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
Wednesday
26th Nov 2025
Budget 2025: what schools need to know
Chancellor Rachel Reeves鈥� Budget sparks warnings about a real-terms drop in school funding but includes spending on school libraries and books. Here are all the key details for the sector
Ofsted pauses NPQ inspections
Watchdog stops routine inspections of national professional qualifications for 2025-26, at education secretary Bridget Phillipson鈥檚 request
Are EHCPs really driving the SEND crisis?
Education, health and care plans have been blamed for an unsustainable rise in special educational needs in schools, but would scrapping or limiting these plans fix the problem?
Tuesday
25th Nov 2025
Heads鈥� union loses appeal against Ofsted ruling
The NAHT had appealed against a decision not to grant a judicial review into the launch of new Ofsted school inspections
Exclusive
Teacher contact time plans include assemblies, tech and timetabling
Scottish government proposals also call for pilot schemes to 鈥榖egin immediately鈥� but councils have 鈥榮ignificant concerns鈥� about cost and impact 鈥� and, along with unions, say they鈥檝e been blindsided
Exclusive
Ofsted鈥檚 new inspections cause 鈥榞reater stress鈥�, warn heads
But schools taking part in the first inspections under the new report-card system also report that the process feels more collaborative
Will more state schools set up lucrative overseas campuses?
With one state grammar announcing plans to open schools in Dubai and India, what are the implications for the state sector? 鈥楧on鈥檛 expect Grange Hill Singapore any time soon,鈥� one leader tells Emma Seith
Monday
24th Nov 2025
What are area-based education partnerships?
As more schools join these local collaborative groups, Ellen Peirson-Hagger explains how they work and why they matter
Teachers warn Year 8 reading test will 鈥榮ap joy鈥� from learning
High-stakes tests are piling pressure on to pupils and teachers and government policy risks entrenching an 鈥榚xam factory鈥� culture, says teachers鈥� union