Author: Sophie Scott

A £1.5 million fund to support young people’s mental health and develop “peer networks” has been announced today. The cash is aimed at developing networks and includes a “digital innovation fund” for online resources and mobile phone apps. An online consultation has also been launched to look at peer support – such as buddying schemes […]

The director general of the Russell Group has blamed schools for a drop in the proportion of disadvantaged pupils attending top universities. Russell Group director general Wendy Piatt said “too many” children from disadvantaged backgrounds were underachievaching at school and receiving “poor advice and guidance”. Dr Piatt was responding to analysis of the Higher Education […]

Teaching unions will gather tomorrow to discuss what action can be taken about what they are calling the “mess” of primary assessment. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has called for the SATs to be suspended this year and tomorrow afternoon they will meet with other unions to organise a joint response. The main protaganists […]

At least 21 schools are thought to be “illegal” and are currently being investigated by the government, the Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed. In response to a question from the Liberal Democrat’s education spokesperson John Pugh, minister Edward Timpson said education watchdog Ofsted has been asked to inspect the schools and prosecute, where necessary. […]

Two thirds of teaching assistants and support staff are working up to six additional hours each week to cover increasing workloads with few being paid any extra, a survey has found. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) surveyed 1,750 support staff to find out their working habits and the problems they face. More than […]

Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has written to three “exceptional” school leaders as part of a new initiative by the watchdog. The three headteachers all took on roles at nearby underperforming schools, helping to lift them up from low Ofsted ratings. They were nominated by Ofsted inspectors. Sir Michael said: “I’m very pleased to celebrate […]

The government has refused to make personal, social and health education (PSHE) and sex and relationships education (SRE) statutory – despite overwhelming calls for it to be given statutory status. In a letter to chair of the education select committee, Neil Carmichael, education secretary Nicky Morgan said she agreed the subject was “crucial for preparing […]

Schools across England were evacuated this morning after receiving hoax bomb threats. The calls were made to 14 schools in three separate regions of the country, including four in London, six in the West Midlands and four in Cornwall. Police confirmed they were investigating the incidents but intelligence experts believed that there was “no credible […]

A chemistry teacher who intended to join terrorist group ISIS in Syria has been banned from the classroom after being convicted of the “preparation of terrorist acts”. Jamshed Javeed, 31, who taught at Sharples School in Bolton, was last year jailed for six years and given a three-year extended licence. The court was told he […]