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11 April 2026

Tag: schools

Williamson plans £1.1m expansion of cadet units in schools

The education secretary Gavin Williamson wants to expand cadet units in schools, allocating £1.1 million in funding to increase the number of pupils taking part. The funding will go directly to schools with existing “combined cadet force” units to employ more school staff instructors to help run them. Williamson, a former defence secretary, has been […]

School attendance rates fall again as more pupils self-isolate

School attendance rates fell again last week as more pupils were forced to self-isolate due to potential Covid contact in school. Data published by the Department for Education shows 87,600 secondary school pupils were self-isolating due to a potential contact in school last Thursday, up from 58,400 the week before. At primary level, 83,600 pupils […]

Free school meals: 300k more pupils became eligible in first 7 months of Covid

The number of children eligible for free school meals surged in the first seven months of the Covid-19 pandemic, official figures show. Census data published by the Department for Education shows an additional 302,397 pupils became eligible for free school meals between the first nationwide lockdown in March and the October school census. During the […]

Surge in ‘devastating’ ransomware attacks cripples schools

Schools were forced to delay pupils’ return to the classroom, suspend Covid testing and cancel parents evening after hackers struck in a series of targeted ransomware attacks. A Schools Week investigation can reveal the devastating aftershocks of the cyber attacks, as the government’s security centre warned this week of the “growing threat” facing schools. At […]

Councils in deficit told to find SEND savings in exchange for £100m bailouts

Five councils have been told to cut special needs and disabilities (SEND) spending and reform services in exchange for government bailouts totalling almost £100 million to fill black holes in their budgets. The Department for Education has reached deals with five local authorities which have some of the largest dedicated school grants deficits in England. […]

Renewed calls for mandatory sprinklers after schools destroyed

Fire chiefs are again calling for sprinklers to be made mandatory for new and refurbished schools after two devastating fires over the weekend. Two schools in Derbyshire were left severely damaged from the blazes, with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service saying neither had sprinklers fitted. The pupils are now being educated remotely while the council […]

Staff and pupils recommended to layer up as schools work to keep classrooms ventilated

Staff and pupils are being told to layer up as schools struggle to keep classrooms both ventilated for covid safety and warm during dropping temperatures. Unions are urgently seeking updated information on how schools should manage the winter period with windows and doors open, with heads predicting heating costs could double.  The Health and Safety […]