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20 April 2026

Author: Freddie Whittaker

School attendance rises to over 18% after half term

School attendance rose to over 18 per cent in the week after half term, with an increase in secondary attendance for the first time in over a month. The latest attendance data published by the Department for Education shows attendance on February 25 was at 18.3 per cent, up from 15.9 per cent on February […]

National reference test 2021 pushed back to summer term

This year’s national reference test will take place between April 19 and May 21, after it was pushed back from the spring term. Ofqual introduced the National Reference Test in 2017 to provide more information about the awarding of GCSEs. Previous guidance had stated that the test would be conducted between February 22 and March 19 […]

Williamson: Government ‘looking at’ how to get more schools into multi-academy trusts

The government wants to see “far more schools” in multi-academy trusts by 2025, and is “actively looking at how we can make that happen”, the education secretary has said. Gavin Williamson told the Foundation for Education Development summit this morning that partnerships between schools were “fundamental”, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. By […]

Q&A: ‘We need a long-term plan for education in England’

Next week, the Foundation for Education Development will bring together politicians, school leaders and policy wonks as it hosts its inaugural summit to discuss the need for a long-term plan for education. Carl Ward, chair of the foundation and chief executive of the City Learning Trust, talked to Schools Week chief reporter Freddie Whittaker about […]

New £302m ‘Covid recovery premium’ to be allocated based on pupil premium

The government’s new £302 million “Covid recovery premium” will be allocated to schools on the same basis as the pupil premium, the Department for Education has confirmed. The fund was one of several initiatives announced by the government today to help pupils catch up. It is supposed to help schools to “bolster summer provision for […]

Secondary schools can start testing pupils on-site before March 8, DfE confirms

Secondary schools and colleges will be allowed to start testing pupils on-site before March 8, the Department for Education has confirmed. Increasing numbers of leaders have been calling for clarity on the matter since the announcement earlier this week that secondary school pupils will be tested four times – the first three on-site – when […]

School funding chiefs at education committee: 9 things we learned

Government school funding bosses were quizzed by MPs this morning about catch-up funding, the pupil premium and school spending. The Parliamentary education committee held a hearing with Department for Education director of strategic finance Tony Foot, director for qualifications, curriculum and extra-curricular Graham Archer and Education and Skills Funding Agency director of academies and maintained […]

March 8 school reopening guidance: 13 things we learned

The government has confirmed its school reopening plans, with all settings expected to reopen on March 8. Secondary schools will be given flexibility on how they manage testing in the first week back. The need for face coverings will also be extended to secondary school classrooms. Prime minister Boris Johnson confirmed the plans in Parliament […]