After years of attacks on ‘so-called progressive’ university teacher-training departments a senior official says DfE is now adopting a different approach. The Department for Education has ended its ‘focus’ on school-led initial teacher-training in favour of a ‘pragmatic’ approach that embraces university led courses, according to a senior official. Read more
An international group which supports more than 20 schools in England is giving a platform to a speaker about the ‘hidden dangers of challenging homophobia in primary schools’. Christian Education Europe, which supports and provides curriculum material to 24 independent schools, will hear from Brian Hadley in a speech entitled ‘society indoctrinating the innocent.’ Read more
Councils have said that funding cuts will leave many local authorities potentially unable to meet legal obligations to schools over issues such as checking staff for criminal records and ensuring buildings are free of asbestos. The warning from the Local Government Association comes amid a wider row about a planned new national funding formula for schools, which prompted concern from a series of backbench Conservative MPs. Read more
A father who described himself as an ‘Anglo-Saxon’ atheist has lost a legal battle to prevent his ex-wife from sending their son to an Islamic secondary school. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he follows no particular faith and wanted his son to have a secular education. He claimed that he would be marginalised. Read more