DfE
The latest news and analysis on the Department for Education and the secretary of state for education, including new policy, legislation and appointments
Thursday
23rd Jan 2025
DfE names 19 inclusion advisers
The experts will work across two groups on plans to make mainstream schools more inclusive
Inclusion is not about 鈥榙umbing down鈥�, says DfE adviser
鈥楪eneric鈥� policy on SEND support risks exposing pupils to 鈥榠nappropriate practice鈥�, warns the government鈥檚 inclusion lead
Wednesday
22nd Jan 2025
Safeguarding action ends too soon, heads鈥� leader tells MPs
Even when school safeguarding concerns result in an intervention, this can end too soon, requiring repeated referrals, the education committee heard
School maintenance backlog stands at 拢13.8bn, says watchdog
But the National Audit Office reveals the true cost of repairs and replacements in the school estate could be 鈥榮ubstantially higher鈥�
The struggle for curriculum control - and how it impacts teachers
England is just the latest example of a government using curriculum change to make its mark on education, but things rarely go to plan for anyone involved, explains Professor Mark Priestley
Tuesday
21st Jan 2025
Government to amend schools bill to clarify teacher pay
Trust leaders had raised concerns that the current wording of the Children鈥檚 Wellbeing and Schools Bill suggested academies would lose pay freedoms
Schools bill: Experts tell MPs what changes are needed
MPs on the committee scrutinising the government鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Wellbeing and Schools Bill heard from sector leaders today
Friday
17th Jan 2025
Why Labour-supporting trusts are not 鈥榝lying pigs鈥�
Trusts and Labour are not in opposition but the narrative of the moment has created a political divide where none exists, argues E-ACT CEO Tom Campbell聽
Revealed: Ministers鈥� 鈥榮taggering鈥� absence from SEND schools
SEND minister visited no special schools in the four months after the election 鈥� amid concern that specialist expertise is being overlooked
Exclusive
CST calls for changes to DfE bill over pay flexibility
The Confederation of School Trusts is 鈥榲ery concerned鈥� about the schools part of the Children鈥檚 Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Lack of trust in Ofsted 鈥榓lmost irreversible鈥�
Headteachers鈥� support service warns that it is still receiving 鈥榯raumatic鈥� calls from school leaders about Ofsted inspections
Exclusive