DfE
The latest news and analysis on the Department for Education and the secretary of state for education, including new policy, legislation and appointments
Wednesday
24th Jun 2026
Schools caught in 鈥榮tandoff鈥� over falling pupil rolls
Lords鈥� inquiry into falling pupil numbers also hears warnings about mixed-age classes, as well as a proposal that teachers could be retrained to work across different phases
Poorer primary schools see pupil numbers fall twice as fast
DfE urged to assess the impact of falling numbers on disadvantaged pupils and increase funding for affected schools
Monday
22nd Jun 2026
Unions seek urgent clarification on teacher pay after Starmer resignation
Unions warn timing of pay announcement has already been 鈥榢nocked off course鈥� by political events, leaving teachers facing uncertainty and schools unable to budget
鈥楧angerous鈥� for schools to carry on as normal in heatwave, union warns
NEU issues warning as government highlights updated guidance for schools on what to do during heatwaves, with England facing record-breaking temperatures this week
Phillipson doing 鈥榖ad job鈥� as education secretary, NEU members say
Biggest teaching union calls for 鈥榥ew leadership鈥� at the DfE, with members rating Bridget Phillipson even lower than Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister
International education champion defends Ofqual over teachers鈥� grades
Sir Steve Smith writes to international school associations praising the work of schools during the war in the Middle East, and apparently addressing concerns about Ofqual鈥檚 refusal to accept teacher-assessed grades
Friday
19th Jun 2026
Have schools been put into an attendance trap?
New guidance on communicating with parents about absence leaves schools with the 鈥榓ll but impossible鈥� task of improving attendance without being able to hold families to account, warn leaders
Exclusive
DfE legal costs rise by more than 50% under Labour
Increase in legal costs is likely due to the government introducing contentious policies that have 鈥榳ell-funded鈥� opponents 鈥� such as VAT on private school fees, say experts
Exclusive
Thursday
18th Jun 2026
DfE proposes early years training shake-up
Government is consulting on two options for redesigning early years training so it leads to Qualified Teacher Status
MPs launch inquiry into Labour鈥檚 school reform plans
Committee will scrutinise DfE鈥檚 teacher recruitment targets and plans to reform accountability measures and narrow the disadvantage gap
Schools self-funding their building work is 鈥榳holly unrealistic鈥�
NASUWT chief Matt Wrack lists the problems with the idea that schools could hire out facilities to fund essential refurbishment of their buildings