DfE
The latest news and analysis on the Department for Education and the secretary of state for education, including new policy, legislation and appointments
Tuesday
14th Jul 2026
MAT to be broken up after behaviour policy backlash
Athena Learning Trust’s nine schools will transfer to other organisations after trustees acknowledge a ‘clear need for change’
Coastal schools shouldn’t be encouraging students to ‘escape’
Telling pupils in coastal communities that school is a springboard to ‘escape’ is a harmful message that deprives these towns of the very people they need to thrive, says head Hannah Carter
Fears about digital exams don’t ‘stack up’, says AQA boss
Despite recent high-profile problems with traditional pen-and-paper exams, the CEO of England’s biggest exam board tells 91¶¶Òõ that there should be more urgency in introducing on-screen assessment
Exclusive
Monday
13th Jul 2026
Unions gauge support for industrial action over teacher pay
Teachers and leaders to be polled on action as findings reveal anger over next year’s 3.5 per cent pay award
Exclusive
OCR defends decision not to re-mark controversial GCSE paper
Exam board’s managing director, in an exclusive 91¶¶Òõ interview, says that despite a complaint being upheld by Ofqual and pressure from Tories, it cannot award marks for ‘incorrect answers’
Exclusive
Friday
10th Jul 2026
Plans for major shake-up of schools’ SEND funding
DfE consulting on plans to give schools more upfront funding for SEND provision, but also raise the £6,000 per pupil threshold for applying for top-up cash
School leaders ‘nervous’ about new sports network
DfE announces delay to the sports partnership network that will replace the PE and sport premium, but says primary schools will receive more transitional funding
Pretending every trust is the same won’t solve pay concerns
Creating a negotiating body for school support staff feels like a sensible step, but it could reduce the flexibility that has made trusts so successful, says CST deputy Steve Rollett
Medical guidance published by heads’ union amid safety fears
The NAHT has published medical support guidance to help school leaders identify unsafe practices and challenge unreasonable expectations
Thursday
9th Jul 2026
KCSIE criticised for ‘watered down’ advice on online searches
Legal experts challenge the DfE’s decision not to mandate social media checks when schools are recruiting staff, in its updated Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance
Almost 1 in 5 pupils off school at peak of heatwave
Schools in England had the highest daily absence rate so far during the 2025-26 academic year in June, when temperatures reached 37.7C
Suspensions and exclusions data: sanctions for pupils with EHCPs rise
Suspensions and permanent exclusions have reduced nationally for the first time since the pandemic, but suspensions are up in primary and for pupils with education, health and care plans