Schools

• International education spending: a statistical minefield

  Mark Whitehead investigates the Government's 'seemingly casual' approach to data when it comes to education spending.

  

• Whitehall accused of using ‘distorted information’ on education spending

  Head teachers have attacked the way the Government has used statistics to defend its spending on education as 'shocking and disturbing'.

  

• Schools to suffer ‘real terms cuts’, council chiefs warn

  The latest spending plans show schools will suffer real terms cuts in funding, local government leaders have warned.

  

• Labour pledges to scrap new academies

  Councils would be given control of academies and have new powers to build more schools if Labour were elected, the party conference heard yesterday.

  

• Cash-strapped schools relying on donations from affluent parents

  Government budget cuts are forcing many schools to rely more heavily on financial contributions from parents, a charity focusing on social mobility finds.

  

• Ofsted ‘fig leaf’ for Whitehall failures on school standards

  Ofsted is not providing the level of independent assurance about the quality of education that schools and parents need, MPs warn.

  

• Number of infants in overcrowded classes ‘doubled’ under Tories

  The Government denies accusations that the number of primary school infants in classes over 30 pupils has nearly doubled under the Tories.

  

• Whitehall publishes guidance to save schools £1bn

  The Government has published guidance aimed at helping schools reduce the £10bn bill they pay annually on non-staffing costs.

  

• Councils warn of secondary school places 'emergency'

  Half of all councils England may be unable to meet demand for new secondary school places within five years, town hall chiefs have warned today.

  

• Hackney raises £100,000 a week from controversial traffic camera

  It is the ‘responsibility of drivers’ to read signs, Hackney Council argues in response to criticisms that its new traffic cameras are inadequately signposted.