News

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

Recent
Most read
Most shared
Recent
Most read
Most shared

Disadvantage gap ‘has little to do with social skills’

The attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers can't be tackled by focusing on social and emotional skills, research shows

Shoot films on unused school land, officials suggest

But a headteachers' leader warns that few schools would benefit from the 'bizarre' proposal for utilising space left empty by falling pupil rolls

Northern Ireland teachers announce new strike action

Five unions are set to take part in the 24-hour teacher strike over pay in January

Oasis MAT appoints new chief executive

John Barneby had been interim CEO at Oasis Community Learning for four months, since John Murphy stepped down

Education disadvantage gap widens

The gap for 16-19 students in particular is the widest researchers have recorded since 2017

10 questions with... Julie Robinson

The chief executive of the Independent Schools Council tells ÌÇÐÄVlog what she has learnt from representing private schools

Schools to trial new safeguarding role

Government will test whether schools should become statutory safeguarding partners through a pilot programme

Heads seek legal advice over Ofsted ‘limbo’

Headteachers and sector leaders have voiced concerns about the legal implication of findings from the Ruth Perry inquest

Half of school leaders need mental health support

Majority of school leaders responding to NAHT’s survey said the job had damaged their mental wellbeing in the past year

Term-time holidays drive surge in absence fines

Nearly 400,000 penalty notices were issued for unauthorised absence in 2022-23 – above levels seen before the Covid pandemic

Gilruth: Querying literacy and numeracy data ‘insults’ teachers

Teachers 'should be trusted' on literacy and numeracy attainment – just as they are trusted to set and mark exams, says education secretary

Most schools reject catch-up scheme

Drop in government subsidy for the National Tutoring Programme saw the number of schools taking part drop to just over a third

Talks under way on A-level replacement

Heads’ leader calls plan to introduce Advanced British Standard qualification ‘headless chicken policymaking’ amid a teacher recruitment crisis

Vacant space will create ‘large cost burden’, schools warned

Senior official cautions against selling off school space left vacant by falling pupil rolls in case the population grows again in the future

NI education review finds huge funds gap

‘Radical’ reforms for Northern Ireland's schools on the cards after publication of long-awaited report

DfE ‘treating teachers with contempt’ over pay

NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach warns DfE that 'future industrial action cannot be ruled out'

Record number of pupils being taught in younger year group

Analysis shared with ÌÇÐÄVlog prompts call for government guidance on teaching pupils with SEND in a different year group to their age

Less than 1 in 3 schools offer core maths, Royal Society warns

Heads' leaders say schools do not have enough specialist teachers for core maths because of recruitment challenges and focus on GCSE resits

Schools call for Camhs waiting list targets

Teachers and schools must not be left ‘unsupported’ in protecting children’s mental health, warns report by state and private school leaders

Scotland curriculum update: Maths to be first priority

Education secretary also said today she would back headteachers who ban mobile phones in school

‘A lot of work to do’ on teacher supply, Hinds admits

Schools minister was questioned by MPs on teacher recruitment, retention, workload and flexible working

School attendance in Scotland drops to record low

New figures show lowest school attendance rate in Scotland since current form of records began in 2003-04

Teacher numbers fall in Scotland

The Scottish government has pledged to increase teacher numbers by 3,500 by 2026 but official figures have dropped for the second year in a row

Primary literacy and numeracy achievement ‘highest on record’

The new official figures demonstrate ‘a clear rise in standards above pre-pandemic levels’, according to Scottish education secretary Jenny Gilruth