Samantha Booth
Deputy editor at Schools Week • mainly investigating SEND • Sam is fine • Press Awards specialist journalist of 2025 • @schoolsweek.bsky.social
- Reposted by Samantha BoothExclusive: Schools could be required to record internal exclusions under new guidance that will encourage headteachers to only send pupils home for the most serious cases of poor behaviour and violence schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-coul...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothExclusive: The government appears to lack a clear picture of which schools are defying its expectation that they should operate a 32.5-hour week, after dozens of schools suggested data on their school week was 'inaccurate' schoolsweek.co.uk/dodgy-dfe-da...
- Reposted by Samantha Booth💸 Exclusive: England’s best-paid academy boss has been given another pay rise, taking his salary to at least £530,000 schoolsweek.co.uk/best-paid-ac...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothOfsted has found 'no evidence' to substantiate concerns about political impartiality at a school that postponed the visit of an MP due to planned pro-Palestine protests schoolsweek.co.uk/no-evidence-...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothExclusive: The names of 29 more schools that will become lead schools for the government's attendance and behaviour hubs programme have been revealed schoolsweek.co.uk/attendance-a...
- If true, this is a huge change in appeal rights...
- Amid the Grok scandal and social media ban debate, this talk at BETT couldn’t be more important this morning. Thrilled to be speaking with Everyday Sexism Project founder Laura Bates on the Arena stage
- Reposted by Samantha BoothThe House of Lords has amended the children’s wellbeing and schools bill to include a clause that would force ministers to enact a social media ban for under-16s schoolsweek.co.uk/lords-passes...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothThis joint judgment area has prompted lots of discussion since the first Ofsted report cards were published. At least one school has been downgraded because their attendance was lacking, despite inspectors praising good behaviour. Martyn Oliver says it's something he'll be watching...
- If a pupil is found with a phone at The Fulham Boys School, it is confiscated for six school weeks. It is thought to be one of the strictest restrictions on phone use in the country. Timely feature by @lydiach.bsky.social schoolsweek.co.uk/the-school-t...
- Amid the ministerial churn towards the end of the Conservative government, academies minister Baroness Barran became the consistent face for the sector. I sat down with her to talk about handling the RAAC crisis, her childhood and whether she considers herself particularly political...
- 'We might have been able to do it better, but it was as good as I knew how' Former academies minister Baroness Barran reflects on her response to the RAAC crisis, ministerial churn and being serious on change... schoolsweek.co.uk/baroness-bar...
- Ian Bauckham, Ofqual chief regulator, said the gov's plan to cut the time pupils spend taking GCSE exams by up to 3hours is 'sensible, rational and achievable'. Edu committee MPs are quizzing him this morning. Follow below for key points (story on the detail) schoolsweek.co.uk/ofqual-wont-...
- He didn't believe anything significant was missing from the curriculum and assessment review. 'What I witnessed was a very rigorous, very thorough overview' of curric and quals landscape. It was examined 'critically in an unbiased way using the evidence' - headline reccs 'are broadly sensible'
- Asked about whether it will be fewer exams or shorter exams, Bauckham said it is probably going to be a combination of the two, but probably shorter exams in most cases.
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View full threadIB said they don't believe AI is yet ready to undertake sole marking of students' work. It can be used to quality assure and detected unexpected patterns in marking, but not marking on its own. The main issues are mistakes, 'challengability' and malpractice, he said.
- Reposted by Samantha BoothSince it's starter pack season again, here's some reporters who report on social affairs, poverty, public services etc. Some of them post here more than others go.bsky.app/Hp9iayAat://did:plc:5pkfx6mzhaq7tatkmj77qg4q/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lb5hn7fa6g2i
- This is at one of my local family hubs - a testament to Bedford council, their breastfeeding support groups and children’s centres were a massive crutch on mat leave. My friends in other areas say they don’t have as many so I was very grateful.
- There is a bit of a back story to the one pictured - it’s now a pop up in a church hall after the council changed provision due to cost pressures x.com/samanthajboo...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothThe 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-inspec...
- DfE is rolling this out nationwide - it remains optional for schools and pupils. But only 29 out of nearly 500 invited schools and colleges took part in a regional pilot last year. DfE has also given us further info on how it estimated a £30m saving for the sector (bye bye, photocopying) ⤵️
- Reposted by Samantha BoothExclusive: 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...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothWant to join the team here at @schoolsweek.bsky.social? We're looking for a brilliant reporter. Details below...
- We are looking for a reporter to join team @schoolsweek.bsky.social - here's the qualities that we need ⤵️ Fit the bill? See how to apply here: www.journoresources.org.uk/job/reporter... Any questions, please feel free to drop me or @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social a message
- We are looking for a reporter to join team @schoolsweek.bsky.social - here's the qualities that we need ⤵️ Fit the bill? See how to apply here: www.journoresources.org.uk/job/reporter... Any questions, please feel free to drop me or @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social a message
- Just a note to readers, we are waiting for the government's violence against women and girls strategy to be published in full before covering - a detailed piece on what's new should be on Schools Week later today
- Reposted by Samantha BoothWe'll be saying more about our vision for Schools Week in the final edition of the year this Friday. If you don't already subscribe, please consider doing so. Great journalism is worth paying for schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothHonoured to have been appointed as the next editor of Schools Week, starting in January. It's been a privilege to watch our fantastic newspaper grow in reach and influence since its launch in 2014 I'm also delighted our award-winning chief reporter Samantha Booth will be our deputy editor
- We're excited to name Freddie Whittaker as our next Editor and Samantha Booth as Deputy Editor from Jan 2026! Their leadership and reporting experience will drive Schools Week forward. Got story ideas? They’re listening. #EducationJournalism #SchoolsNews
- I've always been so proud to report for Schools Week, so I'm even more delighted to be able to have a part in editing it. @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social will be an immense editor, his historical knowledge of the education sector is hard to beat and his journalistic integrity is second to none.
- We're excited to name Freddie Whittaker as our next Editor and Samantha Booth as Deputy Editor from Jan 2026! Their leadership and reporting experience will drive Schools Week forward. Got story ideas? They’re listening. #EducationJournalism #SchoolsNews
- Please do get in touch if there's something we should be investigating - news@schoolsweek.co.uk. Next year promises to be a busy one...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothWe're excited to name Freddie Whittaker as our next Editor and Samantha Booth as Deputy Editor from Jan 2026! Their leadership and reporting experience will drive Schools Week forward. Got story ideas? They’re listening. #EducationJournalism #SchoolsNews
- Reposted by Samantha Booth❗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
- Reposted by Samantha BoothBig story from @lydiach.bsky.social - buried in Treasury documents, the government confirms it intends to allocate disadvantage funding to schools based on income data, not free school meals eligibility. It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
- 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-premiu...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothExclusive: 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-premiu...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothPresenting 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...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothBreaking: 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-teac...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothSchools will be 'expected' to use a new government framework for supply teacher agency spending, which will include new caps on the rates companies can charge, ministers have announced schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-expe...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothEducation secretary Bridget Phillipson and DfE permanent secretary Susan Acland-Hood are appearing before the Education Committee. Follow along for live updates as they answer questions from MPs...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothBreaking: Too many children are ‘falling out of step with the expectations of school life’ through absence, making them ‘more likely to cross boundaries, challenge teachers’ and disrupt learning, the head of Ofsted has warned schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-too-m...
- Reposted by Samantha Booth'Missed opportunities' to keep pupils with SEND in school, and 8 more things we learned from Ofsted’s annual report for 2024-25 schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-warns...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothSo the £6bn SEND budget blackhole predicted by the OBR for 2028-29 is a 'matter for the next spending review', Phillipson has told Parliament This is due in 2027, and as set out earlier this year, will review budgets set at the latest SR in June for 28-29 and 29-30 Still, cutting it fine...
- The government will set out how it intends to plug an estimated £6 billion shortfall in SEND funding at the next spending review in 2027, the education secretary has said schoolsweek.co.uk/6bn-send-sho...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothThe government will set out how it intends to plug an estimated £6 billion shortfall in SEND funding at the next spending review in 2027, the education secretary has said schoolsweek.co.uk/6bn-send-sho...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothRevelation of a £20 billon SEND blackhole has sparked a row between the Department for Education and the spending watchdog and upped the stakes on ministers to fix the system before the government absorbs its soaring costs schoolsweek.co.uk/budget-2025-...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothCouncils get allocated education funding via the DfE's Dedicated Schools Grant. This includes funding for SEND provision that educates and trains children and young people Some is delegated directly to schools & academies to spend, some goes via to LAs to allocate for high-needs provision
- Reposted by Samantha BoothFinally got to the bottom of a confusing set of budget documents and OBR forecasts - Once override ends in 2028, govt takes on burden of rising SEND costs - OBR estimates £6.3bn pressure in year 1 - Govt has set out no plans to meet it, nor on whether existing deficits (to hit £14bn) will be wiped
- No mention that I heard in Reeves' speech on this v. big deal - so we are waiting for the budget docs to confirm the situation
- Reposted by Samantha BoothBreaking: Leaked OBR document states government will fund full cost of SEND provision from within central government departmental spending from 2028 - not clear if this means wiping the existing council deficits
- Reposted by Samantha Booth❗A cash-strapped council facing a £183 million SEND black hole is warning ministers the deficit is 'forcing' them to make 'impossible financial decisions' with 'devastating consequences', ahead of tomorrow’s budget schoolsweek.co.uk/council-faci...
- ICYMI: A council cited as a 'success' story of the government’s controversial £1 billion SEND spending bailout scheme for mostly clearing its deficit is facing a £4.5 million black hole schoolsweek.co.uk/send-safety-...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothA social media post by the Department for Education lauding its achievements appears to have gone viral for the wrong reasons, as sector leaders slammed it as 'smug' and 'tone deaf' schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-social-m...
- This post from DfE is going down like a sack of spuds. Many teachers replying with their experience from the frontline right now…
- A particularly poignant reply. What a wild way for DfE to build up trust with the sector
- Interesting analysis by NFER today looking at the characteristics of 'high-SEND' schools...
- ❗Some schools are at 'breaking point' amid a widening gap between the schools with the most and fewest numbers of pupils with education, health and care plans, research warns schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-at-b...
- A big contributor to SEND rates is how schools identify additional needs - something the EPI uncovered in a landmark 2021 study. I also dug into it in 2023, because the raw EHCP and SEN figures can be misleading without context schoolsweek.co.uk/send-special... epi.org.uk/publications...
- Edu committee chair @helenhayes.bsky.social has written to ed sec @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social asking for more info on the SEND reforms "co-creation" process. ⤵️ Announcing the delay last month, BP decided to have a "further period of co-creation" to test proposals w parents, educators, experts.
- Hayes' full letter is here: committees.parliament.uk/publications...
- Reposted by Samantha Booth🤖 Ministers will use AI to set minimum attendance targets for every school in England Targets will not be published, or be given to Ofsted - but failure to improve will result in a referral to RISE teams schoolsweek.co.uk/ai-to-set-mi...
- Reposted by Samantha Booth📋Ofsted's new education inspections have launched this week, and I'm keen to find out what leaders and teachers make of them. If your school's inspected this week or next and you're up for sharing your thoughts, anonymously or otherwise, please do get in touch! Email in bio.
- Sir Alan Carr
- Exclusive: Ofqual will not publish detailed modelling that informed a key curriculum review policy to reduce the time pupils spend taking GCSE exams by around three hours schoolsweek.co.uk/ofqual-wont-...
- Reposted by Samantha Booth📢 Join us on Friday for Under the CAR Bonnet - a free Schools Week webinar on the curriculum and assessment review We'll interview review chair Professor Becky Francis to get behind the headlines of her landmark report, followed by audience Q&A Sign up: events.zoom.us/ev/AofhjYOxI...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothBreaking: The government is proposing sweeping reforms to progress 8, the main league table measure for secondary schools, in a bid to boost arts take-up – and will ditch the EBacc from this academic year schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-ignores-francis…
- Reposted by Samantha BoothThe government will introduce a new national curriculum from 2028, scrap the EBacc league table measure, make citizenship compulsory in primary schools and force all secondaries to offer triple science GCSE schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curriculum-to-b…
- Reposted by Samantha Booth🚨The curriculum review is out! First: Government commits to a new national curriculum in 2028. Will also replace year 6 writing test, new oracy framework, financial literacy in primary Our news story on the government's response to the key review findings: (1/4) schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curricul...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothProfessor Becky Francis has published her final curriculum and assessment review report. She spoke to Schools Week about some of its key recommendations and the thinking behind them schoolsweek.co.uk/interview-becky-fra…
- Reposted by Samantha BoothBreaking: Teacher pay should rise by 6.5 per cent over the next three years, government has said in its evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-suggests-6-5-te…
- Reposted by Samantha Booth[This post could not be retrieved]
- Reposted by Samantha BoothDoes the post-16 white paper have the right answers, or even the right questions? @nickhillman.bsky.social and I join @tom-richmond.com to chew over what it has to say on quality, collaboration and specialisation in the latest episode of Inside Your Ed insideyoured.buzzsprout.com/1874905/epis...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothGovernment says rates of severe absence won't be tackled 'overnight' as new data shows more increases for disadvantaged pupils schoolsweek.co.uk/severe-absen...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothWe've tried to get some clarity on all this from the Department for Education - but they've mostly ignored our questions However I haven't noticed much difference in the education world. Lots of DfE people still speaking at events It also apparently doesn't affect bodies like Ofsted, Ofqual etc
- There's pros and cons to this, I think - good to take more time to listen, as no one wants half-baked reforms. But I imagine those who have been living through the system for years will be sick of delays & getting flashbacks to previous gov. It took 1,274 days for their green paper to be published
- Breaking: The schools white paper will be delayed until 'early in the new year', government has announced today, as ministers take more time to draw up controversial SEND reforms schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-whit...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothBreaking: The schools white paper will be delayed until 'early in the new year', government has announced today, as ministers take more time to draw up controversial SEND reforms schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-whit...
- Reposted by Samantha Booth📈 Grammar schools are back dominating the top of GCSE league tables after the progress 8 performance measure was put on pause for two years
- Reposted by Samantha Booth⌛ The government will provide an update on paused free school projects 'later this year', ministers have said Here's what we learned after ministers took questions from MPs yesterday 🔽
- Reposted by Samantha BoothYesterday's Covid Inquiry revealed former education secretary Gavin Williamson told the Prime Minister he was 'f****d off' over decisions made without him during the pandemic schoolsweek.co.uk/williamson-t...
- I'm officially back from nine months of maternity leave this week - what a lesson in patience, resilience and working on exhaustion that was and continues to be! It'd be great to catch up, so please do drop me a message if you want to chat.
- Also, not to sound ridiculous and vain, but I had an influx of followers at the start of maternity leave (when Bluesky appears to have taken off), so please do drop me a message if I missed you and I'll follow back!
- On Saturday we’ll be taking part in the Ribbon Run in memory of our nephew Harry. He was sadly too poorly to make it earthside in 2018 and the @sandscharity.bsky.social was a huge support. We’d be so grateful as a family if you’re able to donate fundraising.sands.org.uk/fundraisers/...
- Reposted by Samantha BoothFollowing Trump's comments blaming expectant mothers who take Tylenol for autism in their children, Lucy Jones asks if epidurals and caesareans will be next. Read more: bit.ly/4nIKxCA
