General
Tuesday
Scottish Budget: universal free school meals plan remains vague
But councils given £1.5 million to wipe out pupils’ existing school-meal debt, says finance secretary Shona Robison as she sets out Scotland’s Budget for 2024-25
Frances Wadsworth announced as interim chair of Ofqual
Ms Wadsworth will replace Sir Ian Bauckham, who is standing down to become interim chief regulator
GCSEs 2024: Maths and science students get extra support
Ofqual confirms that students will be provided with formulae and equation sheets in GCSE maths, physics and combined science exams
‘Checks should have been in place’ to prevent DfE funding blunder
An investigation into a £370 million DfE school funding calculation error has published its findings
Transgender guidance: what schools need to know
The DfE has published its long-awaited draft transgender guidance. Here are the key details for schools
Disadvantage gap ‘has little to do with social skills’
The attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers can’t be tackled by focusing on social and emotional skills, research shows
Monday
Shoot films on unused school land, officials suggest
But a headteachers’ leader warns that few schools would benefit from the ‘bizarre’ proposal for utilising space left empty by falling pupil rolls
Northern Ireland teachers announce new strike action
Five unions are set to take part in the 24-hour teacher strike over pay in January
Oasis MAT appoints new chief executive
John Barneby had been interim CEO at Oasis Community Learning for four months, since John Murphy stepped down
Education disadvantage gap widens
The gap for 16-19 students in particular is the widest researchers have recorded since 2017
