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GCSE results 2026: English and maths pass rates down for fifth straight year

This year’s GCSE results also reveal that the regional divide in England in attainment continued to widen while the gender gap narrowed

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Teacher pension rise could force more private schools to exit scheme

Unions warn that unfunded rise for private schools will force more schools to drop out of the teacher pension scheme

Early years: What impact have EYFS 2021 reforms had?

The DfE has published an evaluation report on the impact of early years foundation stage reforms in 2021. Here are the key findings

Teachers ‘taken further and further away’ from teaching

With a drop in support staff hitting teacher workload, one teaching union advises members to only take on tasks that demand 'the skills and expertise of a teacher'

RSHE: Keegan ‘undermining’ trust in schools, heads warn

School leaders' unions say the education secretary's 'pursuit of a headline' over RSHE could damage people's faith in schools

‘Cost-cutting suspicion’ after DfE SEND contract rewrite

DfE faces questions after original SEND contract notice said government reforms would address the 'cost burden' caused by demand for services

Revealed: Ofsted MAT checks on hold until next April

With Ofsted announcing it will not carry out any more evaluations of MATs this financial year, ÌÇÐÄVlog looks at the key findings from its most recent reports

Schools to get share of £289m for wraparound care

Local authorities will today receive details of funding aimed at boosting school-based wraparound care

Fears about students vaping raised with education secretary

Vaping in schools will only be 'eradicated' if more is done about the sale of e-cigarettes in shops nearby, MSPs hear

Weekly round-up: Ofsted chief probe and RSHE warning

This week’s essential education news includes a judge's ruling over the Ofsted chief's comments on home education and schools' fears about the DfE's latest RSHE demand

Rise in school at-risk pupil referrals since Covid

The proportion of referrals to social services being made by schools is increasing, new DfE data shows

£20m hardship funding to go to high-deficit schools

The DfE has published details of the £40m hardship fund to support schools announced alongside the teacher pay deal in July

Breaking: DfE to target extra school cash to high deficit areas

Half of the one-off £40m hardship fund announced for schools as part of the summer pay deal will go to local authorities with school deficits over 1% of income, the government has revealed

‘Vital’ behaviour hubs evaluation delayed

Schools say behaviour is getting worse – but findings from the government's main initiative to tackle the problem have been delayed until next year

Many Scottish secondary students missing a day a week

In secondary – including exam years – 18% of Scottish students attend school for less than 80% of the time, new data shows

More Scottish school strike dates planned over pay

Support staff in eight Scottish local authorities are due to strike in November, but first minister Humza Yousaf says there is no money for an improved pay offer

School leader burnout more than doubles

Senior leaders are being 'broken' by the pressures of workload, accountability and funding shortages, warns union leader

Additional support for learning inquiry launched in Scotland

Teachers and pupils are encouraged to share views on school and local authority ASN services before deadline at the end of December

Centre of Teaching Excellence questions sidestepped by Gilruth

Education secretary refuses to be drawn on how the Centre of Teaching Excellence will be run or what it will cost, saying teachers must be consulted on the proposal

Wilshaw: Ofsted ‘not focusing enough on teaching quality’

Former Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw also warns that it is 'ridiculous' that schools with 'terrible' results can receive 'good' Ofsted judgements

Welsh schools told ‘make learning interesting’ to cut absence

Attendance will improve if pupils 'actively want to come to school', says new government guidance

‘Existential threat’ to catch-up tutoring, warns DfE adviser

Warning comes as government is yet to make any commitments to funding tutoring beyond this academic year, despite widening disadvantage gap

Schools face ‘huge extra workload’ from RSHE demand

Letter from education secretary risks 'expectation' that schools 'must publish every piece of planning and resource used across the RSHE curriculum', leaders warn DfE

Mark Lehain appointed special adviser to Keegan

Former free school head returns as education secretary special adviser, with a focus on school and family policy

Probe Spielman on home education concerns, judge tells Ofsted

Ofsted must ask chief inspector Amanda Spielman for evidence behind concerns she raised with MPs over home education, tribunal rules