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GCSE results 2026: English and maths pass rates down for fifth straight year
This year’s GCSE results also reveal that the regional divide in England in attainment continued to widen while the gender gap narrowed
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Advanced British Standard could widen private-state gap, warns AQA
Exam board says private schools could choose to 'simply continue' with A levels while state schools move to ABS
‘Devastating’ fall in number of schools winning capital funding
Just 866 projects will benefit from the Condition Improvement Fund this year – down from 1,033 last year and 1,408 the year before
Trusts named to run 30 new special free schools
But the DfE says the process of finding a trust sponsor will need to be repeated in three cases after suitable trusts were not identified to run the schools
Ofqual: 2023 KS2 reading test was effective
But lower attaining pupils were likely to have found last summer's test more difficult than previous papers, analysis finds
Sex education curriculum ‘failing young people’, say MPs
There is an 'absence of authoritative advice' about sexual health for young people, warns Women and Equalities Committee
Teacher pay falls by more than public sector as a whole
IFS says cuts to pay of higher earners in the public sector has contributed to recruitment and retention problems
Khan Review: Provide more help for threatened teachers
The government's independent social cohesion adviser, Dame Sara Khan, has called on the DfE to create a 'Cohesion and Conflict Unit' to support schools
Schools must convert in groups to claim academy support grant
Under new criteria for an academy conversion grant, schools will not receive £25k funding unless they convert in groups of three or more
Lynne Neagle appointed new Welsh education secretary
She replaces Jeremy Miles as new first minister Vaughan Gething unveils his ministerial team during a crucial period for Welsh education
Apprenticeship plan ‘risks quality of teaching’
The Teacher Degree Apprenticeship scheme is being 'unduly rushed' and should be put on hold, warns school leaders' union
Outwood Grange confirms Lee Wilson as permanent CEO
He will take over role from former CEO and current Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver
Recruitment crisis: DfE funds international market probe
DfE wants research to inform decisions on the current use of financial incentives, spot 'barriers' and 'assess eligibility and appetite' for international recruitment
Leadership skills can’t be ‘frozen in time’, warns NIoT
Professional development for school leaders needs to evolve to equip them with the tools to tackle new challenges, says NIoT chief Melanie Renowden
Schools’ hunt for attendance support as crisis continues
Huge hike in vacancies comes amid major government attendance drive and 'decimation' of local authority support
Schools ‘struggling’ to find effective mobile phone policies
Teachers have mixed views on banning phones in schools, but the vast majority surveyed say mobiles disrupt classes
SNP under fire for changing free laptops policy
Scottish education secretary forced to defend rowing back on government promise to provide a free laptop or other digital device to every pupil
Four councils agree new deals to cut high-needs deficits
Five councils have also seen their government payments to help balance high-needs deficits put on hold as their agreements have been put under review
Weekly round-up: Teacher pay and staff shortages
This week’s essential education news includes unions demanding an above-inflation teacher pay rise and warnings about another shortfall in trainee teachers
Revealed: Absence still much higher after pandemic
More than one in three pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds were persistently absent last year, DfE data shows
Two-thirds of special schools full amid SEND crisis
There were around 4,000 more pupils on roll than there were places for 2022-23, DfE capacity data shows
NPQ funding slashed for next year
Fully funded National Professional Qualifications will remain for Sendcos, primary maths, headship and staff in high-disadvantage areas only
Pay offer backed by teachers and leaders in Northern Ireland
School leaders warn that teacher workload and many others issues have still to be resolved, but hope that higher pay will boost recruitment to the profession
Cambridge warns over PM plan to ditch ‘A level’ name
There is also not enough school space or teachers to deliver Rishi Sunak's Advanced British Standard plan, its exam board OCR warns
Teacher vacancies remain high post-Covid
Experts warn school recruitment will never quite return to pre-pandemic levels as hard-to-hire regions continue to face worse struggle to fill posts