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A quarter of schools offer no KS4 vocational qualifications
Teachers broadly support Andy Burnham’s plan for new technical pathways, new polling shows, but the survey raises questions about schools’ capacity to increase their focus on vocational education
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Regional board highlights: April 2025
Your essential guide to the key regional advisory board decisions in April 2025 across the country
SEND: DfE Safety Valve deals ‘were a sticking plaster’
DfE report says bailout deals saved some councils from bankruptcy, but that system leaders warn reform and investment is needed
DfE flags ‘major’ risk of SEND cost pressures
And five other key points from the Department for Education's annual report
Faster school population fall means 400,000 fewer pupils by 2030
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
Ofqual: Rise in exam access arrangements was ‘overstated’
The exams regulator withdraws published data on students receiving access arrangements such as extra time
DfE cuts admission appeals funding for academies
Academies fighting more than 20 admission appeals will no longer be able to claim towards the costs
David Ross Education Trust announces new CEO
Julian Appleyard, currently CEO of a nine-school MAT in Yorkshire, will start his new role in 2026
Swinney threatens councils to cut class contact time
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
State schools falling behind private schools in AI ‘digital divide’
Independent school teachers are more than twice as likely to have received formal AI training than state school peers, Sutton Trust report suggests
New RSHE guidance: what schools need to know
The DfE has published revised relationships, sex and health education guidance, and Oak National Academy has announced new lessons to go along with it
Ofsted set to stagger full inspection launch in November
There will be a reduced number of inspections in the first two months as the watchdog seeks to address sector concerns
SEND attainment gap at ‘record high’ for 5-year-olds
Education Policy Institute report highlights 'looming inequality crisis', with disadvantaged pupils falling further behind
‘Reprehensible’ rise in assaults and abuse against teachers
Suspensions and permanent exclusions as a result of physical assaults on adults have increased sharply, DfE data shows
SEND inspections will change after DfE reforms
Ofsted chief inspector defends area SEND inspections, which he says have helped to push the government towards reforms
Schools aren’t financially sustainable, say governors
Half of schools and trusts are considering restructuring staff because of funding pressures, National Governance Association research shows
Schools face ‘unsustainable’ rise in AI-generated complaints
Parents' use of AI in making complaints means schools are having to deal with complex letters loaded with references to the law, leaders warn
School supplier cost hikes ‘significantly’ worse than feared
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
‘Sensitive’ school files stolen in cyberattack on local authority
'Extra vigilance' advised at the affected schools in Scottish local authority, as criminal investigation continues
Suspensions and exclusions reach ‘shocking’ record highs in 2023-24
State school suspensions near 1 million and set a new peak as exclusions cross 10,000 threshold
Ofsted seeks to address schools’ fears about new inspections
Watchdog will host a series of webinars on new-style inspections after announcing that schools will only get half a term's notice on its finalised plans
Revealed: the 20 leaders in DfE’s MAT chiefs group
The new advisory group, due to meet for the first time next week, includes the leaders of many of the biggest academy trusts, an email seen by 91¶¶Òõ reveals
Teacher unions call for government to fully fund pay award
ASCL, NAHT, NEU and Community are also calling for a fair national pay structure and the full removal of performance-related pay
Schools ‘bridging funding gap’ to provide free school meals
Caterers are being forced to cut portions and reduce their menus because of the shortfall in free school meals funding, research shows
Shield ‘anxious’ heads from Ofsted fears, Cruddas tells trusts
With government planning a series of major education reforms, academy trusts must tell a 'stronger story' about their work, says Confederation of School Trusts' chief executive