Plans to strip academies of their school admission powers and hand them back to councils should be sped up, the chief schools adjudicator has said. It comes as the admissions watchdog’s new annual report reveals local authorities have reported hundreds of potentially unlawful arrangements. Read more
Disabled children in England with severe behavioural and complex mental health issues are being ‘separated and hidden’ from society, a review warns. The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) says these children should not be put into institutions at an early age. Such a move costs the taxpayer dear and gives youngsters low ambitions for improving their lives, the CDC says. Read more
A leading Conservative MP fears the government’s preoccupation with Brexit is holding up vital plans to make SRE compulsory in all schools. Maria Miller, chair of the women and equalities committee, which produced a damning report about sexual harassment and violence in schools, has launched a campaign to press the government to take swift action. She called an adjournment debate in the Commons on Monday to try to build momentum. Read more
From journalists to investment bankers, more professionals at the top of their game are turning to teaching. Career changers can help students understand how the skills they learn in the classroom translate into real-world jobs. But how difficult is it to make the transition from high flyer to newly qualified teacher? And what’s it like, as a head teacher, to manage someone with years of professional experience who may even be older than you? Read more