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
17th Apr 2026
DfE awards contract for school behaviour toolkit
Education services provider Etio will work alongside ImpactEd to develop a best practice review and toolkit to help tackle pupil behaviour
Gareth Conyard: DfE plan for teacher-training entitlement is 鈥榙isingenuous鈥�
In an exclusive interview, the chief executive of the Teacher Development Trust questions the government鈥檚 plan for a new teacher-training entitlement and its decision to fund only three years of SEND training
Exclusive
Key stage 3 alliance announces regional co-chairs
The regional co-chairs will lead schools and trusts to share good practice on what works in early secondary school
Thursday
16th Apr 2026
Banning phones in schools 鈥榓lready solved鈥�, claims minister
Education minister Olivia Bailey comes under fire as MPs reject Lords鈥� proposal for a statutory ban on phones in schools
Why schools will struggle to fund 鈥榰tterly unrealistic鈥� food standards
A government pilot scheme for the new healthier school food standards showed that costs of meals increased and uptake dropped, says expert
Exclusive
Deprived schools need bigger share of nurseries cash, DfE told
Most of the schools successful in applying for the grant to open new nurseries have fewer FSM pupils than the national average, 糖心Vlog analysis reveals
Exclusive
DfE warned over 鈥榗hronic shortage鈥� of educational psychologists
The worst-affected area has only one educational psychologist for every 9,400 pupils, with shortages putting the DfE鈥檚 inclusion plans at risk, EPI warns
Wednesday
15th Apr 2026
鈥楿nbelievably鈥� tough DfE disadvantage target 鈥榣acks a huge plan鈥�
The government鈥檚 pledge to halve the disadvantage-related attainment gap is 鈥榠ntentionally鈥� vague and does not address the root causes of this inequality in outcomes, experts tell MPs
Stop 鈥榩roactive鈥� schools grabbing inclusion support, councils told
DfE tasks local authorities with creating 鈥榚xperts at hand鈥� plans for schools 鈥� but sector leaders raise concerns about a lack of evidence on how this should be delivered
Tuesday
14th Apr 2026
Former MAT director to lead on Ofsted trust inspections
Watchdog appoints Matthew Purves to take charge of 拢20m project to develop inspections of multi-academy trusts
Exclusive
SEND reforms: 6 warnings from leaders to MPs
Government鈥檚 plans lack detail and risk turning Sendcos into 鈥榣ightning rods鈥� for parent frustration, sector leaders tell Commons Education Select Committee