General
Yesterday
Badenoch calls Phillipson ‘spiteful class warrior’ over private school tax
Education secretary accuses Conservative leader of ‘comparing me to a Gestapo officer’ after heated clash in the Commons
Schools caught in ‘standoff’ over falling pupil rolls
Lords’ inquiry into falling pupil numbers also hears warnings about mixed-age classes, as well as a proposal that teachers could be retrained to work across different phases
Secondaries more likely to be marked down for attendance and behaviour
Ofsted’s latest data reveals a disparity in outcomes between primary and secondary schools in the combined inspection area of attendance and behaviour
Poorer primary schools see pupil numbers fall twice as fast
DfE urged to assess the impact of falling numbers on disadvantaged pupils and increase funding for affected schools
Tuesday
Oliver responds to MPs’ concerns about new Ofsted inspections
The education select committee questions the Ofsted chief about the impact of inspections on school leaders’ wellbeing and about controversy over the watchdog’s grade for achievement
Forfar Education picks up third school in Greece
The acquisition of Pagkrition School in Crete follows the recent addition of a private school in Rhodes to the group, and the launch of a British primary in Thessaloniki
Schools set to close amid rare red warnings of extreme heat
Scores of schools across England announce they will close or finish early over the next few days as record-breaking temperatures predicted
Monday
Unions seek urgent clarification on teacher pay after Starmer resignation
Unions warn timing of pay announcement has already been ‘knocked off course’ by political events, leaving teachers facing uncertainty and schools unable to budget
‘Dangerous’ for schools to carry on as normal in heatwave, union warns
NEU issues warning as government highlights updated guidance for schools on what to do during heatwaves, with England facing record-breaking temperatures this week
Phillipson doing ‘bad job’ as education secretary, NEU members say
Biggest teaching union calls for ‘new leadership’ at the DfE, with members rating Bridget Phillipson even lower than Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister
Headteachers criticise ‘brutal’ Ofsted inspection framework
Campaign group’s survey of schools finds ‘overwhelmingly negative’ reactions to new inspection system
