DfE

This week’s essential education news includes the two main parties revealing plans to tackle post-Covid pupil absence and an appeal to Ofsted to reduce the fear of inspection

A Sutton Trust report makes it clear that schools nationwide need to ensure they are operating a fair admissions system rather than favouring pupils who will boost their P8 score

Schools minister Damian Hinds tells Tes that pupils with ‘mild anxiety’ should not be kept off school, as DfE rolls out attendance hubs

Trusts’ leader says DfE attendance measures are not enough and a ‘much more systemic response’ is needed

Officials want to help schools hire more teachers from overseas amid worsening recruitment crisis

It took nearly five years to secure a permanent site for one of the government’s flagship specialist maths schools, annual report reveals

Children affected by homelessness are also coming to school tired and hungry, a survey finds

Unions tell teacher pay body not to feel ‘constrained’ after Gillian Keegan asks it to take financial pressures into account in recommending pay rise for 2024-25

Shutting schools in January 2021 was a ‘panic decision’ and against the best interests of pupils, the former education secretary tells Covid inquiry

School inspections by the watchdog should cease until the government and Ofsted have published the plan requested by Ruth Perry coroner, say heads’ leaders

Ms Wadsworth will replace Sir Ian Bauckham, who is standing down to become interim chief regulator

Ofqual confirms that students will be provided with formulae and equation sheets in GCSE maths, physics and combined science exams