Daily roundup 14 November: School funding; universal credit, and counter-terrorism

Head teachers representing more than 5,000 schools across England are supporting a protest letter to the Chancellor over "inadequate" funding. The BBC reports that the letter, being delivered to Downing Street, warns of schools increasingly having to make "desperate requests to parents for 'voluntary' donations". Heads are calling for an extra £1.7bn per year for schools.


Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will today demand that the government's rollout of universal credit be suspended, as he says that child poverty figures in the West Midlands are set to rise from 400,000 to 500,000. The Birmingham Mail reports that speaking at two events today in West Bromwich and Warwick, the former Labour leader will urge Chancellor Phillip Hammond to axe the controversial measure in his 22 November Budget because it causes "chaos and confusion" and will "do nothing" to alleviate poverty.


Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) has collaborated with specialists from the PSHE Association and Girlguiding to take terrorism safety advice into the UK's classrooms and youth organisations for the first time. Security experts from CTP have commissioned the creation of an animated film designed to teach young people how to react if caught up in a gun or knife terror attack. The film, aimed at 11- to 16-year-olds, will also show them what to do if they see suspicious behaviour or a suspicious item.


The Department for Transport has launched a new scheme to try to make railway stations safer places for vulnerable children. The Safeguarding on Rail Scheme introduces safeguarding requirements that train operators are obliged to fulfil in order to secure future franchises.


Police probing allegations of child sex crimes against three teenagers in Portsmouth say they have "lifted the lid" on a wider problem and found up to 30 youngsters at risk in the area. The Portsmouth News reports that detectives launched a probe in May when three men were arrested in Havant, over abuse allegations. Concerned over how children may be put at risk, officers launched a wider probe looking at kebab shops in Havant, Waterlooville and Portsmouth resulting in opening restrictions being placed on one establishment.


A teacher is facing disciplinary action at his school after he referred to a transgender pupil as a girl, although the student identifies as a boy. The BBC reports that Joshua Sutcliffe, a Christian pastor from Oxford, admitted he said "well done girls" when addressing a group including the student. He described it as a "slip of the tongue", but said he believed biological sex was defined at birth.