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20 April 2026

Author: John Dickens

Heads say ‘no’ to Theresa May’s grammar ‘conversion’ consultation

Two schools on prime minister Theresa May’s doorstep will shun any opportunity to convert to grammars, claiming it would put “high quality education available to all students at risk”. The Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council – which covers May’s constituency – asked for its secondary schools’ views on introducing partial or full selection. […]

Tudor Grange pulls out of plan to admit year 7s

An academy permitted by its regional schools commissioner to change the year groups it admits has cancelled the plan for September after just nine pupils applied for places. Critics say the move shows how the centrally appointed commissioners who cover vast areas ignore local knowledge. Tudor Grange Academy in Worcestershire admitted year 7s for the […]

Private school closes 9 days early for Easter due to cashflow issues

A private school bought by the founder of a collapsed academy chain has told parents it will close more than a week early for Easter because it is running out of money. Parents and staff at Henriette Le Forestier preparatory school, in Croydon, have been told they will break up on Wednesday – nine days […]

Revealed: RSC offered academy trust a deal to limit ‘reputational damage’

A schools commissioner offered a troubled academy trust a “sweetheart deal” to quietly shift its schools to avoid information about its failings being made public. Jennifer Bexon-Smith (pictured), schools commissioner for the East Midlands and Humber, struck a deal to avoid sending termination warning notices to Sandhill Multi-Academy Trust, despite admitting there was “sufficient evidence” […]

Academy CEO pay: Salaries soar, but who comes out on top?

Our annual analysis of chief executive pay in the largest academy chains once again reveals a huge disparity in the salary of chief executives and the size of their organisations. For the first time we analysed the pay per pupil, as well as the pay per good or outstanding school. Sir Dan Moynihan, chief executive […]

A-level attainment gap revealed in new ‘disadvantage’ measure

Schools and colleges will be measured on the results of their poorest pupils under a new “disadvantage” league table headline measure this year. New analysis published today has revealed for the first time the attainment gap between free school meal pupils at A-level. The report found that 4.9 per cent of students eligible for free […]