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
Friday
24th Jan 2025
Parents warned of 鈥榮ignificant barrier鈥� to home education in Scotland
Some SQA qualifications may not be available to home-educated young people because they include internal assessment, says new Scottish government guidance
Breakfast clubs won鈥檛 improve attendance, say most heads
Teachers鈥� and leaders鈥� doubts about the government鈥檚 plan for free breakfast clubs in all primary schools have been revealed by a new poll
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Thursday
23rd Jan 2025
DfE names 19 inclusion advisers
The experts will work across two groups on plans to make mainstream schools more inclusive
Headteachers voice support for 鈥榠mperfect鈥� schools bill
The Headteachers鈥� Roundtable 鈥榮trongly refutes鈥� several criticisms of the Children鈥檚 Wellbeing and Schools Bill published in the national press
Inclusion is not about 鈥榙umbing down鈥�, says DfE adviser
鈥楪eneric鈥� policy on SEND support risks exposing pupils to 鈥榠nappropriate practice鈥�, warns the government鈥檚 inclusion lead
Wednesday
22nd Jan 2025
Catherine McKinnell: Why we propose to amend the schools bill
The Children鈥檚 Wellbeing and Schools Bill will ensure no child is left behind and help England鈥檚 鈥榚xcellent鈥� teachers drive 鈥榟igh and rising鈥� standards, writes the minister for school standards
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Safeguarding action ends too soon, heads鈥� leader tells MPs
Even when school safeguarding concerns result in an intervention, this can end too soon, requiring repeated referrals, the education committee heard
School maintenance backlog stands at 拢13.8bn, says watchdog
But the National Audit Office reveals the true cost of repairs and replacements in the school estate could be 鈥榮ubstantially higher鈥�
The struggle for curriculum control - and how it impacts teachers
England is just the latest example of a government using curriculum change to make its mark on education, but things rarely go to plan for anyone involved, explains Professor Mark Priestley
Mandatory assistive tech training for all new teachers from 2025
The education secretary will set out the Department for Education鈥檚 plans for edtech in a speech at the Bett show
Tackling teacher retention is about more than just money
The executive director of education for the Church of England explains why it has launched two courses aimed at helping teachers and leaders to flourish