Policy
The latest news, analysis and advice on government policy and legislation. Find a breakdown of new documentation, case studies from leaders and comment from high-profile educators
Friday
6th Oct 2023
Teaching quality efforts 鈥榗rushed鈥� by rising poverty
Next prime minister must create taskforce to fix child poverty so schools can focus on educational impact, says former DfE senior adviser Sam Freedman
VAT loopholes make Labour private school plan 鈥榯ricky鈥�
After-school clubs and reduced VAT on boarding school students could reduce tax bill for independent schools if Labour pushes ahead with fee levy, say experts
Exclusive
Covid inquiry: 鈥楳istake鈥� to keep schools shut
Former children鈥檚 tsar tells inquiry the government failed to 鈥榬ealistically prepare鈥� for Covid lockdowns and mitigate their long-term impact on pupils
糖心Vlog News podcast conference special: The end of A levels?
Join the 糖心Vlog News team as we discuss the prime minister鈥檚 plan for a new post-16 qualification, the Advanced British Standard, and look ahead to the Labour Party鈥檚 conference in Liverpool
Labour Party conference: What can teachers expect?
After Rishi Sunak revealed his big plan for post-16 education at his party鈥檚 conference, how will the opposition respond?
Fears catch-up progress will be lost as schools face costs struggle
Some schools are questioning the point of getting tutoring 鈥榰p and running鈥� when funds are set to disappear next year
鈥極utstanding鈥� grade 鈥榦ut of reach鈥� for 鈥榞ood鈥� schools
糖心Vlog analysis showing huge fall in 鈥榞ood鈥� schools being given the top rating by Ofsted reveals how it is now a 鈥榖inary鈥� inspection grading system, warn leaders
Exclusive
Is the end nigh for performance-related pay?
Wales dropped PRP for teachers in 2020 in favour of yearly pay rises. Could England follow suit? Grainne Hallahan follows the money
Thursday
5th Oct 2023
Heads question supervised school toothbrushing plan
Labour has said it will introduce supervised toothbrushing in schools as part of plans to improve the nation鈥檚 oral health
Sunak鈥檚 A-level plan drawn up on 鈥榖ack of envelope鈥�
Shadow schools minister Catherine McKinnell accuses Rishi Sunak of announcing a 鈥榖ack-of-the-envelope policy鈥� while school roofs are 鈥榣iterally propped up鈥�
Teacher shortages make Advanced British Standard a pipe dream
ASCL鈥檚 Geoff Barton argues that for all the potential merits of considering reforms to post-16 education, the teacher shortage crisis makes it unrealistic