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
20th Feb 2026
DfE warned on lack of state capacity for private SEND pupils
Leaders raise concern that the government鈥檚 fees plan could lead to 鈥榗atastrophic鈥� loss of independent special school provision
Full maternity pay to double for teachers and school leaders
Teachers鈥� maternity pay offer will rise to eight weeks, in line with NHS staff 鈥� but it will still be significantly below that of some public sector workers
What impact have the subject bursary cuts had?
The government鈥檚 withdrawal of key financial incentives for teacher training聽has fuelled fears of a 鈥榟ierarchy鈥� of subjects 鈥� with some already recording a drop in applications
How specialist staff shortages threaten Labour鈥檚 6,500 teachers target
The government鈥檚 key manifesto pledge to deliver 6,500 more teachers could hinge on recruitment into special schools and AP: here鈥檚 why that鈥檚 a challenge
AI attendance targets yet to reach many schools
Findings are further proof that the government rollout of AI-generated attendance targets for individual schools has been 鈥榖otched鈥�, says leaders鈥� union
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Thursday
19th Feb 2026
DfE promises 鈥榗rackdown鈥� on spiralling private special school fees
National standards and price bands to be introduced for independent special schools as part of government SEND reforms
SEND transport bill could hit 拢3.4bn by 2030, councils warn
Local authorities could be transporting 100,000 more pupils with SEND to school by the end of the decade unless there is significant reform, say councils
Tuesday
17th Feb 2026
We built RISE to listen, learn and improve
After an interim evaluation of the government鈥檚 RISE school improvement programme, DfE director general Tim Coulson sets out his vision for the scheme
Lack of diversity among curriculum drafters 鈥榙eeply concerning鈥�
Open letter with nearly 100 signatories calls for a 鈥榤ore diverse range鈥� of drafters to write the new national curriculum, warning there is a risk of 鈥榥arrow鈥� content