Policy
The latest news, analysis and advice on government policy and legislation. Find a breakdown of new documentation, case studies from leaders and comment from high-profile educators
Friday
16th Dec 2022
A toast to surviving the year of five education secretaries
Geoff Barton tells the tale of 2022 and explains why everyone in education should find time to unwind after another bruising 12 months
Revealed: 32.5-hour week target missing from Ofsted reports
School leaders’ unions call for clarity on government plan for a minimum 32.5-hour week
Exclusive
Scottish Budget: ‘Little for education or teachers’
General secretary of the EIS, Scotland’s biggest teaching union, outlines her disappointment with a Budget where education did not feature prominently
Thursday
15th Dec 2022
Teachers feel ‘powerless’ over pupil safety
Government report on serious case reviews says relations between schools and children’s social care in a ‘stalemate’
Robin Walker: Why I want to unpick early years issues
The early years needs to be our number one priority, says the Commons Education Select Committee chair, as he explains why he has launched an inquiry on support for childcare and the early years
Friday
9th Dec 2022
‘Children with SEND are vulnerable - and the most exposed’
The pressures on the special educational needs and disabilities system have forced this MAT to adapt
Why the Schools Bill’s demise will have far-reaching consequences
While no one will lament the end of the Schools Bill, its failure will have a major impact on the sector and the political landscape – especially if Labour comes to power after the next election, as Sam Freedman explains
Schools Bill: What to expect next from the DfE
After months of political turmoil, the government has axed its flagship legislation. What will this mean for schools?
Nick Gibb: ‘We had to blow up the concrete’
In an exclusive and rare sit-down interview, schools minister Nick Gibb tells Jon Severs why he is at war with progressivism and how that position shaped the education policy of the past 12 years
Exclusive
Thursday
8th Dec 2022
Scottish councils reveal Covid comeback education targets
Scottish Attainment Challenge ‘stretch goals’ aim for pre-pandemic levels in primary schools – but the government is told not to pass the buck to local councils
Somerville defends move to reject key recommendation on SQA
Accreditation of qualifications would not be independent enough of government if advice of Muir report is followed, insists education secretary