The Society of Editors is urging the House of Lords to drop a controversial clause in the new Education Bill granting anonymity to teachers accused of committing a criminal offence against a pupil.

Clause 13 of the bill, which is currently passing through the House of Lords, makes it an offence to publish material that could identify a teacher alleged to have committed a criminal offence against a pupil until they are charged - and if no charge is made then the reporting ban lasts indefinitely.

While a court would have the power to lift anonymity if it believed it was in the interests of justice, the bill contains no public interest defence for journalists who breach a name ban.

Read more at the Press Gazette.