Author: Freddie Whittaker

The chair of a landmark review of exclusions expects the government to fund proposals put forward in his report, despite a lack of firm commitments from ministers. Edward Timpson told MPs today that although he has received no “cast-iron guarantees” from ministers on funding for alternative provision, he is “working on the basis they have […]

The government is likely to consider holding schools accountable for the “soft progression” of excluded pupils and not just their academic progress, a senior adviser to ministers has said. Edward Timpson, who chaired the government’s recent landmark review of exclusions, told MPs today he would be “surprised” if a consultation on a new accountability system […]

Education ministers took questions from MPs for the last time before summer recess. Damian Hinds, the education secretary, and his ministerial colleagues were grilled on education funding and a raft of other issues in the House of Commons this afternoon. Here are four things we learned.   1. Everything hinges on the spending review Ministers […]

The Department for Education has confirmed the pass mark for the phonics screening check will remain at 32 this year. It is the eighth year in a row that the test’s pass mark has been set at this level. Details of the pass mark have been published today, along with test materials, scoring guidance and an […]

Schools should have to follow a “universal code” on what constitutes grounds for the expulsion of pupils so all children are treated the same, according to the rapper and inclusion campaigner Akala. Speaking at the Wellington College Festival of Education last week, the musician and writer, who has spoken out on a number of occasions […]

Police are investigating another potential leak of an exam paper. According to the Guardian, officers are looking into potential malpractice relating to AQA’s GCSE religious studies exam paper, which was sat by pupils on May 20. The paper reported today that parents feared elements from the paper had been circulating on social network Snapchat. AQA, […]