DfE
The latest news and analysis on the Department for Education and the secretary of state for education, including new policy, legislation and appointments
Monday
26th Jan 2026
DfE to trial AI tutoring tools in schools this year
The government鈥檚 planned AI tutoring programme promises targeted support for disadvantaged students, which the DfE insists will 鈥榗omplement鈥� the work of teachers
DfE writes to schools to push universal RISE support
The universal RISE school improvement programme is being promoted as an optional offer available to all schools 鈥� separate from targeted RISE support for specific schools
Ofsted: Schools risk missing 鈥榚xpected standard鈥� over phone use
If a school fails to follow the government鈥檚 new guidance on mobile phones, it could fall short of inspectors鈥� requirements聽for聽attendance and behaviour, warns watchdog
The attendance crisis: what does last term鈥檚 data tell us?
Pupil absence was up in the autumn term, but what else can we learn when we break down the details of the latest DfE attendance data? Ellen Peirson-Hagger shares key insights
Friday
23rd Jan 2026
The supply of secondary teachers 鈥榳ill fall after next year鈥�
The pipeline of new secondary teachers will increase in the short term but drop off in 2027-28 and beyond, NFER analysis suggests
Would an under-16s social media ban help schools?
The government is considering restricting or banning children鈥檚 use of social media. How might this impact schools?
Are schools being judged unfairly without Progress 8?
We鈥檙e now experiencing two years without the Progress 8 performance measure as a result of the cancellation of Sats during the pandemic. So, have the past warnings about a negative impact on schools come to pass? Kyle Tormey investigates
Exclusive
Wednesday
21st Jan 2026
Phillipson announces 拢23m for new edtech tools
The government will also launch skills pathways for teachers and support staff to help them develop digital, data and tech skills, education secretary says
It鈥檚 鈥榗runch time鈥� on SEND reform, warns IFS
With SEND spending set to more than double, the government must try to deliver a sustainable system without squeezing mainstream schools鈥� funding, says the Institute for Fiscal Studies