school inspections in england will continue, despite calls for a pause following the death of headteacher ruth perry. the head of ofsted says stopping the visits would be against children's best interests. some teachers and unions say there needs to be change. we need an inspection system that doesn'tjudge schools on a single—word judgment based on a two—day visit. we'll have the latest. also this lunchtime... the state visit to france by king charles has been postponed after protests in the country about pension changes turned violent. the bbc says it won't resume filming on the latest series of top gear, after presenter freddie flintoff was injured in an accident in december. and the 750—year—old mosaic floor

which will be open to public feet for the first time in living memory. and coming up on the bbc news channel, history for harry as kane becomes england's leading goal—scorer, as they get off to a winning start to their euros�* campaign against italy. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. the head of the education watchdog, ofsted, says school inspections in england will continue, despite some calls for them to be paused, after a headteacher in reading took her own life. ruth perry's family say she had found the pressure

of an inspection intolerable. the chief inspector of schools, amanda spielman, says ofsted's work is important to parents, though she added there is a legitimate debate to be had about changing the grading system. tim muffett has this report. "she was an exemplary leader at a wonderful school," according to a statement from her family. headteacher ruth perry took her own life whilst waiting for the publication of an ofsted report, a report that downgraded her school, caversham primary in reading, from outstanding to inadequate. ruth was under enormous stress before she died. she knew the outcome of her report but was unable to tell her staff, which is incredibly distressing. for ruth, for sa days, she was unable share that information, that really crucial and actually quite world destroying for all of the staff there at caversham. and it's such a tricky and difficult time for head teachers. the have now been calls

for ofsted inspections to be paused and reformed. in her first public statement since ruth perry's death, ofsted's chief inspector amanda spielman described it as a tragedy. our thoughts remain with ruth's family, friends and the school community at caversham primary. she went on to defend the current system. "i don't believe that stopping or preventing inspections would be in children's best interests. our aim is to raise standards so that all children get a great education. ofsted inspectors seek to assess the overall effectiveness of schools in england, looking at the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management. after a two—day visit, schools are placed into one awful network categories, outstanding, for the very best, good for those not quite in the top tier —— into one four categories. the

national education union has been campaigning for ofsted to be replaced and the inspection process change. it held a protest outside the department for education in london with banners and photographs of ruth perry, a petition calling for change had more than 50,000 signatures. fill" for change had more than 50,000 siunatures. , , for change had more than 50,000 signatures-— for change had more than 50,000 siunatures. , , , signatures. our members tell us we need and inspection _ signatures. our members tell us we need and inspection system - signatures. our members tell us we need and inspection system fit - signatures. our members tell us we need and inspection system fit for l need and inspection system fit for purpose, one that does notjudge schools on a single word judgment based on a two—day visit. schools on a single word 'udgment based on a two-day visit. teaching unions also — based on a two-day visit. teaching unions also say — based on a two-day visit. teaching unions also say disruption - based on a two-day visit. teaching unions also say disruption caused l based on a two-day visit. teaching i unions also say disruption caused by covid and issues with recruitment ad to the need for radical reform of 0fsted's inspection framework. despite all the problems, ofsted has i believe _ despite all the problems, ofsted has i believe been a force for good over the last_ i believe been a force for good over the last 30 — i believe been a force for good over the last 30 years. yes, it holds

schools — the last 30 years. yes, it holds schools to _ the last 30 years. yes, it holds schools to account but it has helped to raise standards, it has challenged schools to do better and it has challenged over the years governments as well, when ofsted is an independent inspector believes it is going _ an independent inspector believes it is going wrong. the an independent inspector believes it is going wrong-— is going wrong. the department for education said _ is going wrong. the department for education said inspections - is going wrong. the department for education said inspections remain l education said inspections remain hugely important because they hold schools to account. teaching unions however are determined to ensure ruth perry's death is a catalyst for change. tim muffett, bbc news. vanessa clarke is our education reporter. what's the likelihood that the inspection system will be changed? i think for now it is quite clear inspections will remain the same. this all started with ruth perry's family calling for change and unions want a review but 0fsted's position remains the same and the government says they are a legal requirement. it was interesting in amanda spielman�*s statement, she went on to say that the current grading system,

where your school is either deemed inadequate, outstanding, the removal of that is actually a legitimate debate, but no matter what change is made, it has to work for the government so they can pinpoint troubling schools very quickly and for families and parents who want to choose the best school for their child. there is no argument about the importance of inspections. but it is being questioned, the process of state is involved in, but any decision will be down to the department for education and 0fsted working together. department for education and ofsted working together.— department for education and ofsted working together. thank you, vanessa clark. the bbc says it will not resume filming on the latest series of top gear after one of the show�*s presenters, freddie flintoff, was injured during filming in december. the bbc says an investigation was completed, and a health and safety review will now be carried out. top gear is one of the bbc�*s most widely exported programmes and it hasn't commented on reports that flintoff has decided to leave the programme.

0ur entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba, has the story. and you're expecting me... yeah. ..to go down there? freddie flintoffjoined top gear in 2019. along with co—presenters paddy mcguinness and chris harris, he helped to reverse the fall in ratings that had followed the departure ofjeremy clarkson, richard hammond and james may four years earlier. the incident at top gear's test track at dunsfold park aerodrome in surrey last december resulted in freddie flintoff being taken to hospital for treatment. just over three months later, bbc studios, which produces the bbc one show, says it's concluded its report into what happened. it says that it has sincerely apologised to flintoff, and that it'll continue to support him throughout his recovery. in a statement, it also says that, under the circumstances, it would be inappropriate to resume making the current series of top gear at this time, and that it will make a judgment about how best to continue

later this year. at the time of the incident, the top gear team said that all health and safety procedures had been followed, while the external independent health and safety executive said it saw no need to investigate further. three, two, one, go! 0ne past member of the team, the former stig, terry mccarthy, thinks it might be time to alter the programme's format, whatever freddie flintoff decides to do. moving forward, if freddie wishes to leave the show, i guess they will need a new presenter, but theyjust limit how they go about it. there are enough components within top gear that people enjoy, that will be fun, that will be engaging. you don't have to be ten tenths all the time in something to get that reaction. so, right now there is certainly a degree of uncertainty about whether

top gear which is partly filmed here at television centre will return, with or without freddie flintoff, but the bbc is likely to be unwilling to part ways with a show that, as well as having a strong uk audience, is sold to dozens of countries across the globe. lizo mzimba, bbc news. the governor of the bank of england has warned businesses not to put up prices, to avoid cementing inflation at its current high level. andrew bailey said that increasing the cost of goods and services could push the cost of living even further and would hurt the least well—off. our business correspondent marc ashdown is with me. andrew bailey is very clear, inflation is too high and needs to be brought down. it is the pace at which the prices we pay for goods and services is rising. this chart demonstrates the inflation target of 2%, price spikes, currently10.4%, having a big impact on our pockets, the cost of energy bills, petrol

pumps, and shopping baskets, cheese, milk, sugar, all much more expensive compared to last year. so far this has been driven by globalfactors, after covid, supply chain issues, the war in ukraine. andrew bailey is worried about domestic inflation, if businesses put up prices to cover costs, it could stay high for much longer. costs, it could stay high for much loner. , ., , costs, it could stay high for much loner. , . , ., ., longer. interest rates will have to no longer. interest rates will have to i o u . longer. interest rates will have to go uo further _ longer. interest rates will have to go up further and _ longer. interest rates will have to go up further and higher- longer. interest rates will have to go up further and higher inflation | go up further and higher inflation really— go up further and higher inflation really benefits nobody, it hurts people — really benefits nobody, it hurts people and particularly the least well off— people and particularly the least well off in society. when companies set well off in society. when companies sel prices, — well off in society. when companies set prices, understand they have to reflect _ set prices, understand they have to reflect the — set prices, understand they have to reflect the cost they face, but what i reflect the cost they face, but what i would _ reflect the cost they face, but what i would say — reflect the cost they face, but what i would say is, please, when we are setting _ i would say is, please, when we are setting prices in the economy, we can expect — setting prices in the economy, we can expect inflation to come down sharply— can expect inflation to come down sharply this year and i would say, please _ sharply this year and i would say, please bear that in mind. this sharply this year and i would say, please bear that in mind.- please bear that in mind. this is what he is _ please bear that in mind. this is what he is talking _ please bear that in mind. this is what he is talking about. - please bear that in mind. this is what he is talking about. the . what he is talking about. the forecast for inflation is to drop very, very sharply at the back end of the year but he is worried it might not happen as quickly if the

prices are put up. small businesses are telling us they have had overheads going up to 18 months, done their best to not pass on costs to customers. 0ne restaurant chain told us a pint of beer would be £20 and a steak dinner £100 if he had fully put up prices to reflect costs. this is aimed at bigger players, supermarkets, petrol stations, set prices looking ahead to low inflation, otherwise interest rates might need to go up and we may have inflation higher and the squeeze on household and business budgets may go on for longer. thank ou, mark budgets may go on for longer. thank you, mark ashdown, _ budgets may go on for longer. thank you, mark ashdown, business - you, mark ashdown, business correspondent. the government has formally adopted its revised post—brexit deal for northern ireland with the eu, two days after mps voted overwhelmingly to support it. the foreign secretary james cleverly and the european commission's maros sefcovic chaired a joint meeting in london today to adopt the so—called windsor framework. the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has been holding talks with the prime minister and the home secretary

at downing street. the discussions were expected to focus on the war in ukraine and iran's nuclear programme. but the meeting is overshadowed by the continuing political crisis inside israel where mr netanyahu is pushing ahead with controversial reforms that would limit the power of the courts. 0ur diplomatic correspondent, paul adams, reports. reporter: mr netanyahu! your own attorney general says you are breaking the law. israel's prime minister arriving in downing street this morning. a warm welcome from rishi sunak. but the sounds of anguished protests ringing out behind them. it's nothing mr netanyahu hasn't seen for weeks back home. on a much, much bigger scale. but his domestic woes are following him wherever he goes. for the first time in a really long

time, britishjews are really making a stand and making a statement in support of the israeli protesters. they don't want anything to do with what they see in israel, the racism, the extremism, the deterioration from democracy and liberal values. a battle for the soul of israel has been raging for weeks. mr netanyahu's opponents are furious at legal reforms which they say will undermine the rule of law and shield the prime minister from his own legal difficulties. we have a dictator in israel that is trying to make these people hurt us. you tell your government, you tell your people. protesters outside the british embassy in tel aviv last week. they want israel's traditional allies to intervene, but this week, britain and israel said their bilateral relationship had never been closer. for palestinians, israel's political

turmoil forms a noisy backdrop to their own difficult lives. this morning, they queued up at israeli checkpoints hoping to reach jerusalem for the first friday prayers of ramadan. there's real tension here, and violence is on the rise in the west bank. the coming weeks could be challenging. paul adams, bbc news. the king's state visit to france has been postponed. king charles was due to set off on sunday for what would have been his first state trip abroad. french officials say the decision has been made because of the tension in the country about pension reforms. more than 400 police officers were injured in violent clashes across france yesterday, as people protested about the proposal to increase the state pension age from 62 to 64. let's get the latest from our paris correspondent, lucy williamson. lucy. president macron has just been speaking in brussels and reiterated

the explanation from the elysee palace here that the trip has been postponed in light of protest in particular a new day of protests planned for tuesday which would have coincided with the visit. when speaking in brussels, mr mcqueen said the postponement was based on good sense and friendship and it would lack common sense to organise a visit by the king during a day of protest. —— mr macron. he said they would look for a new date may be at the beginning of the summer. he confirmed he would be going to the uk for the coronation. earlier this morning, france's interior minister was on tv saying the visit posed no security threat, there were no problems associated with it, but there have been growing questions in recent days as the protests have grown and also become more violent after president macron pushed reforms into law without the approval of parliament and went on tv this week to justify actions,

there was growing concern not that there was growing concern not that the king himself would be a target for protest, but that his host very much would be.— much would be. thank you, lucy williamson _ much would be. thank you, lucy williamson in _ much would be. thank you, lucy williamson in paris. _ the time is almost 16 minutes past one. our top story this lunchtime... the education watchdog, 0fsted, says school inspections in england will continue, despite calls for them to be paused after a headteacher took her own life. coming up, howa row about the chopping down of more than 100 trees in plymouth has ended up in the high court. coming up on the bbc news channel, hopes that ice dance duo gibson and fear could win great britain's first medal at the world figure skating championships for 39 years. 179 british servicemen and women were killed during the iraq war

that followed the us—led invasion 20 years ago. 3,500 others were wounded, and many more suffered mental trauma. 0ur correspondent caroline hawley spoke to three people whose lives were scarred by their service in iraq — and they are now finding healing at sea. her report contains emotional testimony that you may find upsetting. these iraq veterans are now moving forward with their lives and helping others do the same. shaun set up a sailing charity for those scarred by their experience. paul is the chief instructor. being out on the water, mother nature as well. that's how i came about sailing — was to find something to keep me occupied. paul did two tours during the iraq war. i wouldn't want it to be forgotten about. there was a lot of people did some great work out there. a lot of people died doing that work.

and like, as always, we should never forget that side. did you know people who died? yes. yes. some close friends. yeah. over the years. shaun's job as a medic in the raf, a trained a&e nurse, was to save lives. multiple casualties, significant injuries, absolutely life—changing, multiple deaths. some of the decisions i had to make were really challenging, with limited resources. sometimes you had to say no. you know, that was really, really hard. jan was injured when the helicopter she was travelling in was shot down in baghdad. after her leg was amputated, she was medically discharged from the navy. i fitted into civvy street 0k. i still have my anger issues. i still have my nightmares, which i struggle with. i only sleep about three orfour hours a night. and when you look back now on the iraq war, how do you feel about it? i don't see the point personally of wars, any wars. because nobody ever

wins a war, do they? it's just a lot of pain and suffering. thousands of veterans like jan have now sailed with the charity turn to starboard and experienced the therapeutic effect. shaun wanted others to benefit after it helped him find a way out of the darkest point of his life. i was no use to anybody. and i had some really awful, negative thoughts. i never actually attempted to kind of take my own life, but i certainly thought about it. the charity's got veterans of iraq still coming forward for help two decades on. two six, heave! here they can recreate the camaraderie, the sense of belonging, of pulling together that many miss when they leave the military. we've got 22 yacht masters on the programme. three of those attempted suicide last year. now, we've sailed them and you see this positivity and excitement about their futures, and then they go home

and have a conversation with their other half and there's light. it's extraordinarily positive. i love myjob, i love every day and i know that my family are really proud of what i've achieved. shaun pascoe ending that report from caroline hawley. and if you are suffering distress and need support, including urgent support — a list of organisations that can help is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. you can also phone for free to hear recorded information on 0800 066 066. the row about the decision to cut down more than 100 trees in plymouth is at the high court today. the trees were felled after dark, as part of a council plan to redevelop the city centre. but campaigners won a court injunction to stop the work, and the council's appeal against that injunction is being heard in court at the moment. 0ur south west england correspondent

jenny kumah has more from plymouth. "despicable vandalism." "environmental devastation." "a chainsaw massacre." just some of the words used by opponents to this felling of more than 100 trees in plymouth city centre. the contractors came late at night. then, at around 1am, campaigners were able to get an injunction to stop the chop. if you cut any more trees down, it'll be a criminal offence. by then, only a few trees remained. do you have anything to say to the people of plymouth? plymouth city council said, given the size of the tree machinery, it had scheduled the works to be carried out at night with as few people around as possible for public safety reasons. in the cold light of day, the sight of the destruction left many feeling angry. it's just disgraceful that all the protests and all the people's

feelings just meant nothing. they're supposed to be putting in new ones. but why cut down the old ones? they could have left them there. the council will appeal the injunction at the high court in london. if they win, they'll be able to remove the felled trees. they haven't been able to do that yet because of the injunction. they'll also be able to fell the remaining 16 trees. this is what the council plans for the city centre to look like as part of a £13 million regeneration project. many traders and residents agree a spruce—up is long overdue. the council admit, though, that a consultation showed overwhelming objections to their plans, but they say they listened and changed the final design to deliver more than 170 semi—mature trees. it was the leader of the council, richard bingley, who used his executive powers to order the felling of the trees. and he hasn't responded to our requests for an interview. and just a few days ago, his conservative group announced that he'll resign on monday, when he's due to face

a no—confidence vote. this has been an emotive and divisive issue in plymouth. that's likely to continue to be the case, whatever the judgment is of the high court this afternoon. jenny kumah, bbc news, plymouth. the bbc has suspended its decision to scrap the bbc singers — the uk's only full—time professional chamber choir. the corporation is having to make significant savings because its funding — which comes from the licence fee — is frozen until 202a. more than 140,000 people signed a petition against the closure — our arts correspondent david sillito is with me. what does today's decision mean 's the bbc singers, which trace their origin back to the wireless chorus of 20 —— origin back to the wireless chorus of 20 -- 1924 origin back to the wireless chorus of 20 —— 1924 were about to celebrate their centenary until it

was decided by the bbc that it needed to make cuts, its funding has been dropped by 40% over the last ten years, £5 million is spent on orchestras and inquires, £5 million needs to go and that to be the end of the bbc singers. they were going to be disbanded on the 30th september, and that has been suspended because we understand it does not organisations have come forward with an offer of some form of financial support. but it is early days —— two organisations have come forward. we understand that it does mean that that deadline of the 30th of september for them all to come to an end has been suspended. it means the bbc singers will be taking part in the proms this year, and everyone is waiting to see whether or not everything can be sold because there is the issue of a 20% cut in the bbc orchestra, so lots of discussions. it is not settled yet but certainly good news

for bbc singers today.— for bbc singers today. thank you, david sillitoe. _ if you couldn't get tickets for the eurovision song contest final in liverpool — you'll be able to watch it in a cinema, because it's going to be screened live across the uk for the first time. more than 500 cinemas are taking part — tickets go on sale on monday morning. 0rganisers are encouraging fancy dress and singalongs. tickets for the live show at the liverpool arena arena sold out in less than 40 minutes when they were released earlier this month. the england captain leah williamson will become the first women's footballer to read a cbeebies bedtime story tonight. the lioness will be reading remarkably you by pat zietlow miller. hi, i'm leah. you might have seen me playing football on tv. i always dreamt of being a footballer. tonight's bedtime story is all about the importance of following your dreams. make sure you join me. and you can watch that on cbeebies and bbc iplayer at 6.50pm this evening.

for the first time, visitors to westminster abbey will be allowed to walk on the very spot in front of the high altar where king charles will have been crowned. since the 19th century, the mediaeval mosaic floor known as the cosmati pavement has been covered with carpet, or roped off to the public. but for a few weeks after the coronation, it will be open to the public — but only if shoes are removed. 0ur royal correspondent sarah campbell reports. in just six weeks' time, westminster abbey will host another coronation. since 1066, 39 monarchs have been crowned here. and for the past 700 years, beneath their feet has been this — a mosaic made from thousands of pieces of glass, marble and stone. the cosmati pavement. it's just so unusual that this is here. italian masons came here with all their materials.

they collaborated with the english masons to produce this fantastic, glittering, shiny mosaic in front of the high altar at the heart of westminster abbey. it would have looked amazing. it's so beautiful in the flesh, but it's been covered up for years. covered with carpet and boarding, just because it was in such a deteriorated condition that it couldn't be safely used. and that's why when you look back at archive footage from the late queen's coronation in 1953, all you can see is the light—coloured carpet. the medievalfloor, which by then was uneven and damaged, had been covered up since victorian times. vanessa and her team spent two years fully restoring the mosaic, with maintenance an ongoing project. it's witnessed so, so much. it's, you know, throughout the centuries, every special event has taken place and probably on the cosmati pavement. usually the public is kept well away from the cosmati pavement

in order to protect it. but for a few short weeks after the coronation, they will be allowed for the first time to actually walk on the mosaic — as long as, of course, they take off their shoes. it's the high altar, it's a very sacred space. it's where special services and major services take place. and for normal visiting, the area is completely roped off but we just think as part of the celebration of coronation, we want to allow a few people access onto the pavement to see what it's really like and to get a real feel and a sense for the space. and to stand on the place where the coronation chair will have just been. yeah, you'll be able to stand right in the centre point where the coronation chair sits and faces east. and also you'll be able to see the pavement itself in great detail. i mean, it's a masterpiece. it's been there since 1268. it's really lovely. anti—monarchy campaigners opted not to remove their shoes when they carried out a brief

protest there earlier this week. on may 6th, the focus will once again be on this seven—metre—square mosaic, a colourful example of the abbey's long history and connection with the monarchy. sarah campbell, bbc news, westminster abbey. time for a look at the weekend weather. here's chris fawkes. starting. this was the aurora last niaht, we starting. this was the aurora last night. we had — starting. this was the aurora last night, we had some _ starting. this was the aurora last night, we had some stunning - starting. this was the aurora last - night, we had some stunning pictures sent in, this one was from norfolk. the aurora is caused by charged particles being flung from the sun, and meeting oxygen atoms high up in the atmosphere high up in the atmosphere. then we get some of those green colours lower down. because the aurora was quite strong we had visibility across parts of hampshire and wales so it was quite

a good display but it doesn't look like it will be back tonight so if you didn't see it you will have missed the boat this time. it is a day of sunshine and showers. we continue to see rainfall totals are mounting. parts of the uk have seen double the march rainfall already. there is more rain in the forecast for today and into the weekend and beyond. the radar picture kicks up where we have showers at the moment, closest to the centre of low pressure in northern ireland we will have some fairly frequent downpours in the afternoon but the showers in scotland because the winds are light will be quite slow moving in nature but for england and wales, a different story with a strong south—westerly winds blowing the showers through but there is a line of showers and thunderstorms extending across southern england. if you find yourself underneath that you could have a shower after shower after shower. away from that feature, not so bad. temperatures around 12—14, mild for the time of year. 0vernight tonight that area of

low pressure slowly starts moving eastwards into the