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
7th Feb 2025
No free school meal eligibility review in a decade, government admits
Liberal Democrats respond with amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, seeking automatic enrolment of pupils who are eligible for free school meals
Need to know: Q&A on DfE’s RISE teams
Here are seven key questions about the Department for Education’s new RISE teams – and what we know so far
Sir Ian Bauckham appointed Ofqual chief regulator
Former MAT CEO is formally confirmed in post, having led Ofqual as interim chief regulator for a year
Revealed: the scale of the SEND crisis in numbers
The huge shortfall in funding for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is clear. But how many children now need support – and how has this figure increased in recent years? ÌÇÐÄVlog analyses the latest DfE data
Stuck school intervention plan ‘complete nonsense’, say leaders
Headteachers’ leaders warn DfE plans could see schools academised or rebrokered despite showing improvement across multiple areas
Exclusive
Maths schools at risk in lowest-performing regions
Plans for two specialist maths schools in regions with the lowest A-level scores could be cancelled as part of a government review
Exclusive
MAT Tracker regional deep dive: Yorkshire and the Humber
ÌÇÐÄVlog examines the outlook for the academies sector in Yorkshire and the Humber, as part of our MAT Tracker series delving into regional movements and trends
Wednesday
5th Feb 2025
DfE to set out ‘common approach’ to teaching writing
Half of a £2m DfE funding pot is set aside for secondaries to buy resources for struggling readers
Delta expansion gets ministers’ approval
Ministers have approved a plan for the six schools run by a coastal MAT to join Delta Academies Trust
Schools need more help with rise in EAL pupils, say experts
Report says government should bring back national statutory tests for English proficiency, to help teachers and pupils
Tuesday
4th Feb 2025
Phillipson ‘concerned’ about volume of parent complaints
Education secretary voices worries about parent complaints in response to questions from school leaders and teachers during a live webinar this afternoon
Schools legally required to report use of reasonable force
The government has updated its 2013 guidance on how schools should use reasonable force and other restrictive practices