AI-Curated News

Children's News Feed

Automatically curated from DfE announcements, education news, and sector updates.

Pupil Isolated for Over Half a School Year Raises Concerns Over Zero-Tolerance Policies

A BBC investigation has revealed that a pupil at a Yorkshire school spent more than half the academic year confined to an isolation booth. The case highlights growing concerns about restrictive behaviour management practices and whether zero-tolerance discipline policies are causing vulnerable children to fall through the cracks.

Read Summary

Schools Jun 27, 2026

Cornish Language Enjoys Remarkable Resurgence as Children Embrace Kernewek

Young pupils across Cornwall are embracing Kernewek as part of a council-led strategy to revitalise the heritage language in everyday life. Seven-year-old learners describe singing songs and reading books in Cornish as 'fun', signalling growing engagement among the younger generation.

Read Summary

Schools Jun 27, 2026

Smartphone Ban Takes Effect in English Schools: What Lead Members Need to Know

New government guidance requiring schools to be phone-free for the entire school day has officially come into force across England. The policy applies to all state schools and represents a significant shift in how technology is managed during learning hours, with implications for behaviour management, safeguarding, and SEND provision.

Read Summary

Schools 1 month ago

Pupil Isolated for Over Half a School Year Raises Concerns Over Zero-Tolerance Policies

Read Summary

Schools 1 month ago

Cornish Language Enjoys Remarkable Resurgence as Children Embrace Kernewek

Read Summary

Schools 1 month ago

Smartphone Ban Takes Effect in English Schools: What Lead Members Need to Know

Read Summary

More News

Schools Jun 26, 2026

Teenage Boys 'Stuck' on Primary-Level Books as Gender Reading Gap Widens

New research reveals a stark gender divide in teenage reading habits, with boys aged 11 to 14 gravitating towards primary-level books whilst their female peers engage with more complex, age-appropriate literature. The findings raise concerns about literacy attainment and whether schools are adequately supporting boys' reading development.

Schools Jun 26, 2026

Adapting schools for extreme heat: Voices call for building upgrades and term date reforms

While opinion remains split on whether schools should close during heatwaves, readers agree that Britain needs sustainable long-term solutions. Suggestions include retrofitting school buildings for climate resilience and reconsidering traditional term dates to protect pupil wellbeing as extreme temperatures become increasingly common.

Schools Jun 25, 2026

Heatwave attendance crisis: Schools face soaring temperatures and plummeting pupil numbers

New data reveals that school attendance rates have fallen dramatically during recent high temperatures, with many headteachers forced to adapt timetables or close buildings entirely. The figures highlight growing concerns about the suitability of school estates to cope with extreme heat and the impact of climate change on educational continuity.

Schools Jun 25, 2026

Teaching Regulation Agency to Destroy Records of Baseless Misconduct Probes Earlier

The Teaching Regulation Agency has announced plans to reduce retention periods for records of teacher misconduct investigations that result in no finding of wrongdoing. The move aims to protect educators' reputations by ensuring details of baseless allegations are destroyed sooner, while maintaining rigorous safeguarding standards for genuine cases.

Schools Jun 25, 2026

Barnet Schools Rack Up £5m Bank Bill Amid Financial Crisis

Schools in Barnet have accumulated £5 million in bank charges as struggling institutions face severe financial pressures. The figures highlight the growing crisis in school funding and the desperate measures headteachers are taking to manage cashflow amid tightening budgets.

Schools Jun 25, 2026

Urgent retrofitting needed as schools become 'heat traps' in hot weather

This article examines how outdated school infrastructure—including single glazing, restricted windows and glass atriums—struggles to cope with extreme heat, with some classrooms recording temperatures exceeding 40°C. The author argues that urgent retrofitting is essential to adapt school estates for a changing climate and prevent learning environments from becoming uninhabitable during heatwaves.

Schools Jun 25, 2026

Unequal Teacher Recruitment Leaves Disadvantaged Schools Behind

New analysis reveals a 'deeply unequal' teacher recruitment market where schools serving poorer cohorts struggle to attract experienced staff. The findings show disadvantaged institutions are recruiting fewer 'strong' teachers compared to their affluent counterparts, threatening to widen the attainment gap.

Schools Jun 25, 2026

French teachers strike over 'unacceptable' heat in schools as exams proceed in 40C temperatures

Teaching unions in France have urged staff to strike over unsafe working conditions as classrooms reach 40C during a severe heatwave, putting the health of both staff and students at risk. The action highlights concerns over outdated school buildings ill-equipped for extreme temperatures, with national exams continuing despite what unions call a 'blatant lack of preparation'.

Schools Jun 24, 2026

Climate planning failure leaves UK school buildings struggling with extreme heat

Headteachers report that Victorian-era school buildings with thick brick walls are coping better with rising temperatures than newer constructions, as decades of poor planning leave the education estate unprepared for climate change.

Schools Jun 23, 2026

Hundreds of Schools Close Across England and Wales Amid Extreme Heatwave

Education unions have warned that high temperatures pose dangerous conditions for pupils and staff, prompting hundreds of schools across southern England and Wales to close early or adjust their hours this week.

Schools Jun 23, 2026

Heatwave Guidance for Schools Highlights Need for Long-Term Infrastructure Investment

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has issued guidance to help school leaders protect pupils during extreme heat. Whilst schools are implementing immediate measures, the union emphasises that sustainable solutions require long-term investment in school infrastructure and building standards.

Schools Jun 23, 2026

Should schools close during extreme heatwaves? Balancing safety against learning

With temperatures forecast to reach 38°C, uncomfortably hot classrooms are sparking debate about whether schools should shut or stay open with safeguards. We explore the dilemma facing headteachers and local authorities as they weigh health risks against educational disruption.

Children's News Feed

Categories

More News