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Three things worth knowing this week:

* Teaching and curriculum remains an Ofsted focus. After the first 33 volunteer schools were inspected the results show some early patterns. These include slightly more positive outcomes for inclusion, which is the core of the new framework but slightly less positive outcomes for curriculum and teaching which might be surprising given the input this area in recent years. On the other hand, Paul Ainsworth wonders if perhaps inspectors have not yet fully got to grips with this element of the new framework. However, middle leaders looking for something to focus on might consider that, in spite of all the talk about inclusion, we should not forget curriculum and teaching.

* The NEU is balloting teachers about further strike action at the end of February. Daniel Kebede, the general secretary says that this is because of their perception that education continues to be underfunded. The government has granted a 6.5% pay rise over three years but this has to be funded from existing budgets. What this means is that if schools are to increase salaries they will have to save money elsewhere. In light of previous cuts this will be a challenge for school leaders which will inevitably impact on things like class sizes and access to resources even more than has already happened. At the same time an NAHT survey reported that 65% of headteachers said they were either unlikely or very unlikely to recommend school leadership. This reminds us of the pressures at all levels of the school system and that middle leaders must be very aware of the need to secure their own wellbeing. The image below is one helpful reminder from one school leader.

* 24% of ECTs are making use of AI to plan lessons, compared to 13% of non ECTs (Teacher Tapp). This does not necessarily represent a problem but an evolution and possibly an opportunity. Why do people use AI? Because it is more efficient and represents one way to reduce the burden of planning. Perhaps this is an opportunity for new teachers to help their more experienced colleagues to find new ways of planning. There are risks though, as someone said, ‘the one who does the thinking gets the benefit’. AI can increase efficiency but we need to use it in a way that most benefits learning both for staff and students.

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