DfE
The latest news and analysis on the Department for Education and the secretary of state for education, including new policy, legislation and appointments
Tuesday
2nd Jun 2026
Reading for pleasure: 5 key challenges
Year 8 reading tests, GCSE English shortcomings, and the tricky balance between grammar and reading enjoyment were among the issues raised at an MPs鈥� committee today
Catholic MAT to grow by 50% as mergers gather pace
The trust will take on 10 new schools if plans are approved this month, amid a wider consolidation of Catholic academies
Thursday
28th May 2026
School system 鈥榝ailing by design鈥� to prepare pupils for work, review finds
The national curriculum and exam-based assessment approaches are big factors in many students being 鈥榚ffectively set up to fail鈥�, finds government-commissioned review
Maximum temperature limit in schools is essential, DfE told
Warnings from teaching bodies come as England sees record-breaking temperatures this week, prompting concerns about the impact of extreme heat in classrooms
Wednesday
27th May 2026
Curriculum reform team sees another high-profile departure
Jenny Oldroyd, director for curriculum at the Department for Education, will move posts next month, prompting one union to describe a series of recent departures as 鈥榥ot ideal鈥�
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Social media inquiry risks shifting blame on to schools, ASCL warns
Schools must not be left with the 鈥榩olicing burden鈥� around social media, says school leaders鈥� union as it demands that tech companies are held to account
Friday
22nd May 2026
Schools鈥� CIF odds improve slightly - but most projects miss out
Nearly seven in 10 applications to Condition Improvement Fund failed to secure funding, but DfE did approve 813 projects in the 2026-27 round
Andrew O鈥橬eill seconded for another year as DfE policy adviser
Headteacher of All Saints Catholic College in London was first seconded to the Department for Education last summer to bring 鈥榝rontline expertise鈥� to policymaking
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