the introduction of a new pay policy. They are considering how they might gather evidence of
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A period ‘o calm ‘n stability… ‘n th’ Ebacc
An exploration ‘o th’ implications ‘o proposed cuts to non-Ebacc subjects.
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SSAT National Conference 2015 – day two
How time flies – the SSAT National Conference 2015 has come to a close. We’ve picked out the very best bits from day two of #SSATNC15 – giving you an insight into an incredible day. Protecting children’s mental health –
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