Opponent of woke culture who founded outstanding London free school takes government appointmentThe headteacher of a school dubbed the strictest in Britain who has attacked “woke culture” has been appointed as the government’s new Social Mobility Commi…
UK unions call for tighter Covid safety measures in schools as cases surge
Government urged to take action as one in 14 secondary school children in England infected last weekCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUnions have called on the government to stop “standing by” and reinstate safety measures at …
Property, pay and regional power could be the keys to ‘levelling up’ | Letters
Sheila Preston addresses property prices and pay levels, Roger Read makes a case for regional governance, Peter D Hogg suggests moving Eton College to Hartlepool, while Marilyn Hall hopes to see the end of grammar schools The much-discussed issue of “l…
Covid rates rising in secondary schools in England, ONS data shows
Steep increase suggests spread through schools is outpacing vaccination programmeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageOne in 14 secondary school-age children had Covid last week, according to figures released by the Office for Na…
Chris Whitty warns MPs it is ‘inevitable’ unvaccinated children will catch Covid
Chief medical officer says transmission in England highest among 12- to 15-year-oldsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe rapid spread of Covid makes it “inevitable” that children will be infected and have their education disr…
Children in most deprived areas suffered greatest loss of learning during lockdowns – ONS
Office for National Statistics cite internet access and less communication with teachers as factorsThe youngest primary school children and those in the most deprived areas suffered the greatest loss of learning during the pandemic lockdowns that close…
Covid teams can vaccinate pupils against parents’ wishes, schools told
Guidelines say health staff can decide whether children receive jab without parental consent, as headteachers fear protestsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageHealthcare staff can decide whether children get a Covid vaccine agai…
‘Super-strict’ London headteacher in running to be social mobility champion
Right-leaning Katharine Birbalsingh criticised ‘chaotic’ state schools at Tory party conference in 2010 A headteacher who rose to public attention by addressing a Conservative conference about some “utterly chaotic” state schools is a frontrunner to be…
Confusion over Covid jabs for over-12s in England ahead of new school term
JCVI is understood to have concerns about the affect of the jab on other childhood inoculationsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageConfusion is growing over whether all children aged 12 and over will soon be offered a Covid jab …
Unions criticise English schools ‘more normal year’ campaign as naive
As students are urged to have twice-weekly Covid tests, unions say further measures are needed to reassure parentsA new government campaign urging students in England to have twice-weekly Covid tests for “a more normal year” at school and college has b…