Schools

• 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.

  

• Rise in mental health referrals from schools

  Local government leaders have branded a report on mental health services for young people 'worrying' and called for a radical overhaul of the available treatment.

  

• Whitehall criticised for £50m ‘handout’ to grammar schools

  Council chiefs have urged the Government to give them more powers to build schools in response to today’s announcement that grammar schools will receive £50m to expand.

  

• MP calls on Whitehall to tackle North-South education divide

  The chair of the education committee has called on the Government to do more to improve education standards in the north of England.

  

• Whitehall announces decision to ‘simplify’ school assessment system

  Head teachers have welcomed the Government’s decision to ‘simplify’ the system by which schools performance is assessed.

  

• Government launches £23m fund to support disadvantaged pupils

  The department for education has launched a £23m fund to help support the brightest pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.