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
28th Oct 2021
Heads’ budget warning over soaring winter energy bills
Open windows and soaring energy costs could hit school bills, heads warn as Labour claims costs could go up by £80m
Huge drop in school at-risk referrals during Covid
Figures prompt warning about vulnerable pupils ‘dropping off the radar’ during the pandemic
Behaviour tsar hits out at bid to ban isolation rooms
Banning isolation rooms in schools would make classrooms unsafe, warns DfE adviser
Tuesday
26th Oct 2021
More than half of 12-15s in Scotland get first jab
First minister Nicola Sturgeon reveals the latest figures in her first Covid update since Parliament’s October break
We will be ‘forced to close schools’, warn unions
Strike action affecting schools is planned for one week in November, during the COP26 climate summit
Friday
22nd Oct 2021
3 simple ways the DfE could improve things for schools
Ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review, Geoff Barton outlines some non-budget-related ways in which the government could actually help schools after another tough term
Schools told to report on catch-up tutoring efforts
Exclusive: Heads say the ‘clunky’ demand is ‘micromanagement’ from an ‘out-of-touch’ government
Thursday
21st Oct 2021
Schools told not to teach ‘white privilege’ as fact
DfE planning to develop new guidance to help schools ‘meet their duties’ while teaching about complex political issues
Why girls’ exclusion rates are rising and how to fix it
New data has revealed that the rates at which girls are being excluded are rising more rapidly than boys – but why? We unpick this complex issue and consider ways schools can help reverse this worrying trend
Call for parents to help choose Covid catch-up tutors
Government officials and school leaders agree that parental involvement in NTP would ‘boost uptake’, new research finds