Schools

• Gap between spending per pupil in England and Wales ‘eliminated’

  School funding in England has fallen faster than in Wales, ‘virtually eliminating’ the gap between the two nations, financial experts reveal.

  

• Whitehall ‘failing’ to learn from high-profile academy failures, MPs say

  The Government is ‘failing’ to learn from high-profile academy failures which have been damaging to the education of the children involved, MPs say.

  

• Primary school standards ‘continue to rise’

  This year has seen an increase in the number of children who have reached the expected standard in Key Stage 2.

  

• Councils more likely to improve failing schools than academies

  Failing schools are more likely to be improved by councils than academy chains, new analysis has revealed.

  

• Meeting the challenge of 21st century schools

  Austerity budgets and rising demand for places has long made building for schools a challenging subject for local authorities. One programme in Wales is showing what can be achieved, as highlighted by Morgan Sindall in this sponsored article.

  

• Number of pupils getting first-choice secondary school falling

  The proportion of pupils getting into their first-choice secondary school is falling, according to the latest figures.

  

• Khan announces £1m school air quality fund

  The mayor of London yesterday announced a £1m fund to help protect pupils attending schools in the most polluted areas of the capital.

  

• Ofsted criticised for not offering ‘value for money’

  Ofsted has struggled to meet its inspection targets due to ‘significant’ financial and staffing challenges, auditors say.

  

• Free school transport schemes at risk in county areas

  County councils have warned they are struggling to fund free school transport schemes as it costs ten times more in county areas than neighbouring cities.

  

• Ban cars from school areas, charity says

  A charity has urged the Government to ban cars from the immediate vicinity of school gates at drop off and pick up times in order to improve air quality.