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Scottish government wanted ‘initial reductions in contact time’ in time for the start of the 2025-26 school year – but councils rejected the plans

DfE report says bailout deals saved some councils from bankruptcy, but that system leaders warn reform and investment is needed

And five other key points from the Department for Education’s annual report

New data shows both primary and secondary schools will start to feel the impact of declining pupil numbers from 2027 – far earlier than previously thought

Academies fighting more than 20 admission appeals will no longer be able to claim towards the costs

But local authorities say that government funding to date does ‘not come close’ to the true cost of delivering the policy and it could have ‘a detrimental impact’ on pupils

Half of schools and trusts are considering restructuring staff because of funding pressures, National Governance Association research shows

Warning of schools facing bigger bills comes as many chief financial officers say they expect their trust’s finances to worsen next year, according to findings seen by 91¶¶Òõ

A leader at a trust that was under financial pressure explains how a forensic look at staffing and curriculum enabled it to avoid cutting any jobs

Caterers are being forced to cut portions and reduce their menus because of the shortfall in free school meals funding, research shows

The government has pledged to break the link between a child’s background and their future success, but what do headteachers in England’s poorest communities need to help make this a reality? We speak to several to find out

The ‘promise of freedom’ that Scotland’s Pupil Equity Fund gives to headteachers ‘may be illusory without a reliable evidence base’, researchers say