In a written question in the House of Commons, Neil O'Brien asked for clarification regarding the term "mainly" in the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill. Mr O'Brien, Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, asked which definition of "mainly" ministers are using, in the context of schools "mainly concerned with the provision of education to children with an education, health and care plan".

Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Jim McMahon replied: "The Bill sets out that where a private school is wholly or mainly concerned with providing education for pupils with an Education, Health and Care plan they will be exempt from the measure and therefore retain eligibility for business rates charitable relief. The wholly or mainly test is one which is common across various parts of business rates and local authorities are accustomed to applying it. Wholly or mainly is generally taken to mean 50% or more." Hansard.

New research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has found as many as 300,000 “ghost children” are missing from the school system amid a post-pandemic mental health crisis. The think tank, which analysed GP registration and school enrolment data between 2017 and 2023, has estimated that up to 400,000 children aged 5 to 15 were out of school last year, including 95,000 registered as home-educated. The figure is around 2.5 times higher than the Department for Education's recent calculations, which suggested 117,100 children in England were missing from education at some point in 2022/23. By Poppy Wood, The Telegraph.

The 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss) has been published today, providing data on school absences across 65 countries around the world. Tes takes a look at England's ranking, which is described as "encouraging" by Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. By Ellen Peirson-Hagger.

Pearson, the UK's largest exam board, is planning to offer on-screen assessments for its Edexcel GCSEs in history and business studies from 2027, iNews has learned. The plans could mean that, within three years, candidates could take GCSEs in five subjects without the need for pen and paper. Commenting on the move, Pearson's managing director Sharon Hague said she is expecting a shift towards “increasingly digital” exams in the UK. The board also said that on-screen assessments would help children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) by allowing personalisation through features such as colour filters and alternative paper sizes. By Connie Dimsdale. 

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