Pupils at an RAAC-affected school had to learn in classes of 120, had no access to hot food and have seen their attainment fall behind by a full grade, according to a report revealing the potential impact of the crumbly concrete crisis.

More focus is needed on a 'second transition' for pupils leaving Year 7, while absence sanctions are 'insufficient' to meet attendance challenges, a new report found, identifying some of the key drivers of absenteeism.

Deprived children are being robbed of a lifetime of reading for pleasure by governments that are 'simply blind' to the benefits of loving literature from an early age, according to the author Michael Morpurgo.

The country’s biggest teaching union has set a date for a preliminary strike action ballot over teacher pay and school funding. The National Education Union said it will begin an indicative ballot of its members on 2nd March (£).

Children and young people are suffering huge damage to their health and wellbeing due to policymakers refusing to prioritise the need for outdoor play, charities said.

Children suffering from domestic abuse, serious neglect and homelessness are increasingly being refused help from over-stretched social services. Child protection cases are now routinely being passed back to schools.


Philip Pullman, the author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, joined fellow British writers Michael Morpurgo and Julia Donaldson in calling on the government to legislate immediately to ensure all schools in Britain have libraries.

A council wants to take the construction of a new special free school into its own hands to gain more 'certainty' that it will open on time. Ministers approved a 100-place, all-through school in Bracknell Forest last year. More here.

Headteachers in Southampton launched a new support network to 'help each other through the strains of inspections'. The ‘Caversham Covenant’ means leaders will get a 'buddy' so they 'know there is someone they can talk to before, during and after inspection'.

Education secretary Gillian Keegan has approved a controversial £6 million donation from Sir James Dyson to a primary school in Wiltshire, despite warnings it could have a 'severe impact' on the viability of neighbouring settings.

A primary school warned parents it may have to close due to a growing row over a pupil wearing a Palestine flag patch to school. Barclay Primary School in east London said it may have to revert to online learning because of threats against staff.

Michaela Community School, branded 'Britain’s strictest', is facing a High Court challenge from a pupil over a policy banning prayer ritual. The free school in north London is subject to a judicial review over the policy, brought about by an affected Muslim pupil.