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Delayed micro:bit computers will reach teachers after half term, BBC confirms

Teachers will have to wait until after half term to get hold of the BBC’s new micro:bit coding computers, but delivery to all year 7s is still on-track for the end of term, the broadcaster has confirmed. The BBC had planned to get the small devices, which help children learn to code, to teachers before […]

Pearson won’t rule out exams staff cuts after announcing 4,000 global redundancies

Job losses among Pearson’s UK exams staff have not been ruled-out as the company prepares to cut 10 per cent of its global workforce. The international education company has announced cuts of around 4,000 jobs from its global staff of 40,000 as it seeks to cut costs in the face of “cyclical and policy-related challenges”. […]

Government plans will force large schools to employ apprentices

Schools have been named in a consultation document as one of the public sector organisations likely to have to hit tough new government targets for apprenticeship recruitment. The document unveiled today explained how most public sector bodies employing 250 or more people in England will need to recruit 2.3 per cent of its headcount as […]

Nicky Morgan: Schools must consult on admissions every 4 years

Education secretary Nicky Morgan has announced a package of school admissions reforms, including a reduction in the time between a school’s renewal of its arrangements from 7 years to 4 years. Under the plans the government says it wants to “ensure every child has access to the good school place their parents rightly expect”. It […]

Schools will be legally forced to let apprenticeship providers advertise in schools

Schools will be legally forced to let colleges and apprenticeship providers talk to pupils about the opportunities they can offer, under new plans announced today. The aim of the move is to reduce “an outdated snobbery” towards apprenticeships, education secretary Nicky Morgan said. “For many young people going to university will be the right choice, […]

Cross-party MPs recommend more teacher training on Holocaust lessons

A cross-party committee of MPs has warned the government that too few history teachers are being trained to teach lessons about the Holocaust. The parliamentary education committee published a report today outlining the findings of an inquiry that looked at how the Holocaust is taught in schools. It made a number of recommendations, including calling on […]

Who are the Regional Schools Commissioners – and why do they matter?

A new report by the Education Committee reveals the problems with the Regional Schools Commissioner model. But who are they? Eight regional school commissioners were appointed in 2014 and preside over all academies in England. We interviewed the first eight, however two have now moved on. Paul Smith has been replaced by Vicky Beer, and David […]

Regional Schools Commissioner role must be more transparent, says Education Committee

A report on regional schools commissioners published today by a cross-party committee of MPs warns school structures are now so complicated parents and teachers are struggling to understand the landscape. Neil Carmichael, chair of the parliamentary Education Committee which wrote the report, said that he was not surprised most people had never heard of the […]