Skip to content
13 April 2026

Author: Freddie Whittaker

8 things we know about the latest shadow education secretary

As revealed exclusively by Schools Week, Angela Rayner is Labour’s third shadow education secretary this week. Here’s what we know about her… She was born in Stockport in 1980. At 36, she is the youngest person to hold the role of shadow education secretary since it was created (as shadow secretary of state for education and science) […]

EXCLUSIVE: Angela Rayner becomes third shadow education secretary in a week

Angela Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne and a former care worker and union representative, has been appointed as the new shadow education secretary, Schools Week understands. Sources in the Labour Party have confirmed that Rayner, who entered Parliament at the 2015 general election, has been promoted to the role at the head of the opposition front-bench […]

New Ofsted chief faces £31 million funding black hole, Wilshaw admits

Ofsted’s new chief inspector will be left with a budget black hole of more than £30 million, Sir Michael Wilshaw has admitted. The inspectorate’s current boss says Ofsted needs to save £31.5 million over the next four years, and that its financial situation will present “risks” and pose a “challenge” for the organisation as a […]

Free schools boss to run Theresa May’s campaign

New Schools Network director Nick Timothy is taking a break from his role to run Theresa May’s campaign for the Conservative leadership, Schools Week can reveal. The organisation, one of the leading advocates of the free schools movement, has confirmed that Timothy, a former adviser and chief of staff to the home secretary, has been allowed […]

Gove enters Conservative leadership race and gets Morgan’s backing

The former education secretary Michael Gove has announced he will run for the Conservative Party leadership, and has received the backing of his successor Nicky Morgan. Gove, who had been expected to run alongside Boris Johnson and serve as chancellor in his government if he won, has today announced that he will throw his own […]

Ofqual’s new chief: We can do more to prevent exam errors

Ofqual needs to do more to stop “simple errors” in how schools deliver exams — although mistakes, security breaches and malpractice will continue, says new chief regulator Sally Collier. In her first speech since she took up office eight weeks ago, Collier admitted the workings of the watchdog and the wider testing system were “much, […]

Ofsted will consider scrapping ‘outstanding’ grade, says new chief inspector

Ofsted will consider scrapping its controversial ‘outstanding’ grade, the new chief inspector has told MPs. Amanda Spielman, who has been selected by the government to succeed Sir Michael Wilshaw when his term ends at the end of the year, told MPs on the education select committee this morning that she wanted to have “discussions” about […]

Pat Glass resigns as shadow education secretary after two days

The shadow education secretary Pat Glass has resigned after just two days in the post. Glass, the MP for North West Durham, was appointed to succeed Lucy Powell on Monday following Powell’s resignation over the weekend. But after announcing yesterday that she would quit Parliament at the next general election, Glass has said today that […]