29 areas vie for spots on council academy trust pilot Only a third of councils which applied are likely to be able to join the pilot launching their own trusts
GMB union ballots school support staff over £1,925 pay rise Members polled over a pay deal worth 10.5% for the lowest-paid school staff and 4% for some higher earners
Councils offer school support staff pay rise worth almost £2,000 each It leaves schools facing another unfunded cost increase that will further stretch budgets
Council trusts allowed to run schools beyond their own boundaries Sector leaders said LA-founded MATs should be allowed to expand anywhere like other trusts, but one expert warned of council ‘power struggles’
Government withholds SEND bailouts as councils told to fill £269m hole Some DfE bailout payments were delayed as councils failed to hit agreed targets, while all councils are being told to plug deficits ‘now’
DfE hiring up to 8 more advisers to oversee attendance push A handful of councils alone have slashed more attendance staff than the DfE plans to recruit
Nine more councils told to reform SEND services in return for £300m But cash comes with strict conditions such as keeping more children in mainstream schools
Covid savings fuel record turnaround in maintained school finances Lower energy and exam costs saved schools millions during lockdowns
Ofsted boost for school in ‘David and Goliath’ court battle against academisation A ‘good’ rating takes Yew Tree Primary School a step closer to resisting academisation after it took the DfE to court