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School referrals to Prevent hit a ‘dead end’, warns commissioner

Dame Rachel de Souza calls for a change in the law after data shows most school referrals to the anti-terrorism programme bounce back with no action taken

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DfE cuts admission appeals funding for academies

Academies fighting more than 20 admission appeals will no longer be able to claim towards the costs

David Ross Education Trust announces new CEO

Julian Appleyard, currently CEO of a nine-school MAT in Yorkshire, will start his new role in 2026

Swinney threatens councils to cut class contact time

But local authorities say that government funding to date does ‘not come close’ to the true cost of delivering the policy and it could have ‘a detrimental impact’ on pupils

State schools falling behind private schools in AI ‘digital divide’

Independent school teachers are more than twice as likely to have received formal AI training than state school peers, Sutton Trust report suggests

New RSHE guidance: what schools need to know

The DfE has published revised relationships, sex and health education guidance, and Oak National Academy has announced new lessons to go along with it

Ofsted set to stagger full inspection launch in November

There will be a reduced number of inspections in the first two months as the watchdog seeks to address sector concerns

SEND attainment gap at ‘record high’ for 5-year-olds

Education Policy Institute report highlights 'looming inequality crisis', with disadvantaged pupils falling further behind

‘Reprehensible’ rise in assaults and abuse against teachers

Suspensions and permanent exclusions as a result of physical assaults on adults have increased sharply, DfE data shows

SEND inspections will change after DfE reforms

Ofsted chief inspector defends area SEND inspections, which he says have helped to push the government towards reforms

Schools aren’t financially sustainable, say governors

Half of schools and trusts are considering restructuring staff because of funding pressures, National Governance Association research shows

Schools face ‘unsustainable’ rise in AI-generated complaints

Parents' use of AI in making complaints means schools are having to deal with complex letters loaded with references to the law, leaders warn

School supplier cost hikes ‘significantly’ worse than feared

Warning of schools facing bigger bills comes as many chief financial officers say they expect their trust's finances to worsen next year, according to findings seen by ÌÇÐÄVlog

‘Sensitive’ school files stolen in cyberattack on local authority

'Extra vigilance' advised at the affected schools in Scottish local authority, as criminal investigation continues

Suspensions and exclusions reach ‘shocking’ record highs in 2023-24

State school suspensions near 1 million and set a new peak as exclusions cross 10,000 threshold

Ofsted seeks to address schools’ fears about new inspections

Watchdog will host a series of webinars on new-style inspections after announcing that schools will only get half a term's notice on its finalised plans

Revealed: the 20 leaders in DfE’s MAT chiefs group

The new advisory group, due to meet for the first time next week, includes the leaders of many of the biggest academy trusts, an email seen by ÌÇÐÄVlog reveals

Teacher unions call for government to fully fund pay award

ASCL, NAHT, NEU and Community are also calling for a fair national pay structure and the full removal of performance-related pay

Schools ‘bridging funding gap’ to provide free school meals

Caterers are being forced to cut portions and reduce their menus because of the shortfall in free school meals funding, research shows

Shield ‘anxious’ heads from Ofsted fears, Cruddas tells trusts

With government planning a series of major education reforms, academy trusts must tell a 'stronger story' about their work, says Confederation of School Trusts' chief executive

Essex MAT set to double pupil numbers after transfer

South East Essex Academy Trust will reverse its balance of primary and secondary schools if plans get the go-ahead

DfE ‘lacks coherent plan’ to boost teacher recruitment

It is not clear how the government intends to fulfil its promise to recruit 6,500 more teachers, an MPs' committee warns

Will digital exams spell the end of handwriting in schools?

Handwriting has 'important advantages' and must not be undermined by the rollout of digital exams, former education secretary tells MPs

DfE launches ‘phonics-inspired’ primary writing framework

The new framework is set to be revised if DfE changes the national curriculum following the current review

Heads need more support to make most of PEF, finds study

The 'promise of freedom' that Scotland's Pupil Equity Fund gives to headteachers 'may be illusory without a reliable evidence base', researchers say