Get the facts on education

12 September 2023

What happened to school rebuilding funding when Rishi Sunak was chancellor?

Annual spending on school rebuilding in England fell by 41% between 2019-20 and 2021-22—but that figure doesn’t tell the whole story.

What happened to school rebuilding funding when Rishi Sunak was chancellor?

6 September 2023

Starmer’s education speech warned of school buildings starting to ‘crumble’

The Prime Minister suggested that Keir Starmer didn’t mention RAAC in a recent speech on education.

Starmer’s education speech warned of school buildings starting to ‘crumble’

1 September 2023

What do the figures on persistent absence from school show?

We’ve looked into the data after a series of claims regarding pupil absence rates in England were made on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

What do the figures on persistent absence from school show?

28 July 2023

Most international students enrolling in UK universities have to prove they’re proficient in English

Reform UK politician Alex Phillips claimed international students don’t have to pass an English proficiency test, but many are required to take one.

Most international students enrolling in UK universities have to prove they’re proficient in English

6 July 2023

Government figures don’t show 140,000 children were ‘completely missing’ from formal schooling last year

Labour MP Ian Mearns told us his claim was based on a Sky News report which said around 140,000 were “never in class”. But that’s not what the data shows, …

Government figures don’t show 140,000 children were ‘completely missing’ from formal schooling last year

23 June 2023

No evidence for MP’s claim 100,000 ‘ghost kids’ disappeared from school rolls in pandemic

Bob Seely MP made the claim during a debate in parliament.

No evidence for MP’s claim 100,000 ‘ghost kids’ disappeared from school rolls in pandemic

13 June 2023

England has fewer teachers relative to the number of school pupils than in 2010

The government’s announcement that there are a record number of teachers is missing important context.

England has fewer teachers relative to the number of school pupils than in 2010

11 May 2023

School statistics don’t show 140,000 children ‘never came back’ after pandemic disruption

A figure quoted in the Sun by Baroness Karren Brady is the number of pupils who missed at least 50% of sessions last summer, not the number who’ve disappeared completely.

School statistics don’t show 140,000 children ‘never came back’ after pandemic disruption

21 April 2023

The numbers behind the PM’s maths claims fact checked

We’ve dug into the figures behind Rishi Sunak’s claims about the negative impact of poor numeracy.

The numbers behind the PM’s maths claims fact checked

16 March 2023

Think tank figure does not show 100,000 children ‘never went back to school’ due to lockdown

Journalist Isabel Oakeshott twice claimed that 100,000 children left education permanently as a result of the pandemic.

Think tank figure does not show 100,000 children ‘never went back to school’ due to lockdown

Education

What happened to school rebuilding funding when Rishi Sunak was chancellor?

Starmer’s education speech warned of school buildings starting to ‘crumble’

What do the figures on persistent absence from school show?

Most international students enrolling in UK universities have to prove they’re proficient in English

Government figures don’t show 140,000 children were ‘completely missing’ from formal schooling last year

No evidence for MP’s claim 100,000 ‘ghost kids’ disappeared from school rolls in pandemic

England has fewer teachers relative to the number of school pupils than in 2010

School statistics don’t show 140,000 children ‘never came back’ after pandemic disruption

The numbers behind the PM’s maths claims fact checked

Think tank figure does not show 100,000 children ‘never went back to school’ due to lockdown

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