NEWS UPDATES

Take a look at what's been happening in the world of education and health and safety since our last issue...

HGV driver deliberately drove into factory manager after row

A heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver deliberately drove his lorry at a factory manager during an argument over health and safety procedures, a court has heard. Daniel Ley, 44, from Harby, Newark, Nottinghamshire, attempted to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) when he drove his DAF lorry at the manager at the Ibstock brickworks in Throckley, Newcastle.

The incident took place on April 28, 2022, after Ley arrived at the site to collect a load of bricks. During the loading process, a member of staff advised him about properly securing the load in accordance with health and safety regulations. Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told Newcastle Crown Court that Ley had asked if he could climb onto the trailer to put a net over the bricks. Despite being told he was not permitted to do so, as it breached the site’s safety rules, Ley ignored the instruction and climbed onto the vehicle anyway.

When informed that his behaviour would have to be reported, Ley appeared indifferent, replying, “If that’s what you have to do, that’s what you have to do.” The incident was escalated to a factory manager, who confronted Ley and told him that if he continued to disregard safety procedures, he would no longer be welcome at the site. Ley responded curtly, saying the bricks could be taken off his lorry.

The manager then said he would arrange for another driver to unload the cargo and asked Ley to remove the securing straps. As the manager went to take down the vehicle’s registration number, he walked to the front of the HGV. At that moment, Ley started the lorry and drove it forward, striking the manager and pushing him backwards.

Mr. Wardlaw said, “He didn’t want to fall in front of the vehicle and tried to roll to the left away from it, which he eventually managed to do.” CCTV footage played in court showed the manager being pushed by the lorry for several seconds but managing to stay upright. He escaped serious injury but suffered pain in his lower back, neck, and buttock.

In his victim impact statement, the manager said the event had left him shaken, adding that his wife had suffered sleepless nights after watching the footage from the factory’s CCTV system.

When interviewed by police, Ley claimed he had not realised the manager was in front of the vehicle, suggesting he must have been in a blind spot. However, a reconstruction of the event disproved his claim, showing that the manager was clearly visible from the cab.

Ley, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also instructed to pay £500 in compensation to the victim and £1,000 in court costs.

Judge Mallett told Ley: “Fortunately, the complainant managed to stay on his feet. The potential consequences had he fallen are obvious. From the CCTV, it is clear that despite your recollection, he was standing in front of the lorry before you moved. You accept by your plea that you knew he was there and drove forward with intent.”

A teacher has been permanently banned from the profession after fabricating stories about a football career with England and Leicester City, as well as providing false information in job applications. Aaron Smith, 44, who taught at the Co-op Academy in Bebington on the Wirral, was found guilty of “unacceptable professional conduct” by a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel.

The misconduct hearing, held on October 3, revealed that Smith had lied to both pupils and employers over several years, inventing details about his past to boost his credibility as a physical education teacher. He was not present nor represented during the hearing.

According to the TRA report, Smith first provided false information in 2015 while applying for a PE teaching role at Woodlands Primary School. In his application, he claimed to have played professional football for Leicester City FC and West Bromwich Albion FC and to have represented England at under-15 and schoolboy levels. He also falsely stated that he had been employed by Leicester City Council.

To support his story, Smith fabricated a reference from a non-existent person, “Dr Sheila Edwards,” and sent emails and letters in her name.

While working at Woodlands, Smith further embellished his claims. In February 2016, he gave a school assembly in which he presented a fake team sheet listing his name among England youth players. He also displayed a doctored photograph, edited to make it appear that he had played for Leicester City.

His deception began to unravel when a pupil and his father tried to find information online about Smith’s football career but found nothing. Their concerns prompted the school to begin an internal investigation.

The panel concluding that all allegations against him were proven. It found that Smith had submitted false information both in earlier job applications and during his employment at Bebington. He was also accused of providing fabricated documentation relating to counselling treatment while working at the Co-op Academy—a claim he denied, but which the panel found to be true “on the balance of probabilities.”

The report stated that Smith had “acted deliberately” and had “knowingly provided false information and misled pupils.” The panel also determined that his actions formed a consistent “pattern of conduct,” rather than a one-off lapse in judgment.

Given the seriousness of his misconduct, the Secretary of State agreed with the panel’s recommendation to impose a prohibition order, banning Smith from teaching indefinitely. He will not be allowed to apply for the order to be lifted for at least five years—effectively ending his teaching career.

Research Finds One In 12 Secondary School Pupils In England Are Placed In Isolation Rooms At Least Once a Week

The findings are based on data from the #BeeWell programme, which surveyed 34,000 pupils across 121 mainstream secondary schools in Greater Manchester. Overall, 8.3% of students reported being isolated at least once a week, spending an average of 8.5 hours in isolation weekly. Those affected reported lower wellbeing, weaker relationships with teachers, and a reduced sense of belonging.

One In 12 Secondary School Pupils In England Are Placed In Isolation Rooms At Least Once A Week, often spending more than eight hours there and missing the equivalent of a full school day, according to new research. The study, carried out by the University of Manchester and published in the British Educational Research Journal, raises concerns about the widespread and uneven use of isolation—also known as internal exclusion—in schools.

Researchers found that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) were more than twice as likely to be placed in isolation compared with their peers. Pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM), a key indicator of poverty, were one and a half times more likely to experience isolation, while LGBTQ+ students and those from Black, Asian, and mixed-heritage backgrounds were also disproportionately affected.

Overall Attendance Improves, but Severe Absence Rates on the Rise

Severe school absence rates have risen again over the past academic year, despite improvements in overall and persistent absence levels, according to new government data. Figures released by the Department for Education (DfE) for the autumn and spring terms of 2024-25 show that while more pupils are attending regularly, the most extreme cases of non-attendance continue to increase—particularly among disadvantaged and special educational needs (SEND) pupils.

Severe absence—defined as missing at least half of school sessions—rose from 2.14 per cent in 2023-24 to 2.26 per cent in 2024-25. Increases were recorded across all regions of England. Children eligible for free school meals (FSM) experienced a rise from 3.93 per cent to 3.98 per cent, while those with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) saw rates increase from 6.55 per cent to 7.3 per cent. Pupils receiving SEN support also saw a rise, from 4.06 per cent to 4.18 per cent.

The DfE acknowledged that tackling severe absence remains one of the toughest challenges in education, warning that progress will take time. “Intervention on severe absence is something that builds over time,” a spokesperson said. “Turning it around isn’t going to happen overnight.” Officials added that reductions in persistent absence—where pupils miss 10 per cent or more of school sessions—should help prevent more children from slipping into severe absence.

Despite the rise in severe cases, the DfE reported encouraging progress elsewhere. Persistent absence fell from 19.23 per cent in 2023-24 to 17.63 per cent in 2024-25, marking a significant improvement on recent years. However, rates remain far higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic, when persistent absence stood at 10.53 per cent in 2018-19.

Overall absence also declined from 6.93 per cent to 6.63 per cent year on year. Every region recorded a drop in persistent absence, and only London saw a marginal rise in overall absence.

The government said its upcoming schools white paper, expected early next year, will include further measures aimed at tackling absenteeism and ensuring more children attend school consistently.”

PRESS RELEASE: Government Announces Introduction Of New Post-GCSE Qualification - The “V-Level”

The Government Has Announced The Introduction Of A New Post-GCSE Qualification Called The “V-Level,” designed to provide young people with practical, vocational skills while simplifying the complex system of post-16 education. The qualification, which will sit alongside A-levels and T-levels, is part of a wider reform set to be detailed in a forthcoming white paper.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said vocational education had been treated as “an afterthought for too long” and that the new V-levels would help “turn the tide” by giving equal value to academic and technical learning. “Technical and vocational education is the backbone of this country’s economy,” she said, adding that the reforms aim to break the link between background and success and equip young people with the skills needed for good jobs.

The reforms will also address persistent challenges in English and maths. Currently, students who do not achieve a grade 4 in their GCSEs for these subjects must continue to study them post-16—a policy often criticised as ineffective and demoralising. In response, the DfE plans to introduce a new qualification targeted at students with lower attainment, acting as a stepping stone to help them prepare for GCSE resits. This measure, the department said, will particularly benefit disadvantaged pupils, including those from white working-class backgrounds and those on free school meals.

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, described the V-levels as “a significant step forward” for vocational education, noting that the post-16 framework has long lacked clarity and fairness. He said the reforms could “deliver greater consistency and quality for all learners” and commended the government for listening to teachers’ concerns about compulsory resits.

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, also welcomed the plans, calling them “a joined-up approach focused on labour market needs, productivity, and opportunities for young people.” The government said it will launch a consultation to support the introduction of V-levels, while continuing to expand T-levels into new subject areas.

Reforms To England’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) System Have Been Delayed Until 2026

Reforms to England’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system have been delayed until 2026, after the government postponed the publication of its long-awaited Schools White Paper. Originally due this autumn, the plans will now be published early next year, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has confirmed.

Phillipson said the delay would allow for “a further period of co-creation,” enabling the Department for Education to test proposals with “the people who matter most in this reform.” She said the white paper would reflect the government’s belief that “high standards and inclusion are two sides of the same coin.”

In a letter to Helen Hayes, chair of the Education Select Committee, Phillipson explained that ministers will hold listening sessions across all regions of England and meet fortnightly with parent and expert groups to refine the reforms. “We will bring forward a full Schools White Paper early in the new year,” she wrote, adding that collaboration with educators, families and SEND organisations would be central to the process.

The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. The Disabled Children’s Partnership called the delay “deeply frustrating for parents,” though chair Anna Bird acknowledged it was “important that the government takes time to make the right decisions.” She welcomed the plan for wider consultation, saying it was encouraging that ministers were “listening to and learning from young people, families and charities.”

The National Audit Office recently described England’s SEND system as “broken,” financially unsustainable, and failing to improve outcomes for children. Many parents report long waits for assessments and support, with schools struggling to meet needs amid tight budgets.

Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Caroline Voaden called the delay “an absolute betrayal” of children with SEND and their families. “Parents are exhausted from fighting a broken system while children wait months or years for support,” she said. “To kick the can down the road until 2026 shows a lack of urgency and leadership.”

By comparison, pupils not eligible for FSM had a much lower rate of 1.10 per cent, and those without identified special educational needs saw a slight decrease from 1.16 per cent to 1.11 per cent. According to analysis from the education charity Impetus, children from disadvantaged backgrounds are nearly four times more likely to be severely absent than their peers.

The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed that V-levels will replace around 900 existing vocational qualifications for students aged 16 to 19, creating a more coherent and flexible system. Unlike T-levels, which are equivalent to three A-levels and typically require full-time study, V-levels will allow pupils to combine vocational learning with academic subjects, offering greater choice and adaptability. Students will be able to explore key sectors such as digital technology, engineering, and agriculture before deciding where to specialise.

Teacher Permanently Banned From the Profession After Lieing About a Football Career

Isolation typically involves removing a pupil from lessons for disruptive behaviour and requiring them to work alone and in silence. Parents and campaigners argue that the practice is sometimes used for minor rule breaches and can be particularly damaging for children with complex needs. Unlike suspensions or permanent exclusions, there are no national rules governing how long pupils can be kept in isolation, and schools are not required to report how often it is used.

Earlier this year, the High Court upheld schools’ right to use isolation booths, despite challenges from campaigners. Families of three children at John Smeaton Academy in Leeds had argued that prolonged isolation—one child spent 83 days in isolation and 14 days suspended—deprived pupils of education. However, Mrs Justice Collins Rice ruled that the school’s policy did not breach the law, even if its reasonableness was “open to question.”

A DfE spokesperson added that schools should maintain “high expectations for behaviour” and that parents must support them in doing so. “We are determined to tackle the causes of poor behaviour, including by ensuring access to specialist mental health professionals in every secondary school,” they said.

The Pros and Cons of the Two Week Half-Term

For an increasing number of schools, the traditional one-week Autumn term break has stretched into two. Some experts claim the extended break boosts wellbeing and reduces illness, while critics warn it disrupts family routines and undermines learning. The debate over two-week half-terms reveals a growing divide over how best to balance education, wellbeing, and modern family life.

Unity Schools Partnership, which operates several schools in Suffolk and Norfolk, has been at the forefront of this shift. Following a successful trial, the trust introduced a two-week half-term across its eight primary schools in Norfolk, citing improvements in staff and pupil wellbeing. Interim chief executive Sarah Garner described the autumn term as the “longest and hardest” for schools, often marked by rising illness before Christmas. The trust believes a longer mid-term break helps reduce absences and recharges both teachers and students.

Consultation results showed broad support: 89% of staff and 58% of parents favoured the change. However, concerns about childcare persist. Families with children in different schools may now face up to three consecutive weeks of managing care. To address this, Unity Schools Partnership has organised additional childcare options for the second week of the break.

Educational experts are divided. Professor Lee Elliot Major, of the University of Exeter, believes rethinking the school calendar could support families and reduce learning loss. “A rebalanced calendar could help working parents and spread workloads more evenly for teachers,” he said. “Shortening the summer break and extending autumn holidays might reduce inequality.”

However, not everyone agrees. Parenting blogger Ruth Davies Knowles worries about inconsistency, with families juggling different term dates. She argues for restoring the old system that allowed headteachers to authorise term-time holidays. “What message does it send when schools say every day matters but then add an extra week off?” she asked.

Childcare costs remain a pressing concern. The charity Coram Family and Childcare reported a shortage of providers during half-term, especially for children with special needs or parents working irregular hours. Average childcare costs range from £179 a week for clubs to £233 for childminders — a burden for many families.

The Department for Education declined to confirm how many schools now operate two-week half-terms, but a spokesperson noted that local authorities and academies already have the flexibility to set their own calendars. “Every school day is vital,” they said. “It’s important no child loses out on essential learning time.

Government Warns Young People of Deadly Risks Linked to Rising Drug Use

The government has launched a major public health campaign to warn young people about the life-threatening dangers of ketamine, counterfeit medicines, and contaminated THC vapes. The new initiative, comes amid record levels of drug poisoning and a sharp rise in treatment cases linked to ketamine use.

According to the latest data, the number of people seeking treatment for ketamine misuse has increased eightfold since 2015, while drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales reached 5,448 in 2023 – the highest level since records began in 1993.

The campaign will primarily target 16- to 24-year-olds, using online videos and social media content to raise awareness of the devastating consequences of drug use. Young people will be warned that drugs such as ketamine and synthetic opioids can cause irreversible bladder damage, poisoning, addiction, or even death.

The campaign will highlight three major areas of concern:

• Ketamine misuse, which can lead to severe and potentially permanent bladder damage;

• Counterfeit medicines, often purchased online, that may contain deadly synthetic opioids such as nitazenes; and

• Adulterated THC vapes, which in many cases contain dangerous synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as spice, instead of THC.

Educational resources will be distributed to schools, colleges, universities, local health authorities, and youth services, while accurate drug information will be accessible via the government’s FRANK website and helpline.

Experts have raised alarm over the growing presence of nitazenes, powerful synthetic opioids many times stronger than heroin, increasingly found in counterfeit prescription drugs. These substances are particularly dangerous to younger and more inexperienced users who often underestimate their potency.

Reports have also shown a rise in harm caused by adulterated THC vapes, which have been linked to unpredictable psychological and physical effects.

Alongside the awareness drive, the Department of Health and Social Care is allocating £310 million in targeted grants to enhance treatment and recovery services in England. This funding will strengthen specialist support for children, teenagers, and young adults, helping them access drug and alcohol recovery programmes.

Additional professional resources for educators, healthcare workers, and community leaders will be made available through local public health networks.