Writing in Tes, Dr Margaret Hunnaball, researcher in residence at the School Partnerships Alliance, outlines the many opportunities afforded to independent and state schools by working collaboratively. Dr Hunabball references the Wimbledon Partnership, which includes King's College School (KCS). On the benefits of partnerships, from shared CPD best practice to improved staff retention, Dr Hunnaball writes: "Having taught in both state-maintained and independent schools, I agreed whole-heartedly with the notion each could learn from the other, and it set in motion my own research project to study state-private partnerships and how they work, the challenges they face and their benefits."

Dr Hunnaball's recent partnerships blog for the ISC website can be viewed here.

A new 14-member government taskforce aimed at easing teachers' workloads has been supported by unions, amid long-standing concerns regarding recruitment and retention in education. Ministers are reportedly aiming to reduce working hours for teaching staff by five hours a week over the coming five years. By Dominic McGrath, The Independent.

Mark Bentley, safeguarding and cyber security lead at the National Grid for Learning, writes in Schools Week with advice for designated safeguarding leads in light of recent changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2023. Mr Bentley reassures colleagues that, although the changes are significant and demanding, "thankfully, technology will be key in reducing the burden". 

More than 75 per cent of school staff are increasingly being pulled away from their work to address the effects of child poverty, according to a report by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), with the figure rising to 92 per cent among headteachers. Tes.

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