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21 April 2026

Author: Freddie Whittaker

Top DfE boss: SEND failures driven by ‘stresses and strains’ on the system

Failures of support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities have in part been driven by “stresses and strains” placed on the system following government reforms and funding pressures, the top boss of the Department for Education has admitted. Jonathan Slater, the DfE’s permanent secretary, told the parliamentary public accounts committee today that his […]

‘Big Bang’ STEM education event cancelled over coronavirus fears

A science and engineering fair for school pupils due to be held in Birmingham this week has been cancelled because of coronavirus. Organisers of the Big Bang UK young scientists and engineers fair, which was due to take place at the National Exhibition Centre from Wednesday to Saturday, said cancellation was the “most appropriate decision […]

Uniform bill MP wants restriction on branded items

Families are being made to pay up to £4 extra to add compulsory initials on to items of PE kit – in some cases, pushing the school uniform price up by 20 per cent. Labour MP Mike Amesbury, the architect of a law to make schools ensure their uniforms are more affordable, wants statutory guidance […]

Framework criticism is just ‘small and vocal minority’, claims defiant Spielman

The criticism of Ofsted’s new inspection framework is solely down to a “small and vocal minority”, Amanda Spielman will claim this weekend, as the government prepares to intervene in matters. The chief inspector will tell ResearchED Birmingham that “feedback from many directions is telling us that the inspections are nearly always working well” with schools […]

Academy trusts lengthen October half term to tackle coastal schools’ absence problems

Two academy trusts have agreed to extend the length of the October half term break in eight of their schools to reduce unauthorised term-time holiday absence. From this year, academies in Skegness, Lincolnshire, run by Greenwood Academies Trust and David Ross Education Trust will have a two-week autumn break. Academies are allowed to set their […]

Coronavirus: Schools need guidance after rise in racist abuse, says union

A teaching union has written to Gavin Williamson to demand guidance for schools on how to tackle racist incidents related to the spread of coronavirus. NASUWT said it had received reports of “increased covert and overt racial attacks perpetrated against some minority ethnic pupils and NASUWT members linked to coronavirus concerns”. Chris Keates, the acting […]

School closures could be considered to ‘delay’ spread of Coronavirus

Schools could be closed across the UK in order to slow the spread of Coronavirus, according to a government action plan published today. The UK, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments have published a joint Coronavirus action plan, which provides a guide to what people can expect as the country deals with the virus. According […]

Ofsted plans to withhold inspection reports until complaints are resolved

Ofsted will withhold publication of inspection reports until it has resolved complaints about them under a new redress system proposed by the inspectorate. A consultation launched today proposes that formal complaints raised by schools within two working days of receiving their final report will effectively delay publication of the report until the complaint is dealt […]