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28 April 2026

Author: Alix Robertson

Schools need official guidance on pupils’ social media safety

An international anti-bullying charity has demanded better guidance for schools on keeping children safe on social media. Sue Jones, global deputy chief executive officer of charity Ditch the Label, said her organisation is “constantly” contacted by teachers asking for more help, and wants the Department for Education to publish more advice. She told the parliamentary science […]

Robert Halfon proposes bill to expand Social Mobility Commission powers

A new law that would give greater powers and resources to the Social Mobility Commission will be proposed by Robert Halfon, chair of the parliamentary education committee in the House of Commons tomorrow. The bill is backed by the MPs on the committee, who published a report on the social mobility commission in March. They are […]

Diocese blocks secular trust takeover bid

A secular multi-academy trust has been blocked by a local diocese from taking over two Church of England primary schools, one of which is now set to close. The South Farnham Educational Trust (SFET), which runs three ‘outstanding’ primary schools, was rejected by the diocese of Guildford to take over the ‘inadequate’ Ripley CofE Primary […]

PE apprenticeships solve Kent schools’ levy woes

Primary schools in Kent have found an effective way to make the most of the apprenticeship levy by taking apprentices on to support the delivery of PE lessons and sports clubs. From last April, employers with an annual payroll of more than £3 million have to pay 0.5 per cent into the apprenticeship levy, which […]

Amanda Spielman’s Ofsted moves away from ‘male-dominated’ culture

Ofsted’s next inspection framework will promote a more “collaborative” approach to leadership, in a move away from the “male-dominated” culture of the watchdog’s past, a senior inspector has said. According to Gill Jones, Ofsted’s deputy director for early education, Amanda Spielman has sought to steer the organisation’s approach to rating school leadership away from the legacy […]

DfE sets up ‘online safety working group’ to advise schools

Schools will get guidance and support on how to keep their pupils safe online from a new online safety working group established by the Department for Education. The proposal is one of the outcomes of a consultation launched by the government at the end of last year to update its ‘Keeping children safe in education’ guidance (KCSIE) […]

Minister: It’s ‘not impossible’ for schools to meet apprentice hiring targets

It is “not impossible” for schools to meet apprentice recruitment targets, but they may need extra help, the skills minister said today. Anne Milton insisted to MPs that the public sector apprenticeship target – which requires public bodies to hire 2.3 per cent of their workforce as apprentices every year – is achievable for schools, […]

Catholic academy trust tackled weaknesses ‘at a brisk pace’

Ofsted inspectors have praised improvements at the Romero Catholic Multi Academy Company after visiting all eight of its schools. Seven primary schools and one secondary run by the Coventry academy trust were visited in March as part of a focused inspection. Inspectors said the trust had tackled previously identified weaknesses “at a brisk pace”, and commended […]

LocatED’s urgent quest for London real estate

The Department for Education’s property arm has made an “urgent” plea for new sites in London as official figures reveal it still hasn’t found a permanent home for nine schools due to open in the capital in a matter of months. LocatED, the company set up by government to buy up land for the free […]