Smith, who is also vice-chairman of the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust, said that forcing children through the exam system early was a ‘disaster’ and a ‘mistake’. Instead pupils should use the extended time to further enhance their skills and build on knowledge already taught in school.
He said: “Unusually bright people find the school mathematics syllabus undemanding. But there’s so much worthwhile mathematics to keep them happy and busy while their bodies turn into adults. School maths barely scratches the surface.”
Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould is hosting nine face-to-face events, run in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children, and five online events.
Counter Terrorism Policing London is urging parents to be vigilant about their children's online activity, with many buying phones and tablets for Christmas.
The Scottish Government has announced the projects to receive a share of £12 million to help public buildings become more energy efficient and cut carbon emissions.
Ofsted has confirmed plans to change inspections of local authorities’ children’s services (ILACS) in 2026 and 2027, including removal of overall effectiveness judgement from April 2026.