More than one in eight secondary schools in England is below the standard deemed acceptable by ministers, league table data shows. The BBC reports that secondary school league tables show that some 365 schools, or 12 per cent, were below the new tougher floor standard. In 2016 it was 282 schools or 9.3 per cent.
A two-year-old boy beaten to death by a man with a history of domestic abuse may have been saved if authorities hadn't missed a string of opportunities, a report has found. The Mirror reports that a serious case review by Dorset Safeguarding Children Board found that Joseph Eke had a background of violent abuse but no one pieced a number of clues together when he moved in with vulnerable mum Lauren O'Neill and her son Harry House.
Public Health England are increasing the risk of children developing eating disorders by telling parents to count calories, a charity has claimed. The Telegraph reports that the Change4Life campaign encourages parents to "look for 100 calorie snacks, two a day max", to help them offer healthier snacks to tackle obesity. Eating disorder charity Beat said it is important that messages aimed at reducing obesity considered the impact they may have on those at risk of developing an eating disorder.
The NSPCC and the London Grid for Learning are urging primary and secondary schools across the UK to take part in a pupil online safety survey. Findings from the anonymised survey will be used to help develop a better understanding of young people's online lives via a national academic report, and locally, by returning the data to participating schools.
A 15-year-old boy who caused the deaths of five people when the stolen car he was driving crashed into a tree has been detained for more than four years. The BBC reports that Ellis Thornton-Kimmitt, 12, and his 14-year-old brother Elliott died in the crash along with Darnell Harte, 15, Anthony Armour and Robbie Meerun, both 24. Leeds Crown Court heard the car "split in two" when it hit a tree in Meanwood, Leeds, at 88mph, on 25 November.
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