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
Thursday
24th Mar 2022
Northern Ireland to make period products free in schools
Move comes after Scotland became first country in the world to make period products free for all in 2020
Why it can鈥檛 be 鈥榖usiness as usual鈥� with school league tables
If the DfE really is determined to publish secondary school league tables this year after all the Covid disruption, then it needs to make sure that the data is handled with care, says Steve Rollett
Covid: Persistent absence doubled during the pandemic
鈥榁ulnerable鈥� pupils continue to bear the brunt of the impact of the pandemic, according to new FFT attendance figures
Wednesday
23rd Mar 2022
Zahawi sets out what school tech 鈥榮hould look like鈥�
The DfE publishes a series of 鈥榯echnology standards鈥� so 鈥榣eaders will know what the tech set-up should look like in their school鈥�
Ken Muir: SQA rebrand would mean six months of work wasted
Author of long-awaited report on Scottish education reform talks up need for 鈥榬adical changes to culture and governance鈥�
How the government and the system failed schools during Covid
Sam Freedman reflects on how the pandemic laid bare the structural and systemic flaws at the heart of the education system 鈥� and created new ones, too
Tuesday
22nd Mar 2022
Why children are not dead birds and exams create 鈥榣osers鈥�
We recap some bold ideas and statements from Professor Yong Zhao during a session at the World Education Summit that offer food for thought for educators everywhere
Covid: Pupil absence more than triples in two weeks
Nearly 1 in 10 teachers were absent last week, DfE statistics reveal
National Tutoring Programme 鈥榝ailing pupils and taxpayers鈥�
Labour criticises government over NTP and 鈥榣ack of ambition鈥� in its education plans
Friday
18th Mar 2022
Tories demand performance-related school funding
Scottish Conservatives also call for Curriculum for Excellence to be scrapped and parents to get a bigger role in running schools
1 in 5 secondary teachers report merged classes
Exclusive: Merged classes are being taught in halls and canteens as schools face ongoing disruption due to Covid absences
鈥楧isadvantaged children are not being pushed as hard as they can be鈥�
The Office for Students鈥� director for fair access tells 糖心Vlog why he thinks closer collaboration between the two sectors is vital 鈥� and why equality of opportunity still eludes the disadvantaged