DARK SECRETS: 5 - The Real Truth

Johnson insists there had been planning for Covid school closures

The former prime minister is giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Evening Standard · Oct 21, 2025

New V-Level qualification to overhaul the education system

IN FULL

The Independent UK · Oct 20, 2025

New ‘V-level’ qualification to be rolled out for post-GCSE pupils

Vocational education has been ‘an afterthought for too long’, the education secretary says

The Independent UK · Oct 19, 2025

Phillipson tells universities to take firm action to protect Jewish students

Some 600 training sessions will be offered to university staff over the coming weeks to help ‘identify harassment and hate’, the Government says.

Evening Standard · Oct 11, 2025

Trainee teachers to get up to £31k tax free to train in Stem subjects

The Department for Education will continue to provide bursaries and scholarships for trainee teachers in certain subjects.

Evening Standard · Oct 6, 2025

Lack of school closure plan ‘an extraordinary dereliction of duty’, Covid inquiry told

Academy trust head Jon Coles says he nearly fell off his chair when Gavin Williamson said no plan was in place

The Guardian - UK · Oct 6, 2025

‘Dereliction of duty’ not to plan for Covid school closures – academy boss

Former DfE director general for schools Sir Jon Coles said his trust got on planning for school closures in March 2020 before receiving direction

Evening Standard · Oct 6, 2025

Texts to parents highlighting missed school days help improve attendance – study

A trial evaluation found texts stating, for example: ‘Tom has missed five days this term’ had a small positive impact on school attendance.

Evening Standard · Oct 1, 2025

Covid school closures in UK damaged ‘very fabric of childhood’

Inquiry hears of children exposed to pornography and suffering ‘grievous’ harm without protection of schools

The Guardian - UK · Sep 29, 2025

Government set to introduce compulsory reading test at 13

Secondary school pupils would take the test at the end of Year 8, according to measures in the Government’s Schools White Paper.

The Independent UK · Sep 26, 2025