Tougher maths and science exams will be demanded today in a major report on how the subjects are taught in schools.

The drive to improve the take-up of Mandarin in schools is in danger of collapsing unless exams are made easier, says a leading private school headteacher who pioneered teaching the subject.

Councils are failing to refer incompetent teachers to General Teaching Council disciplinary hearings, figures disclosed yesterday.

Almost 100,000 children face heartache next week when they discover that they have not been given a place at their preferred choice of secondary school.

Permanent school exclusions unfairly punish vulnerable children and should be scrapped, an independent think tank warns today.

Record numbers of disgruntled parents are expected to seek legal advice this week after failing to secure their children places at any of their preferred secondary schools.