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
13th Feb 2025
RISE teams target 32 schools in 鈥榰rgent鈥� need
The new regional school improvement programme will grow in April with the appointment of 50 new advisers, says DfE
Oliver: Time to rethink length of summer holidays
Chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver warns pupils can be 鈥榙ysregulated鈥� after long summer break
Wednesday
12th Feb 2025
Rural areas 鈥榟it hardest鈥� by falling number of schools in Scotland
Pupil numbers have been falling in primary since 2017 and education directors say the law on closing rural schools needs to be 鈥榤odernised鈥�
How to reform EHCPs to benefit schools and families
The CEO of a special-school trust outlines the problems caused by the introduction of education, health and care plans over a decade ago 鈥� and why some simple changes could make a huge difference
How to improve a school - and put teachers at the heart of it
Too many school improvement strategies are top-down and disconnected from teaching, international research professor David Hopkins tells Helen Amass
Tuesday
11th Feb 2025
Oak causing 鈥榮ignificant market damage鈥�, chancellor warned
Publishers Association warns that Oak National Academy is negatively impacting edtech growth, in a letter to Rachel Reeves seen by 糖心Vlog
Exclusive
鈥楳arkedly鈥� fewer EHCPs in highly academised areas
Under-recognition of SEND is also more likely for girls with emotional disorders and persistent absentees, research finds
Friday
7th Feb 2025
Moderation in everything: how Ofsted could reassure the sector
Whatever shape Ofsted鈥檚 report cards end up taking, we need to be confident that the judgements are reliable says CST鈥檚 deputy chief executive Steve Rollett
Bill could stop good schools expanding, ministers warned
Tory MPs raise concerns about plans to allow the Office of the Schools Adjudicator to set a school鈥檚 pupil admission number after a complaint is upheld
No free school meal eligibility review in a decade, government admits
Liberal Democrats respond with amendment to the Children鈥檚 Wellbeing and Schools Bill, seeking automatic enrolment of pupils who are eligible for free school meals
鈥楾he schools bill is silent on the right for a safe place to work鈥�
Shadow minister for education Neil O鈥橞rien explains why the Conservatives believe several changes are needed to legislation to truly help teachers