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
9th Oct 2026
ASCL passes motion of no confidence in Ofsted鈥檚 leadership
Union also considers indicative ballot on industrial action if more is not done to mitigate the impact of inspection on wellbeing
DfE takes nearly 6 months to decide senior pay case
The experience of colleges with government pay controls suggests academy trusts will be left in limbo waiting for executive salaries to be approved, leader warns
Exclusive
Nearly 9 in 10 schools say Ofsted inspection impacted staff mental wellbeing
Despite Ofsted welcoming findings from an independent evaluation of its inspections, heads鈥� leaders question Sir Martyn Oliver鈥檚 claim that the watchdog is 鈥榦n the right track鈥�
Is Ofsted on the brink and is there a way back?
Amid fierce criticism of its school inspections, Ofsted has been asked by education secretary Lucy Powell to go 鈥榖ack to the drawing board鈥�. John Roberts assesses whether it can find a path out of this crisis
Thursday
8th Oct 2026
Phonics test results finally return to pre-Covid level
Wide disadvantage gap has not shifted but the proportion of pupils with SEND meeting the phonics standard reaches new high
Year 8 reading tests 鈥榣east effective鈥� way to help struggling pupils
NEU calls for tests to be scrapped after survey highlights teachers鈥� fears that they will narrow the curriculum and crank up workload pressure
Wednesday
7th Oct 2026
Scope for negotiation on Ofsted is 鈥榚xhausted鈥�, heads warn
ASCL鈥檚 senior members are meeting this week to decide how to take 鈥榤ore assertive action鈥� over inspection concerns
Exclusive
Headteacher announces exit as DfE adviser
Andrew O鈥橬eill, who was appointed school policy and delivery adviser under previous education secretary Bridget Phillipson, brings an early end to his secondment
Just 15 trainees for this popular subject? The DfE must act
More than 46,000 students took A-level economics this year but the subject has had fewer than 100 new specialist teachers since 2019. The government needs to make this staff shortage a priority, argues academic Sonia Strnad
Tuesday
6th Oct 2026
Trott: Train teachers not to 鈥榖rainwash鈥� pupils
Complex issues are being 鈥榣aced with political bias鈥� in classrooms, says shadow education secretary, as the Conservatives set out plan to introduce mandatory training for teachers on impartiality
Oak鈥檚 AI tool cuts planning time but mixed views on effectiveness, study finds
EEF trial of primary teachers using Oak National Academy鈥檚 AI assistant finds newer teachers more likely to create lesson plans with it than experienced colleagues