Secondary

Friday

17th Apr 2026

Key stage 3 alliance announces regional co-chairs
The regional co-chairs will lead schools and trusts to share good practice on what works in early secondary school
Sharing ideas illustration

Thursday

16th Apr 2026

Ofqual won’t validate teacher-assessed grades for Middle East students
Exam boards Pearson and AQA confirm plan to switch students in the Middle East to international qualifications – but this could pose issues for university places
Roadworks barriers

Wednesday

8th Apr 2026

OxfordAQA shakes up its international exams offer
A new exam series in October and earlier results days are among the changes unveiled by the provider of exams to schools across the world
International exams provider OxfordAQA has announced changes for its International A levels and AS levels and IGCSEs
Pressure for GCSE maths re-mark after Ofqual upholds complaint
Exam board OCR apologises for ‘inconsistencies in our past materials’ but insists there were ‘no errors’ in maths question – prompting a petition for papers to be re-marked
Exam board resists remark after Ofqual upholds GCSE maths complaint

Tuesday

31st Mar 2026

Most secondary teachers ‘regularly’ see mental health-related absence
More than three-quarters of teachers also routinely see their students experiencing ‘social difficulties’, according to NEU survey on mental health in schools
Most secondary teachers routinely see student absence related to mental health, research shows
UAE cancels IB exams as Middle East conflict continues
Instead of sitting exams, students will receive results based on externally assessed coursework and teacher-predicted grades
UAE cancels IB exams as Middle East conflict continues

Monday

30th Mar 2026

Exam students affected by Iran war offered special considerations
OxfordAQA urges schools in the region to apply for special considerations for all students and says a final decision on whether exams will go ahead will be made soon
Oxford: Special exam considerations for students impacted by war

Tuesday

24th Mar 2026

Top schools ‘shutting out’ disadvantaged students with SEND
Secondary schools with the best exam results have fewer students receiving both free school meals and SEN support than live in their catchment areas, report warns
Top schools are 'effectively shutting out' disadvantaged pupils with SEND, says report

Friday

13th Mar 2026

Phillipson launches KS3 commission
The Key Stage 3 Alliance will form part of the government’s universal RISE school improvement offer, education secretary tells ASCL annual conference
A picture of Bridget Phillipson

Thursday

12th Mar 2026

SQA exam dates 2026: timetables and key information
Read our 2026 exams guide, including key dates and advice initially published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, later updated by the new body Qualifications Scotland
SQA exam dates 2026: all the key information

Tuesday

10th Mar 2026

Cambridge extends coursework deadline over Middle East war
Conflict in the Middle East causes another international provider of assessments to shift its submission dates because of disruption to students’ learning
Cambridge International has extended its coursework deadline because of the war in the Middle East

Monday

9th Mar 2026

IB extends coursework deadline due to Middle East conflict
International Baccalaureate says it is seeking to ‘minimise disruption’ for schools affected by war in the Middle East
International Baccalaureate has extended its coursework deadline due to the conflict in the Middle East