Thursday
How many school students already take vocational qualifications?Â
With Andy Burnham announcing new technical education pathways for 14-year-olds from 2028, ÌÇÐÄVlog looks at how many students currently enter vocational studies in their early teens
‘Rushed’ RISE improvement plans concern ‘many’ heads
Latest DfE review of RISE school improvement programme finds there is a clearer understanding of advisers’ roles and better communication – but worries persist over timeframes for drafting plans
Big drop reported in grant funding for academy transfers
Government data shows a sharp dip in grant support for schools switching between academy trusts after DfE funding changes
Only 7 in 10 teacher trainees employed in state schools
The proportion of postgraduate trainees working in state schools is lower than previous years, official data from 2024-25 cohort shows
Tuesday
Technical pathways plan: 7 lessons from failed 14-19 Diplomas
Responding to Andy Burnham’s announcement about new technical education pathways, a former civil servant who worked on 14-19 reforms reflects on the challenges that caused the collapse of Diplomas
New technical routes for schools: what we do and don’t know
A huge announcement on secondary education was made by Andy Burnham last night, begging a raft of questions. We set out the answers the sector needs and the detail – where it exists – we know already
Isolated school students ‘at higher risk of becoming Neet’
Schools are ‘well-placed’ to identify teenagers who are becoming isolated and their early intervention can ‘make a real difference for a young person’s future’, say researchers
Monday
New technical pathways in secondary schools by 2028, PM announces
Schools will be inspected by Ofsted on vocational offering, but sector leaders want more details on multiple aspects of the plans
Ethnicity excluded from new similar-schools measure amid legal fears
A new DfE ‘similar schools’ measure, launching this September, is aimed at helping the government and Ofsted to understand how well pupils in one school are achieving compared with those in schools in a similar context
Friday
What Lucy Powell should do about Ofsted, staff wellbeing and pupil rolls
As the new education secretary begins her tenure, ASCL leader Pepe Di’Iasio outlines three priorities in her in-tray
Two years on and the VAT debate remains alive
Should private schools accept that VAT on fees is here to stay, or could political winds of change shift again one day, asks HMC CEO Simon Hyde
