DfE
The latest news and analysis on the Department for Education and the secretary of state for education, including new policy, legislation and appointments
Friday
23rd Oct 2026
Powell accused of 鈥榝ailure of leadership鈥� over Ofsted comments
The Conservatives鈥� Laura Trott claims the education secretary 鈥榰ndermined鈥� Ofsted chief Sir Martyn Oliver in a TV interview
Late KCSIE changes leave schools鈥� safeguarding policies 鈥榦ut of date鈥�
Concerns over last-minute updates to safeguarding guidance come amid wider calls for the government to pause the 鈥榚ver-expanding鈥� requirements it makes of schools
Thursday
22nd Oct 2026
Teachers could work fewer days under DfE plans
Lucy Powell also opens the door to removing the limits on how much headteachers can be paid
Teachers 鈥榩ulling their hair out鈥� over 鈥榲iolence-fixated鈥� pupils
Children鈥檚 commissioner says children who are influenced by harmful online content are being bounced back to school because they do not meet the criteria for the Prevent programme
Trusts 鈥榙rowning鈥� in 鈥榳eaponised鈥� subject access requests
One trust alone is spending 拢100K a year handling a huge rise in requests for personal data, which are often fuelled by parents using AI tools
Exclusive
EYFS: Disadvantage gap widens for fourth straight year
Record levels of 4- and 5-year-olds meeting their development targets, annual Department for Education data also reveals
Wednesday
21st Oct 2026
Antisemitism review: what schools need to know
Lucy Powell says 鈥榗hange will come鈥� on antisemitism in schools as she accepts all of the recommendations in Sir David Bell鈥檚 review
How school partnerships can change the odds for disadvantaged children
With the children鈥檚 commissioner sounding an alarm over the 鈥榗hildhood lottery鈥� of disadvantage, the Reach Foundation鈥檚 Ed Vainker shares the success of local partnerships involving schools, support services and businesses
Susan Acland-Hood to leave DfE
The permanent secretary at the Department for Education is leaving her role after six years to be replaced by a top Home Office civil servant
Exclusive
Experienced teachers lose right to annual pay reviews
DfE also presses ahead with allowing one-off bonuses for teachers and leaders, despite union warnings about pay inequality