This week’s essential education news includes a warning that teaching is becoming a 'military tour of duty', Sunak's plan for a new qualification and worries about MAT finances

Confederation of School Trusts chief warns leaders must help 're-establish the social contract' with parents

Less than half of multi-academy trusts are confident about their long-term finances, research shows

Trust leader 'really worried' about impact of disruption on disadvantaged students, as union boss calls for special considerations for those taking exams

The disadvantage gap is still wider than before the pandemic despite the recovery of some learning lost during Covid, NFER research shows

Special schools in particular may see increased cost pressures as they fund pay increases for more support staff, warn researchers

The direction is found in relationships and sex education guidance from the Scottish government, which is currently out for consultation

The prime minister has unveiled plans to bring in a new qualification combining A levels and T levels, with the government also saying it will look at reforming GCSEs

The prime minister has unveiled plans to bring in a new qualification and the government has also said it will look at reforming GCSEs

Schools are advised to alert the police immediately, but not initiate a lockdown unless told to or if there is an immediate physical threat

The programme – called Taith – was launched last year to 'fill the gaps' left by the UK government’s Turing programme, which provided funding to just one Welsh school last year

Despite students who take languages in Northern Ireland finding lessons 'fun and engaging', pupils are put off taking the subjects at GCSE, warns new report

Mark Lehain said that introducing the prime minister's plans too soon could put pressure on 'an already struggling system'

More than half of teachers think tech solutions 'create as much work as they save' – but only a minority feel it has had a negative impact overall, finds poll

Concept of teaching as a lifelong career is 'blown', mental health charity leader tells Tes