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21 April 2026

Author: Freddie Whittaker

School absence fines will resume in September, says Williamson

Parents could be fined if they fail to send their children back to school in September, the education secretary has said. But the decision potentially puts headteachers in the firing line, as they have the final decision on whether to “authorise” absences from school. Gavin Williamson told LBC this morning that “unless there is a […]

£1bn for school rebuilding projects in 2021, but details on new 10-year plan scarce

A new school rebuilding programme will see 50 projects split £1 billion in funding next year, the government has announced. The funding, for projects due to start from September 2021, will form part of a “ten-year school rebuilding programme”. However further information about the level of funding for the scheme will not be confirmed until […]

Dame Alison Peacock: Don’t ‘guilt trip’ teachers into working over summer

Teachers must not be “guilt-tripped” into working on summer catch-up programmes run by schools, the head of the Chartered College of Teaching has said. Dame Alison Peacock said it would be “foolhardy” to expect teachers to “just take a few days off and then come back in again over the summer”, warning that “exhausted” teachers and […]

Kate Green appointed shadow education secretary

Kate Green has been appointed as the new shadow education secretary. The MP for Stretford and Urmston, a former chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, replaces Rebecca Long-Bailey, who was sacked on Thursday. She has previously served as a shadow minister for disabled people, shadow minister for women and equalities and shadow minister […]

Who is Kate Green? 8 facts about the shadow education secretary

Kate Green has been appointed as the new shadow education secretary. The news was announced yesterday by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s office, and comes after Rebecca Long-Bailey was sacked on Thursday. Here is what we know about her.   She was born in Edinburgh in 1960. She is the first shadow education secretary to […]

‘Don’t go back’ advice for shielders will be updated next week

School staff who are shielding because they are clinically extremely vulnerable are still being advised not to go to work – but new guidance on whether they should return to the classroom is due next week. The government recently announced a relaxation of its shielding guidance, stating that from August 1, those who cannot work […]

Some assessment could be moved to earlier in 2021, suggests heads’ union

Some assessment in 2021 should be moved to earlier in the year rather than delay exams, a leadership union has said. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said he had asked the government to consider whether pupils could get some elements of assessment “under the belt” before the […]

Catholic schools demand government support as transport costs soar

The national body representing Catholic schools is lobbying the government for help with school transport, warning that charges could rise by more than £20 a day. Social distancing rules have forced school buses to reduce capacity, with some only able to carry a fifth of the usual number of pupils. If we suddenly became exclusive […]