Writing in Tes, Russell Langley, external engagement director at Loughborough Schools Foundation (which includes Loughborough Grammar School and Loughborough High School), outlines how his school reconsidered its approach to online marketing materials in response to emerging safeguarding concerns. On the strategy, of which parents and staff have been "overwhelmingly supportive", he says: "Move beyond asking whether you have permission to share an image and ask whether sharing it is necessary. Consider the child’s long-term digital footprint. Ask how an image might be repurposed outside your control."

A third of older teenagers have been shown disturbing content on friends' phones while at school, a poll by campaign group Generation Focus has found. The survey of more than 1,000 16 to 18-year-olds revealed that 40 per cent had been sent or shown distressing content during the school day, and 33 per cent said this was on another child’s smartphone. The findings come as MPs will vote today on whether to ban smartphones in schools, creating legislation that would replace current non-statutory guidance. By Nicola Woolcock and Ben Clatworthy, The Times. 

In an article for Tes, general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) Daniel Kebede says social media must be banned for under-16s to address the problem of in-school misogyny. Referencing new research published in a report from the union's Big Tech’s Little Victims campaign, which shows that 70 per cent of teachers frequently see pupils’ behaviour, attitudes or language shaped by extreme or harmful online content, Mr Kebede warns: "It is about recognising that these platforms are not safe environments for children, and that voluntary safeguards have failed."

In an interview with iNews, Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, criticises the government’s proposed special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms as insufficient and explains why his party is calling for universal screening for SEND. Drawing on his personal experience as the father of a child with complex SEND requiring round-the-clock care, Sir Ed recalls that his son John was denied speech and language therapy until age five "because he could swallow his food and his drink and was deemed not to need it". He adds that while his son will retain his education, health and care plan (EHCP) under the changes, the idea of fitting a child with complex needs into a standardised package is "nonsense". By Connie Dimsdale.

The majority of schools already produce plans for children with SEND, according to a Teacher Tapp survey. More than half (57 per cent) said plans were created for all pupils with SEND, while 27 per cent said plans were created for some pupils with SEND. Schools Week explores how schools already produce such individual support plans as the government consults on proposals to introduce a new national system. Leaders say a standardised approach could aid consistency and transitions between schools, but warn that flexibility will be needed to reflect different contexts. By Ruth Lucas.

The number of SEND-related complaints upheld by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) has risen by a quarter in a year, figures show. In 2025, the LGO upheld 1,315 SEND complaints, 26 per cent more than the 1,044 upheld in 2024. It is also over five times the 236 upheld in 2021. Commenting on the data, Catriona Moore, policy manager at SEND legal charity IPSEA, said: "These statistics expose the extent to which local authorities continue to fail children and young people with SEND." By Chaminda Jayanetti, Schools Week.

Writing in Tes, Tony Atkinson, school development manager at ISC Research, says the mayor of Incheon’s recent visit to the UK, to sign memoranda of understanding with Wycombe Abbey and Rugby School to establish new international schools, highlights a shift in who is driving the global expansion of British education. Mr Atkinson explores how governments are now actively recruiting British school brands to attract globally mobile families and investment, using education as a tool for economic development rather than simply responding to existing demand. "British schools occupy a particularly strong position in this context", he adds.

Choir schools are at risk of closure following the implementation of VAT on fees, Classic FM presenter and singer Alexander Armstrong has warned. Writing in Country Life magazine, he said the "writing is on the wall" for choir schools which do not have the financial capacity to absorb the tax. Mr Armstrong, who was himself a chorister at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh, said the "fragile fabric of a culture that has worked beautifully for a very long time" was at risk of unravelling. The comments follow the announcement from Exeter Cathedral School that it would close its preparatory school from September over "unavoidable financial pressures". The Telegraph notes that Mr Armstrong is one of the few celebrities to publicly criticise the government's VAT on fees policy. Reference is made to data from the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which found more than 100 independent schools have closed since the tax was introduced in January last year. By Pieter Snepvangers, The Telegraph.

Speaking at the grand final of BBC 500 Words, the children's writing competition, Queen Camilla urged children to put down their phones and pick up reading for pleasure. "I think it's so important that children keep on reading and writing, it's the best thing you could possibly do and it will take you all on adventures all over the world", she said. This year’s competition drew more than 46,500 entries, with six winners writing stories ranging from Mars travel to haunted fairgrounds. By Rebecca English, Daily Mail.

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