Get the facts on education

28 April 2025

No, it’s not now compulsory for all schoolchildren to learn about Islam as a ‘main study’

A claim which has been shared widely on social media is not correct.

9 April 2025

Ofsted board chair is not head of the ‘UK education system’ as posts claim

Viral social media posts misrepresent the roles of Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and the interim chair of Ofsted’s board, Sir Hamid Patel.

1 April 2025

How many schools ban mobile phones?

The data we have suggests most schools in England don’t allow pupils to use their phones—although the types of ban vary, and there is evidence that they are often not being followed.

28 March 2025

Chair of Ofsted board has no control over setting national curriculum

Misleading claims that the new interim chair of Ofsted’s board, Sir Hamid Patel, will be able to change what pupils learn in schools, have been shared online.

6 January 2025

Business rates relief rules for private schools haven’t changed yet

The government intends to remove charitable business rates relief for English private schools from April.

3 October 2024

Conservative leadership speeches: fact checked

Conservative leadership candidates Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat set out their stalls in a series of speeches at the 2024 Conservative party conference.

20 September 2024

Are student loan repayments really ‘the cost of a pint of beer’?

We’ve crunched the numbers after a claim on the Today programme from former Labour cabinet minister Alan Johnson.

6 June 2024

Has the percentage of good or outstanding schools risen to 90% under the Conservatives?

It’s technically accurate that 90% of schools are rated good or outstanding, up from 68% under Labour, but changes to the way schools are inspected mean these figures should be treated with caution.

5 June 2024

ITV Sunak V Starmer Debate: fact checked

The first TV debate of the 2024 general election has taken place, with Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer going head-to-head.

30 May 2024

BBC Question Time, 30 May: fact checked

We’ve taken a look at five claims made during the 30 May episode of BBC Question Time, including from the Conservatives, Labour and Reform UK’s honorary president Nigel Farage.

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Education

No, it’s not now compulsory for all schoolchildren to learn about Islam as a ‘main study’

Ofsted board chair is not head of the ‘UK education system’ as posts claim

How many schools ban mobile phones?

Chair of Ofsted board has no control over setting national curriculum

Business rates relief rules for private schools haven’t changed yet

Conservative leadership speeches: fact checked

Are student loan repayments really ‘the cost of a pint of beer’?

Has the percentage of good or outstanding schools risen to 90% under the Conservatives?

ITV Sunak V Starmer Debate: fact checked

BBC Question Time, 30 May: fact checked

Full Fact fights bad information