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
Tuesday
21st Sep 2021
Why academy growth is a priority for Zahawi
The deputy CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts outlines why the new education secretary should focus on academies
State and private sector attainment gap fell in 2020
Gap in Higher pass rate between private and state schools went down to single figures in 2020 but increased slightly in 2021
More than 100,000 pupils off school due to Covid
New figures show a fall in year-on-year absence after changes to Covid self-isolation rules in schools
Schools’ ‘urgent’ need for Covid catch-up cash boost
Children’s commissioner says all pupils should be offered voluntary catch-up sessions during school week
Monday
20th Sep 2021
Covid catch-up voucher plan ‘completely impractical’
School leaders question Liberal Democrat idea to give £5 billion worth of Covid catch-up vouchers directly to parents
Ignore ‘siren’ calls to abolish GCSEs, Gibb tells DfE
Former schools minister says it would a ‘tragedy’ to abandon government reforms on curriculum or teacher training
Covid: Two-thirds of poorer pupils ‘have fallen behind’
Growing mental health crisis among children must be addressed if education gap is to be closed, charity warns
Friday
17th Sep 2021
Reshuffle: Who are the new team at the top of the DfE?
Boris Johnson has made sweeping changes at the Department for Education this week. So who are the new people in charge?
Why now is the time for the DfE to prove its worth
After almost two years of chaos, confusion and distrust, the DfE has an opportunity to start afresh, says Geoff Barton
The key issues Nadhim Zahawi must focus on - and fast
Any new education secretary faces a big job but Nadhim Zahawi has perhaps a bigger to-do list than most. Sam Freedman breaks down the challenges he faces and what it might mean for those in education
‘No time to waste’ on catch-up funds, heads tell Zahawi
Heads’ leader says new education secretary’s most important job is to get more funding for pupils’ recovery from Covid