Education news
15 August
Curriculum & qualifications
T Level results 2025: Pass rate up and dropouts down
Proportion receiving top grades stays static.
https://feweek.co.uk/t-level-results-2025-pass-rate-up-and-dropouts-down/
VTQ and T Level results 2025: 7 key trends
From industry placements to gender gaps – today’s VTQ and T Level results explained.
https://feweek.co.uk/vtq-and-t-level-results-2025-7-key-trends/
We still need to tackle the high T Level dropout rate
Rising retention rates are welcome but with one in four T level students still quitting early, this flagship qualification is far from plain sailing.
https://feweek.co.uk/we-still-need-to-tackle-the-high-t-level-dropout-rate/
University applications from Wales fall again
32.5% of 18 year olds in Wales had applied to university by June this year, compared to 41.2% across the UK
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8gw55vezvo
A* results up but total number of A-levels awarded in Wales falls another year in a row
The total number of A-level grades awarded to Welsh students has dropped for another year in a row.
https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2025-08-14/thousands-of-students-across-wales-receive-a-level-results
A-level results 2025: 8 key trends in England’s data
Here’s what you need to know from the…
https://feweek.co.uk/a-level-results-2025-8-key-trends-in-englands-data/
Poorer students far more likely to drop A levels than get top grade
The disadvantage-related attainment gap in achieving the top grade at A level has been revealed by Teach First research.
Forget poor ‘Generation Covid’ – me and my A-level classmates never had it so bad
We studied for GCSEs during the pandemic but missed out on the grade-inflated results handed out by teachers. Now, on A-level results day, we’ll be at the mercy of an education system that’s keen to re-establish its reputation for rigorous assessment.
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/a-level-results-day-2025-grades-covid-b2806107.html?
A-level results: is the government doing enough to tackle regional disparities?
As gap between strongest and weakest performing areas in England grows, experts say more needs to be done about structural inequalities.
How did each A-level subject perform this year?
Maths and English literature A levels both had a slight fall in top grades awarded in 2025 compared with last year – in contrast to the overall trend.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/level-results-2025-grades-subject
Influencers may be behind boom in career-focused subjects, says exams chief
Economics and business studies see rise in entrants as exam board boss suggests ‘entreprenurial’ students want to emulate social media influencers.
Inside the exams factory: how GCSE and A-level grades are made
Each year, more than one million youngsters sit exams that often shape their career paths. But how does an exam paper turn into a grade? Schools Week explains all.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/inside-the-exams-factory-how-gcse-and-a-level-grades-are-made/
Exam results 2025: Cambridge International A levels released
More than 350,000 students in 129 countries received their International AS- and A-level results today, with an 11 per cent rise in entries compared with last year. And entries to its ‘global perspectives’ qualifications were up too. Why don’t exam boards offer such a thing in England?
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/specialist-sector/cambridge-international-a-level-results-released
Teacher retention and recruitment
Schools ‘facing disaster’ as one in 10 teachers set to quit in two years
Exclusive: NASUWT’s Matt Wrack told The Independent the Labour government has taken ‘no serious action’ to address the current crisis in teaching amid threat of strikes.
School Improvement
Gibb’s reform reflections: EBacc regrets, academy lessons and ‘trad’ label misgivings
The long-serving former Tory schools minister looks back at his reforms in a new book. Here are 13 interesting findings …
Breakfast clubs
DfE seeks business sponsors to boost flagship breakfast scheme impact
Government says industry providers can help schools ‘make greater impact’ – and promises ‘promotional rights’ in return.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-seeks-business-sponsors-to-boost-flagship-breakfast-scheme-impact/
Disadvantage
National disgrace’ so many pupils are ‘written off’, says Phillipson
As Nick Gibb celebrates the successes of his years in power, this Autumn’s schools White Paper will address the ‘generational challenge’ of the attainment gap between white, working-class children and their peers.
New technology colleges will help fix ‘worrying’ youth unemployment, claims education secretary
The education secretary has told ITV News she is “worried about the numbers of young people who are not earning or learning,” but said the creation of ten new technical colleges will go some way towards fixing the problem.
Young offenders to be pulled out of country’s first secure school
Charity running the school says youngsters will be moved to other facilities until faulty doors fiasco resolved.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/young-offenders-to-be-pulled-out-of-countrys-first-secure-school/
Tech
AI is game-changing when it’s human, ethical and equitable
AI will be used in harmful ways if leadership teams don’t immerse themselves in understanding its risks and opportunities.
https://feweek.co.uk/ai-is-game-changing-when-its-human-ethical-and-equitable/
School holidays
Experts suggest school holidays shake-up
Researchers in the South West have suggested school summer holidays should be shortened, along with lengthening half-terms.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gzz7224qdo
Pupil absence
Phillipson ready to ‘redouble efforts’ to cut down on absent pupils
The Education Secretary wrote in The Daily Telegraph that tackling classroom absences was a ‘top priority’.
School absence ‘most damaging’ in transition period
Pupil absence because of illness is just as detrimental to academic achievement as unauthorised absence – and most damaging at points of transition,says new research.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/school-absence-most-harmful-transition-years
People
Tim Coulson named new DfE regions group director general
Unity Schools Partnership CEO announced as John Edwards’s replacement in key DfE position.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/tim-coulson-named-new-dfe-regions-group-director-general/
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