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
13th Mar 2026
Lack of space in schools could halt inclusion drive, DfE warned
The government鈥檚 SEND plans involve thousands of pupils being taught in new 鈥榠nclusion bases鈥� -聽but many school sites don鈥檛 have space to create them, say leaders
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Minister defends 鈥榠ndefensible鈥� DfE hike in advertising spending
鈥楽erious questions鈥� asked after the Department for Education鈥檚 spending on marketing approaches 拢50 million a year 鈥� up 43 per cent since 2022-23
Risk of unfunded pay rise 鈥榙erailing鈥� reforms, ASCL boss warns
Pepe Di鈥橧asio also tells ministers that SEND reforms will need more investment to succeed
Thursday
12th Mar 2026
Deliver on SEND or lose services, ministers warn councils
SEND reform plans are needed by June 鈥� and government will withdraw services from failing authorities, local officers have been warned
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5 things we need for the SEND reforms to succeed
Labour鈥檚 plans for SEND and inclusion give us hope, says Vic Goddard, but now the question is how committed the government is to making them work
Tuesday
10th Mar 2026
Social media ban for under-16s rejected by MPs
Defeated amendment to the Children鈥檚 Wellbeing and Schools Bill was supported by the House of Lords and teaching unions
DfE estimates of schools鈥� costs 鈥榙isingenuous鈥�
Leaders say the government鈥檚 claim that schools can afford teacher pay rises ignores their growing costs, including the prospect of energy price hikes due to the Middle East conflict
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Friday
6th Mar 2026
On-screen exams could widen disadvantage gap, EEF warns
Education Endowment Foundation says the introduction of digital assessment must not have a 鈥榙etrimental impact鈥� on disadvantaged students, in its response to Ofqual consultation
Primary libraries pledge includes converted cloakrooms and corridors
Treasury has committed to ensuring that every primary school has a library by 2029, but these facilities could include former 鈥榮torage spaces鈥�, 糖心Vlog can reveal
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拢1.6bn SEND pot risks being 鈥榮wallowed up鈥�, leaders warn
Flagship fund to improve inclusion in mainstream schools 鈥榳on鈥檛 go very far at all鈥�, and a clear national strategy is needed on how to use it, government is told
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SEND reforms fail to address transport concerns, MPs warn
The Public Accounts Committee has urged the government to clarify how it will tackle high spending on transporting children to school