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28 April 2026

Author: Nick Linford

Academies minister speaks of ‘shocking’ level of governor oversight — IAA conference

School governing bodies are too large, and in some cases deliver a ‘shocking’ level of oversight, the education minister responsible for academies said today. Speaking in London at the annual conference of the Independent Academies Association (IAA), Lord Nash (pictured) said that, coming from the business world – where company boards had no space for “passengers” […]

Ofsted plan for shorter and more frequent ‘risk-based’ inspections

Ofsted’s chief inspector has set out plans for “frequent but shorter” inspections for good schools and colleges from next September. Speaking yesterday, Sir Michael Wilshaw (pictured) launched an eight week consultation on reforms (click here) to the inspectorate intended to “maintain and accelerate” improved educational standards in England. Sir Michael said: “Most schools and colleges […]

Schools reject GCSE failures claim colleges

GCSE English and maths now required | Schools not letting pupils continue at 16 | Policy change driving ‘poor behaviour’ Teenagers are being prevented from continuing into their schools’ sixth forms after failing to get C grades and above in English and maths at GCSE, leading college groups have warned. Government changes now require students […]

Teacher banned after hypnotising student to perform oral sex

A teacher in a West Sussex school has been banned from teaching after hypnotising and “rubbing his bare penis on a pupil’s buttocks”. Stephen Pieter Grobbelaar was given an indefinite ban by the National College for Teaching & Leadership (NCTL). In a report of the hearing, which took place on September 18 and released today […]

Change in rhetoric as Morgan addresses party conference

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan sounded conciliatory as she took to the stage at the Conservative Party Conference and promised to ease teachers’ workload. In a speech which was light on policy but demonstrated a significant change in rhetoric, Ms Morgan pledged to reduce the burden on teachers, but stopped short of announcing any policy to […]

EXCLUSIVE: Morgan adds fifth priority for DfE to create ‘well-rounded’ youngsters

Creating “well-rounded” young people with “character, resilience and grit” is the fifth priority for the Department for Education (DfE), Nicky Morgan has revealed. Mrs Morgan, who today became the first Education Secretary to address an NASUWT fringe at Conservative Party Conference in more than four years, defended the record of her predecessor Michael Gove, but also […]

New sponsors, new uniforms – for £70,000

The failure of one academy trust has left the taxpayer paying up to £70,000 for new school uniforms, exclusive research by Schools Week can now reveal. Nine schools across the country were taken over by new academy sponsors after their original academy trust, E-ACT, was told by the Department for Education that it needed to […]