Policy
Get the latest updates on education policies, government initiatives, and school funding decisions. We cover key announcements from the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, and policymakers, offering insights into how policy changes affect primary, secondary, and sixth form education.
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Oct- 2025 -30 October
UK order laid to support new Scottish education reforms
The secretary of state for Scotland, Douglas Alexander, has laid an order before parliament to update UK legislation following the creation of new education bodies under the Education (Scotland) Act 2025. The Education (Scotland) Act 2025 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2025 makes amendments under section 104 of the Scotland…
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22 October
Johnson admits children ‘paid a huge price’ for lockdown decisions
Boris Johnson has said children “paid a huge price” for lockdown decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic, as he admitted to mistakes in government handling of school closures and the wider impact on pupils. Giving evidence to the public inquiry, the former prime minister said he “takes full responsibility” for decisions…
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17 October
EPI calls for national auto-enrolment system for free school meals
The government should implement a centralised system of auto-enrolment for free school meals (FSM) to ensure all eligible pupils receive the support they are entitled to, according to new research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI). The study found that large numbers of children who qualify for FSM are not…
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17 October
Ofsted chief calls for ‘collaborative reform’ to drive school standards
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has urged academy trusts to embrace the watchdog’s reforms and use their collective agency to drive improvement across the education system. Speaking at the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) annual conference in Birmingham, Oliver said the new inspection framework marked one of the most…
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16 October
Phillipson pledges ‘national renewal’ in upcoming white paper
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has said the forthcoming schools white paper will set out a “path for national renewal”, promising to extend opportunity to every child and strengthen schools as “anchors in our communities”. Speaking at a conference of trust leaders on 16 October, Phillipson said the white paper would…
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15 October
Williamson admits ‘many mistakes’ made over Covid school closures
Former education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson has admitted to “many mistakes” in the government’s handling of education during the Covid-19 pandemic, telling the public inquiry that schools were left unprepared and decisions were often taken too late. Giving evidence to the inquiry’s eighth module, which is examining the pandemic’s effect…
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6 October
Oak National founder Matt Hood appointed as adviser to Secretary of State
Education leader Matthew Hood OBE has been appointed to work with the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) delivery unit to help ensure the government meets its health and care commitments. Hood will work closely with secretary of state for health and social care Wes Streeting, focusing on the…
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2 October
Text reminders to parents on pupil absences show only small impact
A national trial of text message reminders for parents about their child’s school absences found only a small reduction in missed days, according to an evaluation funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF). The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) developed the BITUP intervention, which targeted…
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Sep- 2025 -26 September
NEU criticises reports of gov plan for mandatory year 8 reading test
The National Education Union (NEU) has criticised government plans to introduce a mandatory reading test for year 8 pupils, warning it will harm both staff and students. It comes following reports in The Times that education secretary Bridget Phillipson is looking to introduce the compulsory reading test under the upcoming…
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23 September
MPs call for urgent investment in further education to drive economic growth
The Education Committee has set out a blueprint for how the Government should use investment in further education (FE) and skills to support its economic growth agenda. In a new report, MPs warn that the sector has been underfunded and overlooked for more than a decade, leaving colleges struggling with…
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