On this week’s Tes News podcast, we discuss:

Schools Bill: DfE wants councils to bid to academise schools
John Roberts outlines new rules that could allow councils to push their schools into academies - and why it might prove controversial.

Schools Bill: New powers to sanction and close MATs
Why the government has moved to boost its powers to regulate MATs.

Half of MATs offered DfE attendance advice reject it
An exclusive on the fact many trusts have been left unmoved by the offer of working with attendance advisers.

Why the next generation of MAT leaders wants to do things differently
We discuss this week’s Tes long read looking at how the rise of a new generation of MAT leaders could change the sector.

GCSE and A-level exams: Ofqual tells us all you need to know
Grainne Hallahan chats about her interview with Jo Saxton, Ofqual’s chief regulator, as she outlines the changes to this year’s exam details.

Attendance policies: what the government expects from schools
Dan Worth discusses whether a push from the government to drive attendance by requiring written policies will have any impact.