Exams

The key trends in 2023 GCSE and A-level entries

Boost in popularity for maths, computing and classical subjects, but language and creative subjects in trouble

Amy Walker
Amy Walker
SATs

Scaled scores for 2023 key stage 1 SATs announced

DfE reveals how many marks pupils will need to reach its ‘expected standard’

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Schools

Revealed: The five advisers who will support DfE’s sex education review

Panel includes academy bosses, women’s health ambassador, chief social worker and lawyer who liked controversial tweets

Amy Walker
Amy Walker
Politics

Familiar face returns to DfE schools adviser role

Teacher training reforms architect back at the DfE after eight-month stint at University of Exeter

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Exams

OCR to review difficulty of GCSE computer science paper

Follows backlash over exam leaving pupils ‘completely disheartened’ and warning it will put more youngsters off the subject

Amy Walker
Amy Walker
Schools

Funding plea as children wait ‘years’ for NHS appointments

Almost 230,000 children on community health waiting lists for services like speech and language therapy and autism checks

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson


Schools

Schools to be told they should teach pupils about vaping risks

Government has announced more measures to cut down on vaping in schools, but campaigners say much more needs to…

Amy Walker
Amy Walker
Exams

AQA look at ‘Duolingo-style’ test for GCSE resitters

It follows calls from school leaders’ union ASCL for a ‘passport’ in maths and English

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
SEND

Soaring food costs leave special schools with hole in budgets

Unlike mainstream schools, schools for children with special needs do not receive specific funding for some free meals

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Maths

How a billionaire plans to make English pupils ‘world’s best at maths’

UK’s biggest taxpayer has already committed £25 million to boost maths attainment. So who is he and what’s the…

John Dickens
John Dickens
Schools

Law change eases way for church schools to academise

The government has revived a law change from its scrapped schools bill, removing a ‘significant barrier’ to the academisation…

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Schools

ASCL confirms date for first national strike ballot in union’s history

ASCL members in England will be asked to vote on strike action over the long-running teacher pay dispute from…

Amy Walker
Amy Walker