Pupils from affluent homes are more than 40 per cent more likely to get a place at top secondary schools, according to research by the University of Bristol. The data revealed that around one in five (18 per cent) children eligible for free school meals were enrolled at a highly effective school, compared to around a quarter (25 per cent) of their peers from wealthier backgrounds. Researchers measured school effectiveness using the Progress 8 score, which tracks pupils’ progress from the end of primary school to their GCSEs, and found that prioritising a fixed proportion eligible for free school meals would best reduce inequality without significantly disrupting school placements. By Jasmine Norden, The Standard.

There is further coverage of the government's review of the national curriculum in England, which was published yesterday.

BBC News features an extensive article detailing the curriculum plans, with reactions from politicians and education experts. Nick Gibb, former Conservative schools minister, warned that scrapping the EBacc would "lead to a precipitous decline in the study of foreign languages", limiting them largely to independent schools and middle-class children with tutors. The Liberal Democrats welcomed the broadening of the curriculum, but said "scrapping instead of broadening the EBacc is not the right move". Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the review had proposed "a sensible, evidence-based set of reforms" but warned that sufficient funding and teaching resources were needed. Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has praised the changes designed to enable more pupils to study creative subjects, commending ministers' efforts to remove "outdated systems" limiting arts education. By Hazel Shearing and Marthe de Ferrer, with additional reporting by Hope Rhodes.

In an article for The Telegraph, shadow education secretary Laura Trott accuses Labour of "watering down" education standards in the name of ideology amid the proposed curriculum changes. "Bridget Phillipson says she wants to tackle social mobility. But by dismantling the very reforms that raised standards for every child, especially white working class pupils, she is betraying that promise," she warns. By Poppy Wood. Ms Trott's piece is published directly after the news item.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has said Labour will be taking forward the recommendation to reduce time in the exam hall by 10 per cent, or around 2.5 to 3 hours, because Britain is an "outlier" compared to other countries. The reduction in hours in GCSE exams was one of Professor Becky Francis’s recommendations, with the report calling the current set-up "excessive". By Genevieve Holl-Allen, The Telegraph. The government has also accepted the recommendation to bring religious education into the national curriculum, with the caveat that educators must "reach consensus on whether this is achievable". By Ruth Lucas, Schools Week. 

Writing in Schools Week, Sir Hamid Patel, chief executive of Star Academies, welcomes the proposals for having the potential to raise standards across education while ensuring every pupil has the opportunity to succeed. He explains: "It will also be inclusive. This is a key aspiration. If we are to realise the potential of our vulnerable pupils – particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) – we need to do things differently."

In a letter to The Times, Ben Horan, headmaster of Prior Park College, warns that the curriculum reforms risk undoing the "rigour" introduced under Michael Gove, which has helped improve England’s standing in international rankings. Before asking more of schools, which already have limited resources, Mr Horan urges ministers to outline some "basic expectations of parents" who are "the first teachers of young people and have much more time with them than any school will ever have". The letter appears above halfway.

Families of children with ADHD who struggle to sleep are invited to take part in a new study at the University Hospital Southampton. About 70 per cent of youngsters with the condition experience sleep difficulties. For six months, participating families use a website called Sleep Buddy, which provides details and advice about methods to address a lack of sleep. They will then be compared with those who have not used the website. The aim is to create a free, comprehensive resource to address the issue. By David Allard, BBC News.

Staff and students at Hadlow Rural Community School in Kent are using classical music to keep their animals calm during fireworks season. The school, which cares for goats, sheep, alpacas, ducks, chickens, and snakes, is believed to be the only non-selective secondary in the UK where all pupils study land-based subjects. Staff and pupils are backing the RSPCA's Kind Sparks fireworks campaign as they takes measures to keep all of their animals safe. They first used the calming method during the 2025 lambing season, and will be continuing it this week as Bonfire Night celebrations take place. By Danielle Malgwi, BBC News. 

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