Education News
IBB Law’s specialist education team is dedicated to enabling children and young people achieve beyond their dreams. We only act for children, young people and their parents. We are focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for those at the heart of education.
We provide advice and support across the full range of education issues. We monitor decisions in the courts, new statutes, rules, regulations and guidance from Government. We also take note of reports from digital media. The monitoring and recording of developments in education are collated in this Education News page. Hyperlinks are included to identify the primary source to assist those looking for more information.
Government announces the subject content of the GCSE in British Sign Language (BSL). The Government reported that parents, teachers and organisations from the deaf and hearing communities provided overwhelming support for the introduction of the BSL GCSE.
Government publishes Consultation on Guidance for Schools and Colleges: Gender Questioning Children. Consultation to close on 12 March 2024.
Publication of briefing by the House of Commons library, on Sexual Harassment in Schools (England). This paper provides information on the requirements on schools and discusses recent developments, following concerns about sexual harassment in English schools.
Government published a consultation on how best to implement minimum service levels in school, meaning that schools will be required to stay open on strike days. The proposals are due to come into force by September 2024.
Department for Education has asked the examinations regulator, Ofqal, to extend support to GCSE students in respective of their mathematics exams. The students will receive formulae and equations in their maths, physics and combined science exams, in plans to limit the impact of Covid.
This is repeating the provisions for the 2023 examinations. The consequence of this provision is that students will not have to memorise formulae.
Long serving Schools Minister Nick Gibb announced he was resigning and would step down as an MP (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) at the next election.
It was reported that he was a strong advocate of phonics and claimed England’s children could “now boast of being some of the most accomplished readers in the world.”
Damian Hinds returns to the Department for Education as Minister of State.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment publish “Sex gaps in education in England”.
The report is described as the largest study of its kind, in terms of the number of stages of education covered. Analysis of the data revealed more female students meet or exceed expectations, even in Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage I. It is stated that these differences do not diminish over time. At the point of undergraduate degrees, a greater percentage of female students achieve first class degrees, than male students. However, despite success at the academic stage, these advantages shown by girls and women in education are not necessarily carry through to employment, with gaps in pay and opportunities still common in the labour market.
Deadline to apply for secondary school admission places in England and Wales, to start in Year 7, in September 2024.
Children’s Commissioner for Wales publishes report on “Racism within Secondary Schools”.
Rocio Cifuentes MBE, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, reports, “that sadly, very many children and young people experience racism and racist incidents within secondary school, and few have confidence in how this is dealt with.” She goes on to write that these themes are familiar and recurrent and echo those reports she has, herself, authored.
Somerset Council fined because a girl with autism was denied support for many months.
The ombudsman found the council took 37 weeks to produce the final version of the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), well beyond the 20 weeks set by law.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces, at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, that all pupils will study some form of English and Maths until the age of 18.
He also announced A levels and T levels will be scrapped and replaced with a new, British standard, qualification.
Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rolls out their new framework, with increased emphasis on pupil wellbeing.
The framework has moved to a single type of routine inspection which will improve consistency of reporting and simplify the inspection process for school leaders. Schools will be informed whether they meet or do not meet the relevant standards. The report will clearly state the significant strengths. In the summary section, inspectors may recommend next steps where standards are met or give an overview of areas for action where standards are not met.
Government publishes data on children and young people with an education, health and care plan in England.
Government announces a freeze on university tuition fees.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon announced, “ We recognise students continue to face financial challenges, which is why we are increasing loans and grants for living and other costs for a further year. For the sixth year in a row, we have frozen tuition fees for a full-time undergraduate course at a maximum of £9,250 which will reduce the initial amount of debt students will take on.”
Gillian Keegan was appointed Secretary of State for Education on 25 October 2022.
Kit Malthouse was appointed Secretary of State for Education on 6 September 2022.
James Cleverly was appointed Secretary of State for Education on 7 July 2022.
Michelle Donelan was appointed Secretary of State for Education on 5 July 2022.
Nadhim Zahawi was appointed Secretary of State for Education on 15 September 2021.
