Education news
18 July
Teacher retention and recruitment
Labour plans Teach First recruitment scheme revamp
Government intends to drop Russell Group uni requirement and focus on ‘committed’ graduates, document suggests – and make it ‘supplier neutral’ (probably losing the Teach First brand).
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/labour-plans-teach-first-recruitment-scheme-revamp/
Support plans ‘misused’ to ‘force out’ teachers from schools, say campaigners
More than 100 teachers have shared stories of the ‘misuse’ of support plans, which they say are pushing out staff in a ‘traumatic’ process.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/support-plans-misused-to-force-out-teachers-from-schools-say-campaigners/
The barriers that still block female leaders – and how to remove them
A former school leader who has investigated the difficulties that women face in rising to headship reveals her key findings, and how the sector needs to evolve to support women’s career progression.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/general/barriers-for-women-teachers-becoming-a-headteacher
‘Reprehensible’ rise in assaults and abuse against teachers
Suspensions and permanent exclusions as a result of physical assaults on adults have increased sharply, DfE data shows.
Support staff
Wales: Some school staff earn less than minimum wage – union
Some school support staff are earning less than minimum wage because of the way their salaries are paid, according to a union.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6mq0p0yqmo
Inclusion
EHCPs: Why we’re campaigning to save a ‘broken’ system
A SEND parent explains why she’s co-founded a new campaign group to fight future reforms to education, health and care plans.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/removing-ehcps-from-mainstream-pupils-is-the-wrong-solution/
Will EHCP numbers continue to rise, and what then?
A new forecasting tool for local authorities shows the pressing need for change to avoid an “unmitigated” disaster for schools and families.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/will-ehcp-numbers-continue-to-rise-and-what-then/
Five-year-olds in England with special educational needs 20 months behind peers – report
Children from lower-income families also remain significantly behind their peers as impact of pandemic continues to be felt.
Ofqual: Rise in exam access arrangements was ‘overstated’
The exams regulator withdraws published data on students receiving access arrangements such as extra time.
Equalities
Schools to teach anti-misogyny lessons in bid to tackle ‘manosphere’
Pupils to be taught how to combat misogyny and resist so-called “incel culture” under new guidance for schools.
Girl in union flag dress barred from giving speech on school’s ‘culture day’
Father says 12-year-old was told event in Rugby was ‘not for her as she gets to celebrate being British every day’.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jul/15/girl-union-flag-dress-school-culture-day-rugby
Curriculum & qualifications
Schools should not be left out of extra funding for technical courses
The new industrial strategy states that the government will use the 16-19 high-value course premia to uplift funding to courses that support key sectors. It also acknowledges that the nation’s skills pipeline starts at school. So why not introduce the uplift earlier?
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-should-not-be-left-out-of-extra-funding-for-technical-courses/
Bridget Phillipson defends lack of sex education age limits
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has defended not using age limits in the government’s new guidance around sex education in England.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2zrylqzeyo
New RSHE guidance: what schools need to know
The DfE has published revised relationships, sex and health education guidance, and Oak National Academy has announced new lessons to go along with it.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/new-rshe-guidance-for-schools-sex-education
Tech
Fathers plan legal action to get smartphones banned in England’s schools
Two fathers tell education secretary they will seek judicial review in bid for statutory ban to safeguard children.
The companies launching AI tutors to ‘transform the attainment gap’
Firms say move will save schools money and reach more pupils, but campaigners warn of safeguarding and data protection risks.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/the-companies-launching-ai-tutors-to-transform-the-attainment-gap/
The new reason state schools are falling behind private schools
The Sutton Trust is now urging the Government to intervene and ensure all pupils can access the technology.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/private-state-schools-ai-divide-b2789474.html
From cheating to bias, the rise of AI worries teachers
The author of a new report looking at how schools are using artificial intelligence reveals some key findings – and explains why teachers are still concerned about it.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/general/why-teachers-are-worried-about-ai-in-schools-cheating
Schools say they need more funding to hit 2030 tech target
One-third of schools say they will be unable to hit new technology targets in the next five years.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-say-they-need-more-funding-to-hit-2030-tech-target/
Exclusion
School children with SEN or free school meals more likely to be excluded, according to DfE stats
Suspensions and exclusions from schools in England have shot up to a record high. All reasons, bar ‘theft’ have increased.
Rise in school exclusions in England including among pupils six or younger
Charity says system failing youngest children who lost out on socialising due to Covid, as total exclusions pass 10,000.
Behaviour
Our fight against online misinformation is… well… misinformed
Stereotypes and assumptions mean our efforts to tackle nefarious online content are stifled from the outset. Does the focus on boys miss the fact that girls are more vulnerable to conspiracy beliefs?
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/our-fight-against-online-misinformation-is-well-misinformed/
Teachers to get training to tackle online conspiracies
New centre is launched to support staff ‘on the front line of a new challenge’.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/teachers-training-tackle-online-conspiracies
School places
Faster school population fall means 400,000 fewer pupils by 2030
New data shows both primary and secondary schools will start to feel the impact of declining pupil numbers from 2027 – far earlier than previously thought.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/pupil-numbers-to-fall-sooner-than-expected
Ofsted
Ofsted seeks to address schools’ fears about new inspections
Watchdog will host a series of webinars on new-style inspections after announcing that schools will only get half a term’s notice on its finalised plans. Nobody’s happy.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/ofsted-webinars-for-schools-on-new-inspections
Free schools
15 years of free schools: do they deliver better outcomes?
With the government having paused the opening of any more free schools, a new study shows that they have a positive impact on attainment, says report author Andrew Smith from NFER.
Funding
School supplier cost hikes ‘significantly’ worse than feared
Warning of schools facing bigger bills comes as many chief financial officers say they expect their trust’s finances to worsen next year, according to findings seen by Tes.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/school-funding-schools-hit-by-increase-in-supplier-costs
Ministers review £320m PE and sport premium amid ‘patchy’ provision fears
Catherine McKinnell tells MPs government is considering a ‘different approach’ to boosting take-up of sport.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ministers-review-320m-pe-and-sport-premium-amid-patchy-provision-fears/
Academy admission appeals cash cut ‘penalises successful schools’
DfE won’t fund academies to fight appeals heard after October 31 of this year, it confirms.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/academy-admission-appeals-cash-cut-penalises-successful-schools/
SEND ‘major issue’ and ‘irregular’ grants: 13 things we learned from DfE accounts
Document also reveal bumper pay rise for DfE top boss, payments to companies linked to ministers and growing cost of the regions group.
Parents
Schools face ‘unsustainable’ rise in AI-generated complaints
Parents’ use of AI in making complaints means schools are having to deal with complex letters loaded with references to the law, leaders warn.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/schools-face-rise-in-ai-generated-parent-complaints
Families face £1,076 bill per child for summer holiday childcare
Finding a childcare place during the holidays can be difficult for children with special educational needs and disabilities, survey suggests.
https://www.independent.co.uk/money/families-england-south-west-wales-scotland-b2790517.html
Parents want four-week school summer holidays to ease costs
More than half of parents want the six-week summer break cut to four according to Parentkind poll.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/parents-want-six-week-summer-holiday-cut-b1238662.html
Politics
400+ NEU staff to strike in dispute over restructure
Union accused of failing to hold ‘meaningful consultation’ over staff changes, but says offer of further negotiations ‘remains open’.
Tricky questions hang over Labour’s next year in office
If Labour were a band you’d say their first album had gone down well, but now the ‘tricky second album’ has big questions to answer, says Tom Campbell.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/tricky-questions-hang-over-labours-next-year-in-office/
Half of 16 and 17 year olds don’t want the vote, despite government giving it to them
Half of 16 and 17-year-olds don’t think they should be allowed to vote despite Labour’s plans to lower the voting age, a poll for ITV News has found.
__________
For the news archive, please visit: my.chartered.college/education-news-archive
