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31 May 2026

Author: Freddie Whittaker

Spielman: Don’t ‘chop out’ safeguarding from Ofsted, give us cash to inspect it properly

Chief inspector Amanda Spielman has rejected calls to “chop out” safeguarding from Ofsted’s remit, and said the watchdog could do more with increased funding. Spielman was questioned by the Parliamentary education committee this morning following the release last week of Ofsted’s review into school sex abuse. The review accused school leaders and teachers of “consistently […]

Number 10 seeks education deputy director for new delivery unit

Number 10 is seeking a “deputy director for education, jobs and skills” to work in a new unit set up to drive policy implementation. According to a job advert, the new £71,000 to £117,800-a-year role will be based in the Number 10 Delivery Unit, a new team within the Cabinet Office that “should grow to […]

Academy trust CEOs net top gongs in Queen’s birthday honours 2021

Academy trust leaders Maura Regan and Hamid Patel have been awarded top gongs in this year’s Queen’s birthday honours list, which recognises 61 people working in or with the English schools community. Regan, chief executive of the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, is to be made a Dame, while Patel, chief executive of Star Academies, […]

Covid: Masks still in place and onsite testing returns in ‘Delta’ hotspot schools

Headteachers in “Delta” Covid variant hotspots are “praying” the virus does not rip through their schools again in the coming weeks, with one having to send seven in ten pupils home last half term. Mask rules remain in place in many north-west schools, while some have resumed in-school testing and have hosted temporary vaccine centres. […]

Sports charities demand clarity on future of £320m PE and sport premium

The leaders of 40 charities and sporting organisations have written to the government demanding “urgent clarity” on the future of the £320 million PE and sport premium. With less than six weeks to go until the end of the summer term for most schools, leaders are still waiting to hear whether the funding, worth £18,000 […]

PM incorrectly claims 6 million pupils will benefit from tutoring

The prime minister has incorrectly claimed in Parliament that six million pupils will benefit from the government’s tutoring reforms. Boris Johnson also claimed to have “introduced” a £30,000 starting salary for teachers – over two years before the policy is due to be finally implemented. Johnson was today questioned by MPs during prime minister’s questions […]

Bring back face coverings in secondary schools and vaccinate pupils on site, say unions

Face coverings should be reintroduced in secondary school classrooms and for students in communal areas, unions representing teachers and support staff have said, amid growing fears about the impact of the Delta variant of Covid-19. The National Education Union, along with support staff unions Unison, the GMB and Unite, have also said pupils should be […]