Schools
Stay updated on the latest developments in UK primary and secondary education. From classroom innovation to leadership changes, this section covers news, trends, and policies impacting schools across the country.
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Oct- 2025 -28 October
DfE sets timeline for RAAC removal from all schools and colleges
All schools and colleges in England are to be free from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) under new timelines announced by education secretary Bridget Phillipson. The Department for Education (DfE) said all RAAC would be permanently removed from schools and colleges before the next general election, except those already being…
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27 October
Construction begins on new Islwyn High School facilities
Caerphilly County Borough Council has revealed that construction work is due to begin this week at Islwyn High School in Oakdale on new sports and pupil support facilities. Around £950k will be invested in the project, which includes a new multi-use games area (MUGA) and a specialist support centre for…
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23 October
Schools face more cost pressures as pupil numbers fall, NFER finds
Schools are continuing to face “substantial” financial pressures, with almost three quarters of primary school leaders expecting a budget deficit in 2025/26, as schools continue to see falling pupil numbers. According to new research from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), pupil numbers are expected to continue falling in…
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23 October
Severe pupil absence rises despite overall improvement in attendance
The proportion of pupils missing at least half of all school sessions rose in the autumn and spring terms of 2024/25, despite an overall improvement in attendance, according to official statistics from the Department for Education (DfE). Severe absence increased to 2.26% in the combined autumn and spring terms, up…
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22 October
Six Catholic schools apply to join St Francis of Assisi trust
Six Catholic schools in the Enfield deanery have begun the process of joining the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust (SFACAT) in a move described as a major step for Catholic education in the region. The group includes two secondary schools – St Ignatius College and St Anne’s Catholic…
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20 October
New ‘V-level’ qualification to expand post-16 study routes
The government will introduce a new vocational qualification for pupils leaving school at 16 as part of its plans to simplify the post-GCSE education system. News of the V-level, which will sit alongside A-levels and T-levels to create a third route for students in England aged 16 to 19, was…
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14 October
Aberdeen City Council opens new £30.3m Riverbank School
Aberdeen City Council has officially opened Riverbank School in Tillydrone following a £30.3m investment. Located on Coningham Gardens, the purpose-built campus replaces the former Riverbank School on Dill Road and provides space for up to 651 pupils, along with Early Learning and Nursery provision for 60 children. The three-stream primary…
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13 October
Nord Anglian Educations acquires Etqan Global Academy
Nord Anglia Education has expanded its presence in the Middle East with the addition of Etqan Global Academy in Doha, Qatar, to its global network of international schools. Founded in 2019, Etqan Global Academy (EGA) is a bilingual Arabic and English day school offering the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) Primary…
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13 October
Dudley Academies Trust unveils new security measures
Dudley Academies Trust has enhanced security measures by installing screening arches at the entrances of its secondary schools. By integrating the advanced security measures, the trust said it “continues to take a holistic approach to safety that includes prevention, preparedness, and responsiveness”. The initiative was supported by the trust’s board…
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13 October
Rising hygiene poverty keeps pupils out of school, charities warn
Teachers and school leaders are being urged to recognise the growing impact of hygiene poverty on attendance and pupil wellbeing, as new data reveal one in 10 children in the UK have missed school because they could not afford basic hygiene products. Charities In Kind Direct and The Hygiene Bank,…
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