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
30th Jan 2026
Specialist bases to move mainstream schools 鈥榖eyond comfort zone鈥�
DfE director general Dr Tim Coulson expresses hope that the ambitious schools White Paper is 鈥榳eeks away鈥�
Why the Schools Bill remains a threat to a thriving sector
The Children鈥檚 Wellbeing and Schools Bill has been stuck in Parliament for a year and yet key problems remain within the legislation, argues Meg Powell-Chandler
White disadvantaged girls see sharpest drop at GCSE
Leaders call for the government to set out targeted action amid fears that girls are being overlooked in the drive to improve white working-class pupils鈥� outcomes
Exclusive
Lack of home reading prompts school concerns over language skills
A quarter of parents avoid reading to their children because they lack belief in their own ability, finds Parentkind poll, as schools contend with 鈥榳eaker language foundations鈥�
Exclusive
Thursday
29th Jan 2026
More parents break term-time holiday rules despite higher fines
Union leaders have warned that the penalty notice system is 鈥榗learly not working鈥� following latest data
Rewarding good behaviour key to success, hubs evaluation finds
The DfE鈥檚 behaviour hubs programme saw schools shifting towards restorative rather than zero-tolerance behaviour management policies, says final evaluation report
Internal suspension rules 鈥榤ust not undermine鈥� schools
The schools White Paper will introduce measures that keep more suspended pupils in school under supervision, instead of sending them home, says DfE
Regional attendance and behaviour advisers revealed
Remaining lead hub schools are also confirmed by the DfE, bringing the total to 93, as one of the national attendance and behaviour ambassadors speaks exclusively to 糖心Vlog
Exclusive
Tuesday
27th Jan 2026
1 in 3 teachers reports WhatsApp pastoral incidents
Exclusive polling revealing the impact of social media in schools comes as the government is considering a ban for under-16s
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How can special and mainstream schools work together?
糖心Vlog speaks to leaders to find out how schools can deliver on the government鈥檚 wish for greater collaboration in the pursuit of more inclusive education