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24 April 2026

Author: Pippa Allen-Kinross

Number of year 13s re-taking English and maths GCSEs in November doubles

Tens of thousands of sixth form pupils were forced to wait an extra year before resitting their English and maths GCSEs because of reforms to the qualifications, it has been revealed. Data published this week shows 47,010 pupils in year 13 or above sat a GCSE maths or English exam in November this year, up […]

Government must do more for ‘left behind’ children, says Ofsted chief

The head of Ofsted has warned that more needs to be done to support children who are “being left behind”, as she criticised poor social mobility at the launch of her second annual report. Amanda Spielman used this year’s report to issue a call for action to the government “redouble their efforts to tackle these […]

Looked-after children to get mentors and cut-price fees from private schools

The Department for Education is launching a new mentor scheme for ‘gifted’ children in care, as 65 boarding schools agree to give cut-price fees to looked-after children. The scheme will see ‘gifted’ looked-after children getting access to specialist schools or facilities by setting up a network of up to 10 regional hubs across the country […]

DfE wants Ofsted to inspect more outstanding schools – but won’t drop exemption

The Department for Education has told Ofsted to reinspect more ‘outstanding’ schools, but stopped short of dropping the controversial exemption. Nick Gibb, the schools minister, has asked the watchdog to review its risk assessment arrangements and ensure it inspects 10 per cent of ‘outstanding’ schools and colleges over the coming year. However, he said the exemption […]

Single-academy trust rapped over £60k undeclared pay-offs

A single-academy trust has been warned to overhaul its financial and governance set-up after a government review found £60,000 of undeclared severance payments made in one year. The government has also had to provide Stratton Education Trust with financial notice to improve after handing out a £120,000 bailout to cover the trust’s budget deficit. The […]

It’s a Dwan deal: Trust founder’s brother gets rent-free premises for nursery

A failed academy trust gave the brother of its founder rent-free premises for ten years to run a private nursery on the site of one its schools. The Adventure Learning Academy Trust (ALAT), the sister-trust of the crisis-hit Bright Tribe Trust, signed a deal to let a nursery company owned by Andrew Dwan, brother of […]

Private school caps value of Christmas gifts for teachers

A prestigious private girls’ school has written to parents urging them to cap the value of Christmas gifts for teachers to avoid “awkward” situations. St Helen and St Katharine school in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, which charges £16,470 a year, has warned parents that its policy on giving and receiving gifts sets out a “number of restrictions” […]

Schools told to consider lockdown protocols to counter terrorist attacks

Schools are being advised to consider introducing emergency lockdown protocols in their classrooms to counter potential terrorist attacks under proposed new government guidance. The government has today launched a consultation on new school security guidance, which warns “no school can afford to ignore the potential threat and impact of security issues”. The proposed guidance, which […]