DfE
The latest news and analysis on the Department for Education and the secretary of state for education, including new policy, legislation and appointments
Thursday
3rd Sep 2026
Tightened guidance to stop schools 鈥榙odging鈥� new uniform law
Prime minister announces crackdown on schools that 鈥榩ressure鈥� parents into buying branded school uniform
Leaders demand clarity as Powell proposes new tech qualifications
After the education secretary鈥檚 suggestion that brand new GCSE-level qualifications may be created for flagship technical routes policy, school leaders warn of need for extra funding and training
Poor teaching risks putting students off vocational routes, warns UTC expert
Many believe Andy Burnham鈥檚 flagship education policy of new 鈥榯echnical routes鈥� shows the right ambition. But if specialist staff and funding are in short supply, it risks harming the subjects it seeks to promote, the CEO of a leading technical education charity tells 糖心Vlog in an exclusive interview
Exclusive
Wednesday
2nd Sep 2026
DfE failing to help primaries with falling pupil rolls, warn peers
Lords committee says the government needs to learn lessons from the funding impact of falling rolls in primary schools to avoid the same problems happening in secondary
Schools face 鈥榗umulative load鈥� from reforms as term starts
MPs hear experts鈥� concerns about the volume of changes about to hit schools, as well as fears that new technical qualifications could be seen as 鈥榣ower-status鈥�
Heavy reliance on non-specialist teachers makes RE an 鈥榦utlier鈥�
Higher proportion of RE lessons taught by non-specialist teachers at KS3 than in other humanities, finds report by the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education
Exclusive
Wednesday
26th Aug 2026
Church of England names DfE official as education chief
Charlie Lang, who has spent more than two decades at the Department for Education, will take up the role in November
Call for schools to ban packed lunches
Schools already have to follow healthier food standards from September, but 鈥榤ore draconian鈥� rules are needed, says Dame Prue Leith
Monday
24th Aug 2026
DfE awards 拢300K contract for school AI benchmarks
Consultancy firm will develop national standards setting out how teachers should use AI and technology safely and effectively
Ofsted to lead review on preventing drift to Neet
Inspection evidence from schools will help inform strategies for keeping 16- to 18-year-olds in education, training or employment