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11 April 2026

Tag: Damian Hinds

Ministers still relying on ‘misleading’ record funding claims

Senior government ministers, including the prime minister, keep peddling the “misleading” line that “more money than ever before” is going to schools, despite mounting condemnation from the statistics watchdog. Theresa May, Damian Hinds, the education secretary, and Nick Gibb, the schools minister, are all repeat offenders, continuing to boast about the “record” levels of funding […]

Ministers have U-turned on 33 attempts to force schools to become academies

The government has revoked more than 30 academy orders, some after schools have spent years in limbo and often after they have been at the centre of fierce battles over their futures, a Schools Week investigation has found. Analysis of government data obtained under the freedom of information act found 33 schools have spent more […]

Hinds to announce wellbeing focus at ASCL conference

Damian Hinds has commissioned his fifth advisory group since taking office – this time looking at boosting school teacher and leader wellbeing. The education secretary will tell the annual conference of school leaders’ union ASCL today the group will lead the government’s efforts to look at “how teachers and school leaders can be better supported […]

Pupils face £2 ‘fines’ to get their phones back

A school has been accused of holding pupils’ mobile phones to “ransom” after charging parents £2 to return confiscated devices. South Wigston high school in Leicester bans mobile phones as it says the devices are a major tool for bullying and a distraction to learning. However, its electronic device policy says that a £2 contribution […]

‘It will have a long-lasting impact’ – Damian Hinds reflects on his new strategy

Following the most important announcement of Damian Hinds’s political career to date, Schools Week accompanied the education secretary on a school visit in Kent to hear more about his lauded recruitment and retention strategy. A wide-ranging plan to tackle the growing crisis in teacher recruitment and retention will have a “long-lasting” impact, the education secretary […]

Recruitment and retention strategy pledges £130m for new teacher induction

The education secretary has finally unveiled his teacher recruitment and retention strategy, pledging a £130 million reduced timetable and two-year training package for new teachers and an end to onerous floor and coasting schools standards. The strategy, which builds on a number of announcements made by Damian Hinds last year, will be published today, more […]