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
4th Mar 2025
Lower school leaving age below 16, say Scottish Tories
The party is proposing that students as young as 14 should be able to leave school – but only if they take on an apprenticeship or go to college
As VAT bites, private schools have to face the reality of job cuts
Legal expert Emma Thompson outlines the steps private schools need to take if they are forced to make redundancies as a result of the introduction of VAT on fees
What if... ITT had limitless resources
As part of our thought experiment series, Ben Jose looks at what would change and what would stay the same if ITT had access to limitless time, technology and resources
Friday
28th Feb 2025
We should be asking what to take out of the school day, not what to add in
There’s no shortage of people telling us what extra things should be fitted into the school day but it is already bursting at the seams, writes ASCL chief Pepe Di’Iasio
MPs: DfE bill should ensure ‘auto-enrolment’ for free school meals
The Commons Education Select Committee also warns that the government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill has had a ‘rushed and inadequate’ timetable
Wednesday
26th Feb 2025
SQA reveals names of CEO and chief examining officer as roles are split
New interim CEO vows to ‘serve with humility’ and learn from the past ‘by being more open to criticism, challenge and scrutiny’
How ‘efficiency’ derailed education
The education system has become too obsessed with efficiency and has lost its true purpose, argues Bernard Andrews
Tuesday
25th Feb 2025
SEND: £740m funding won’t tackle main challenges, MPs told
The Commons Education Committee held a session today on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Here are six things MPs were told
Why you need a good answer on play, breaks and pupil autonomy
There is growing pressure to release the constraints on student autonomy in the school day, so school and trust leaders need to have a clear position on the evidence, argues Jon Severs
‘Alternative’ Ofsted survey asks if report cards are fit for purpose
Former senior HMI have launched their own survey to run in parallel with Ofsted’s official consultation
4 reasons schools should take part in research trials
Being involved in a research project can help schools to support teacher development – and shape the future of education, argues Iggy Rhodes of the EEF