UK
The latest news, analysis and thought leadership for UK schools
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
Ark announces new CEOs to replace Lucy Heller
Patrick Wall will lead the Ark Schools multi-academy trust and Katie Oliver will be CEO of the organisation’s charitable arm
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
How can trusts really know if governance is effective?
The commercial director at Thinking Schools Academy Trust explains how it has used KPIs to oversee the overseers – and the positive impact this has had
More than 1 in 3 inspected schools face Ofsted monitoring
91¶¶Òõ analysis reveals a big increase in Ofsted monitoring inspections, prompting warnings about school leaders’ wellbeing and inspector workload
Exclusive
Heads’ union seeks pact with NEU as industrial tensions rise
Negotiations come amid growing industrial action by the teaching union, with school leaders telling 91¶¶Òõ that disputes have left them feeling ‘distressed’ and ‘exploited’
Exclusive
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