Senior reporter @SchoolsWeek with a focus on Ofsted and the teacher workforce | Email lydia@schoolsweek.co.uk | Also on Bluesky @lydiach.bsky.social
Joined November 2017
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Teacher and support staff members of @NEUnion have said they are prepared to strike over the prospect of an unfunded pay rise.
Indicative ballots show 90.5% of teacher and 86.1% of support staff members are prepared to take industrial action over pay, funding and workload
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Turnout was 48.6 per cent for teacher NEU members, and 55.5 per cent of support staff members.
NEU's national executive will meet next month to determine next steps
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A new 'independent advisory group' set up by @NAHTnews is to scrutinise the effect new Ofsted inspections have on school leader wellbeing.
Ofsted has agreed to sit on the panel, which follows concerns new inspections place extra pressure on leaders
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-pla…
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'All teaching staff' in England will be eligible for SEND training as part of a major new development package, government has announced
schoolsweek.co.uk/new-200m-s…
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Ofsted's published the first of its new 'report cards', for schools that volunteered to be the first inspected under its new framework.
Grades are likely higher than usual, given these are volunteers, but it gives an early look at what the new system holds...
Jan 12
Leaders have shared their views on the new inspection regime after Ofsted published its first full report cards, for schools that volunteered for inspections under its new framework
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-pub…
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks retweeted
Jan 8
The government looks set to hand itself sweeping powers to close MATs based on trust-level education failures alone, once new Ofsted trust inspections are introduced
Here's everything you need to know...
schoolsweek.co.uk/trust-insp…
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks retweeted
Jan 7
Breaking: New Ofsted inspections of multi-academy trusts could begin as early as 2027, it has emerged
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-mat…
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks retweeted
24 Dec 2025
We are looking for a reporter to join team
@schoolsweek - here's the qualities that we need ⤵️
Fit the bill? See how to apply here: journoresources.org.uk/job/r…
Any questions, please feel free to drop me or @FCDWhittaker a message
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22 Dec 2025
Ofsted's electronic evidence-gathering system has been hit with further technical problems - meaning inspectors adjusting to the new framework will have to follow 'alternative processes' when inspections resume in January
22 Dec 2025
Ofsted has enacted a 'contingency plan' to help inspectors record notes when inspections resume in January, after more 'technical problems' with its electronic evidence-gathering system
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-ena…
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks retweeted
15 Dec 2025
Breaking: Exam board Pearson has been fined £2 million by Ofqual for 'serious' rule breaches which affected tens of thousands of students taking language qualifications
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofqual-fin…
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8 Dec 2025
The government has revealed it will use family incomes - rather than free school meal eligibility - to decide how much pupil premium funding schools get as part of a long-term shake-up
8 Dec 2025
Exclusive: Family income data will replace free school meals eligibility as the trigger for pupil premium and other deprivation funding for schools, the government has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-prem…
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4 Dec 2025
Teacher trainee numbers are up 11% on last year, showing promising signs for recruitment as the gov aims to fulfil its pledge of boosting the workforce by 6,500 teachers.
Secondary has again under-recruited though, hitting 88% of its target – despite that target being cut by 19%
4 Dec 2025
Breaking: Trainee teacher numbers have grown by 11 per cent this year, with government over-recruiting would-be primary teachers but still missing its target for secondary
schoolsweek.co.uk/trainee-te…
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks retweeted
29 Nov 2025
We need to right this wrong
Business Leaders play a critical role in the strategic and operational success of schools and trusts. Too few are remunerated on a salary that aligns with the senior responsibilities they exercise.
29 Nov 2025
Ministers have been urged by unions to align school business leaders’ pay with that of other leaders, as analysis shows their salaries have stagnated
schoolsweek.co.uk/unions-cal…
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks retweeted
26 Nov 2025
Ofsted has announced routine inspections of NPQ providers are being paused until next academic year, while the government reviews the qualifications
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-pau…
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks retweeted
20 Nov 2025
Ofsted’s deputy chief inspector Matthew Coffey has announced he will retire next month after nearly three decades in education inspection
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-dep…
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21 Nov 2025
School leaders say new Ofsted inspections are more collaborative and transparent, but 'far more rigorous' - and have expressed concerns over pressure on staff.
Grateful to leaders who shared their thoughts, having volunteered to be among the first to undergo new inspections
21 Nov 2025
Exclusive: School leaders who volunteered for new Ofsted inspections said they were much more collaborative, but warned about the toll on staff of the 'far more rigorous' checks
schoolsweek.co.uk/more-colla…
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks retweeted
21 Nov 2025
Exclusive: The firm overseeing England’s biggest school PFI contract is planning to 'go into liquidation' with millions of pounds worth of building repairs work still outstanding
schoolsweek.co.uk/pfi-firm-i…
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks retweeted
19 Nov 2025
'We've listened to schools about what works and what needs changing, including funding rates,' says @oliviabaileymp
'That's why we're increasing the per child funding rate, so schools can offer a genuine variety of healthy breakfast options'
schoolsweek.co.uk/weve-liste…
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks retweeted
20 Nov 2025
Leaders recruited to the government’s RISE improvement programme have faced 'hostility' and resistance from the schools they are trying to turn around, an adviser said
schoolsweek.co.uk/rise-advis…
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20 Nov 2025
Ofsted previously said new state school inspections would begin 'on or after December 1' depending on how many schools put themselves forward for voluntary inspections, which are taking place first. They've now confirmed routine inspections will start on Dec 1
20 Nov 2025
Ofsted has confirmed routine inspections under its new 'report card' framework will be beginning at state schools on December 1
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-con…
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