The head teacher of a troubled high school has been suspended after teachers went on strike over bad behaviour and poor management, authorities said.

The academies programme receives its biggest boost today with the news that thousands of faith schools are about to convert to the status.

Head teachers were on a collision course with the Government last night after backing strike action over the threat to their pensions and warning of a possible boycott next year of national curriculum tests for 11-year-olds.

Britain's biggest headteachers' union is poised to back strike action against the threat to their members' pensions in a move that could lead to the closure of thousands of schools.

Teachers' leaders yesterday accused the Government of squandering millions of pounds on private education consultants at a time when schools are facing job losses and cutbacks.

The Government was today accused of squandering millions on private companies at a time when schools are facing cutbacks.

The debate on homophobia at the National Union of Teachers' annual conference in Harrogate yesterday will not have allayed many people's concerns about where faith schools are taking education in this country. Delegates overwhelmingly backed a motion calling on the union to investigate the extent to which teachers and pupils face discrimination and abuse in these schools on the basis of sexual orientation.

Schools are snooping on social networking sites, and googling potential candidates before appointing new staff, teachers have been warned.

Every school in England and Wales will be hit by strike action over pensions this summer term, teachers' leaders warned last night.

Youngsters should receive compulsory lessons in political education before they leave school, a teachers' union leader declared yesterday.

Sad to note that the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has shied away from going head to head with the Royal wedding for news coverage a week on Friday.