boris johnson | Schools Week

Johnson considered sacking Williamson after Covid exam chaos

The former Conservative PM told the Covid inquiry he was in a ‘homicidal mood’ following the 2020 grading scandal

Half of schools will miss out on rebuilds – as only 61 more handed cash

More than 1,100 schools applied for Boris Johnson’s school rebuilding programme, but numbers are capped at 500

Children’s minister Will Quince resigns ‘from job I love’

Quince says standing down ‘pains me greatly’ but had ‘no choice’ after being misled by Number 10

Salary top-ups for new teachers boost retention rates by 23%

Findings show bonuses can help fix staff shortages, researchers say, but one in five teachers still leave in some subjects

Former education secretary Gavin Williamson knighted

Queen approves knighthood for minister sacked last year after heavy criticism of his handling of Covid in schools

Revealed: the 21 areas set for £15m AP taskforces to prevent crime

The government has confirmed the 21 areas set to receive funding under a scheme to prevent vulnerable pupils in alternative provision “entering a life of crime”. Alternative provision specialist taskforces will be launched across England in “serious violence hotspots”, receiving £15 million between them in Treasury funding. The taskforces will include mental health professionals, family […]

Johnson defends ‘heroic’ Williamson as reshuffle rumours swirl

Boris Johnson has defended Gavin Williamson for doing a “heroic job” in “difficult circumstances”, amid rumours he could be replaced as education secretary. The prime minister gave his public backing to Williamson, who is one of several cabinet ministers tipped for demotion or the sack in the rumoured upcoming reshuffle. The education secretary has faced […]

Boris Johnson told officials not to make school lockdown contingency plans, new report claims

Prime minister Boris Johnson told officials not to make contingency plans for schools last year in the event of another lockdown, according to an explosive new report. The Institute for Government said in a new analysis of the government’s handling of education during Covid that the failure to prepare such plans over summer and autumn […]

Johnson claims catch-up tsar’s evidence for a longer school day ‘not as good as it could have been’

Evidence put forward as part of proposals to extend the school day “was not as good as it could have been”, the prime minister has claimed. In a swipe at his own former catch-up tsar Sir Kevan Collins, Boris Johnson told MPs at the parliamentary liaison committee: “If I’m absolutely frank with you and the […]