Plans by education secretary Lucy Powell to give oracy equal weight to reading and writing in the national curriculum could result in grade inflation, Baroness Spielman, the former head of Ofsted, has said. Ms Powell set out her ambition in a speech to academy heads yesterday. However, Baroness Spielman said speaking and listening assessments were removed from GCSEs more than a decade ago amid concerns that teacher-awarded grades were too generous. Headteachers said a greater focus on speaking skills could only be achieved by making cuts elsewhere in the curriculum. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, said speaking and listening are "crucial" skills for education and employment. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. 

The renewed focus on assessment and attainment comes as The Times (Nicola Woolcock and Oisín Cahalane) and The Telegraph (Ben Butcher and Ollie Corfe) publish their secondary school league tables today. 

In a letter to The Times, Clarissa Farr, chair of Affinitas Education and former high mistress of St Paul's Girls' School, supports the government's plans to give greater emphasis to speaking skills, arguing that oracy is an important part of academic challenge and intellectual development. She also warns that smartphones have "killed conversation", and expresses the hope that the ban on phones in schools "in itself may encourage richer verbal exchange". 

A number of readers share their views on the place of oracy in learning, and the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) and mobile phones in schools. In his letter, Simon Hall from Cambridge writes: "In an age when AI can write almost anything, the ability to speak clearly and persuasively may become the most human skill of all. Our young people deserve to be taught it." The letters appear at the top of the page. 

During a debate in the House of Lords on the impact of increases to employers' National Insurance on the arts and cultural sector, Labour peer Baroness Mackenzie of Sherwood paid tribute to the "brilliant work" of Chetham's School of Music, describing it as an "outstanding school". Addressing concerns about the impact of VAT on specialist independent schools, she said it was not possible to exempt individual sectors, adding: "Not everyone will get into a specialist school like Chetham's, but everyone should have the opportunity in every postcode to develop their creative talent, and that is a big priority for the government." Hansard.

The percentage of pupils at schools in England missing at least half their lessons rose again last year, Department for Education (DfE) figures have shown. Around 168,000 (2.32 per cent) pupils were recorded as being "severely absent" across the autumn and spring terms of 2025/26, compared with 2.26 per cent in 2024/25. The DfE data shows the increase was driven by primary and special schools, both of which saw a rise in the proportion of pupils missing at least half of their classes, while secondary schools saw a decrease. By Eleanor Busby, The Independent. 

Brighton College is to open a school in Japan in September 2028, expanding its international network. Based in the city of Hirakata in Osaka Prefecture, the school will open first with a prep school and then add a senior school and sixth form the following year. Richard Cairns, CEO and principal of the Brighton College family of schools, said the location would make it a popular choice for families. "With an outstanding boarding provision planned too, we also anticipate demand from across Asia," he said on LinkedIn, adding that another school will be unveiled next month, taking the Brighton College family to 19 schools worldwide. By Dan Worth, Tes. 

Malvern College has partnered with Chelsea Football Club to launch the Midlands' first Chelsea FC Development Programme, giving talented young footballers the opportunity to combine an enhanced sporting pathway with a leading independent education.

Open to boys and girls in Year 7 to Year 13 at Malvern College and The Downs Malvern (TDM), the programme will use Chelsea FC coaching methods alongside technical and tactical coaching, strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, performance analysis and individual player development. Pupils will remain fully immersed in school life, continuing their academic studies and representing Malvern College or TDM in school fixtures.

"The aim is simple: talented young footballers should not have to choose between pursuing their sporting ambitions and receiving an exceptional education," explains Mark Hardinges, director of sport at Malvern College.

The announcement has generated significant interest across the Malvern College and TDM communities, as well as from prospective pupils and families. The partnership reflects a longstanding connection, with several members of the Mears family, founders of Chelsea FC, having been educated at Malvern College.

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