Meridian Education News

Our Social Affairs correspondent, Christine Alsford, has been finding out more about the Phonics tests that begin in schools this week - and the debate surrounding this approach to reading.

• UK

All this week teachers will be screening children in Year 1 to find out how well they're learning to read. The "Phonics Screening Check" confronts children with a mixture of 20 real words and 20 more totally made up ones or nonsense words.

Pupils have to read them all - regardless of the fact they don't make any sense - and read 32 of them correctly in order to achieve a pass. Letters are sent home to parents explaining whether or not children pass - and if they don't they have to resit later.

So is the screening a good idea? When the screening check was introduced last year four in ten pupils failed to reach the expected standard.

• UK

A group of students from Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury is to restore an ancient radio telescope and use it to study the sun.

David Johns reports, talking to John Batchelor from the University of Kent, students Theodorakis Dimitrios & James Hylands, plus scientist Dr Geoff Macdonald and teacher Becky Parker

• Education
• canterbury
• telescope

HM Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw from Ofsted says that inspectors chose to focus on the Isle of Wight because of concerns raised by teachers that their local authority 'is not doing enough'.

Inspectors will be going into Norfolk and the Isle of Wight because too many schools in these two areas are failing to provide a standard of education that children deserve.

Ofsted's targeted inspection of schools in Norfolk earlier this year and recent school inspections in the Isle of Wight have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the local authorities' support and challenge. In both cases, many school leaders have expressed the view that their local authority is not doing enough to challenge their institutions to improve.

• Education
• OFSTED
• Isle of Wight

Two thirds of all secondary schools on the Isle of Wight are now judged inadequate according to Ofsted research.

Teams of Ofsted inspectors are to visit schools on the Isle of Wight today for the first of five days of intense inspection to work out why the area has a disproportionate amount of failing schools.

The only other region of the UK subject to this new level of scrutiny is Norfolk. Earlier inspections on the island revealed that nearly 4,000 children attend a school 'that is not yet good'.

• Education
• OFSTED
• Isle of Wight

Inspectors are to be sent into the Isle of Wight council amid concerns that they are failing to help their schools raise standards, Ofsted has announced.

The council will face a visit in a bid to find out why there are high numbers of under-performing schools in the area, the watchdog said.

It will be the first time Ofsted has examined how a local authority is helping schools improve.

Ofsted said the five-day visit will look at whether the council is offering enough support and challenge to their schools, and promoting high standards and fair access for all pupils.

Chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said: "Inspectors will be going into Norfolk and the Isle of Wight because too many schools in these two areas are failing to provide a standard of education that children deserve."

"Ofsted's targeted inspection of schools in Norfolk earlier this year and recent school inspections in the Isle of Wight have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the local authorities' support and challenge.

In both cases, many school leaders have expressed the view that their local authority is not doing enough to challenge their institutions to improve."

• UK
• Isle of Wight

Children are to be given lessons in financial management to help them avoid getting into debt when they're older. Fred and Sangeeta have the details.

• UK
• My Money Week
• finance

A Big Cat wildlife sanctuary in Kent is opening its doors to the public for four days this summer. The Wildlife Heritage Foundation in Smarden looks after lions, tigers and other big cats as part of its charity work as a sanctuary and to carry out breeding programmes.

Last year there were miles of traffic queues as hundreds of people turned out for its one day open day. This year booking will only be online. Rebecca Porter, Head Keeper, explains the appeal.

• UK
• tiger
• smarden

There are more schools rated good or outstanding in Brighton than there were last year according to new Ofsted figures. Brighton and Hove City Council says its focus on secondary education is paying dividends.

• Education
• Brighton

Crays Hill Primary School was once the subject of rumours and terrible press reports because of its link to an infamous travellers camp - but now inspectors have praised it and rated much of its teaching as outstanding. Elodie Harper reports.

• Education
• Essex
• Ofsted