Tes analysis shows entries are down 41 per cent since 2013, with the government accused of showing ‘none of the action required’ to help music flourish.

Ministers have begun their search for a “strategic” leader of a new team set up to test key policies from the schools white paper.

Markers of year 6 SATs have been given more time to finish processing papers and a pay bonus, after facing weeks of technical glitches on a new Pearson-run system.

New school food standards “will have to be monitored” by Ofsted, a health minister has suggested.

School leaders are warning of more cuts if ministers do not provide urgent help to cover surging energy bills caused by Donald Trump’s war with Iran.

The government has refused to reveal how it calculated its need for 7,500 specialist SEND staff for its flagship £1.8 billion “experts at hand” service.