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
6th Jul 2026
Have two years of Labour moved the key data points in schools?
The government is approaching the mid-point of its term in office, so is it making progress on recruitment, behaviour, attendance and its manifesto pledges?
Only 6% of schools opened late after England vs Mexico
Most schools did not make any changes to the school day to accommodate England’s 2am World Cup match against Mexico
Inclusion: experts warn against ‘ineffective’ teaching adaptations
The EEF has produced a new research-backed toolkit to support inclusive teaching, which highlights the risk of approaches that ‘lower expectations’
Thursday
2nd Jul 2026
CST questions legality of CEO pay crackdown
Academy trust sector body tells members it is ‘testing the legalities’ of the government’s plan to limit MAT senior leaders’ pay
Exclusive
Union calls for ‘flexible’ school start after England vs Mexico
The call from NEU’s Daniel Kebede follows England manager Thomas Tuchel, who told parents to ‘write an excuse for school and let children watch’ the World Cup match
Schools told to pay ‘half’ of teacher pay rise
The DfE has told schools they will need to find the first 1 per cent of next year’s teacher pay rise – but this money will be on top of the ‘financial headroom’ the government claims exists in schools’ budgets
KS2 Sats results delayed by more than a week
Exam board apologises for ‘technical issues’ as government considers cancelling Pearson contract
Exclusive
Wednesday
1st Jul 2026
How will the MAT CEO pay cap work?
Multi-academy trusts will need government approval before advertising chief executive salaries above £174,000, under plans announced today
Anger over ‘patronising’ DfE heatwave message to heads
Officials question schools that closed early last week because of the heat, telling them it is important for as many pupils as possible to attend
Exclusive
Revealed: Teachers to be offered 3.5% pay rise
The government also announces curbs on the salaries of multi-academy trust executives
Exclusive
The £250,000 question about exam grades we should be asking
With research revealing the impact that a one-grade difference in A-level results can have on a student’s future earnings, is a reliability in grading of ‘one grade either way’ really acceptable, asks Dennis Sherwood