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

6th Nov 2024

VAT on private school fees: everything you need to know
Labour will add tax to fees and remove schools’ charitable business rate relief, but what impact will it have on the sector?
Smashed calculator
‘Broad support’ for right to week-long residential
MSPs’ call for evidence on proposed legislation reveals widespread support for a right to residential outdoor education – though some experts have raised concerns
‘Broad support’ for right to week-long residential, finds survey

Tuesday

5th Nov 2024

Unauthorised absence ‘stubbornly high’ despite higher fines
Absence rates have not dropped since higher £160 fines were introduced in September, analysis reveals
Unauthorised absence ‘stubbornly high’ despite higher fines
No evidence phonics screening check improves reading, research finds
There is also no sign that the phonics screening test has narrowed attainment gaps by the end of primary school, report by the Education Policy Institute shows
No evidence phonics screening check improves reading, research shows

Monday

4th Nov 2024

Laura Trott named shadow education secretary
Neil O’Brien will serve as a shadow education minister under the new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch
Laura Trott has been named as the shadow education secretary.
My week as...regional director at The Pioneer Academy
Vicky Marsh talks through a typical week in her role, from schools visits and executive meetings, to finding time for admin and using a headteachers’ WhatsApp group effectively
Vicki Marsh

Friday

1st Nov 2024

Why ‘learning for sustainability’ deserves bigger profile
The prominence of learning for sustainability in Scottish teachers’ professional standards is ‘world leading’, so why isn’t more made of this?
Why ‘learning for sustainability’ deserves bigger profile in Scottish schools

Thursday

31st Oct 2024

Private schools launch legal action over VAT on fees
The Independent Schools Council is taking legal action against the government after the tax policy on fees was confirmed in yesterday’s Budget
Statue holding scales
Private school fees set to rise by 10% after VAT added
The Treasury also estimates that 3,000 pupils will move into the state sector before the end of the 2024-25 academic year
Trigger machine
Free instrumental music in ‘jeopardy’ in Scottish schools
EIS teaching union calls on education secretary to offer protection to instrumental music tuition, amid concerns over possible reintroduction of charges
Free instrumental music in 'jeopardy' in Scottish schools
Unesco concern over UK’s high education secretary turnover
The global report says short tenure as education secretary makes education reform harder to achieve
A new Unesco report has flagged a concern about the high turnover of education secretaries in the UK
Scottish primary school leaders’ view of the Budget
AHDS general secretary Greg Dempster looks at whether this week’s UK Budget offers real hope of a boost to education in Scotland
Scottish primary school leaders’ view of the Budget