Persistently absent pupils to be mentored under £5m trial DfE seeks organisation to mentor pupils in disadvantaged areas as persistent absence remains high
MPs want more transparency over academy trust bailouts Influential committee chair warns of ‘unacceptable’ lack of accountability’
Free school meals permanently extended to pupils with ‘no recourse to public funds’ Children of families subject to immigration control were temporarily given access to free meals in April 2020
270 million in-person school days missed due to Covid last year Absences rose more than five-fold in first full year of the pandemic
Spring statement: Chancellor will review apprenticeship levy But announcement contains no extra help for schools with rising energy bills
DfE won’t say when KS1 SATs will be scrapped Doubts cast on plans to make tests non-statutory from next year after government pencils-in dates for 2024
Design and technology take-up has halved in a decade Think tank warns subject will continue to decline if ministers don’t take action encourage take-up
Covid pupil absences triple in two weeks and almost 1 in 10 teachers off DfE data shows Covid disruption to schools is on the rise again
7 policies from Pearson to make exams fit for the future Exam board advocates changes to performance measures and a rethink of the English and maths resit policy following major inquiry