One of the most consistent findings from the Parent Voice Project has been that most parents are positive about their children’s schools. A year on from our first survey, that remains true. Two-thirds of parents rate the education their child receives as high quality. However, Parents from lower socioeconomic groups are less positive across almost … Continue reading Parent Voice Project 2026
Author: Bruce Levitan
A crisis of disengagement:listening to, and learning from, teachers on school attendance
School attendance has improved since the height of the post-pandemic crisis, but recovery remains slow and very uneven. Overall absence and persistent absence rates are significantly above pre-pandemic levels, and severe absence continues to rise. Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds remain far more likely than their peers to be both persistently and severely absent. This report … Continue reading A crisis of disengagement:listening to, and learning from, teachers on school attendance
School food standards
On 14 September 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) published its response to the consultation on updating School Food Standards in England. This follows extensive engagement with schools, trusts, local authorities, parents, pupils, caterers and health experts. The updated standards will see more fresh fruit and vegetables, fibre-rich foods and nutritious balanced meals on the … Continue reading School food standards
GCSE and A level results
Two papers from the Education Policy Institute provide analysis of this year's results. Some of the findings are: For Level 2 (link to report): Geographic disparities persist - it was still the case that pupils in the South East and in particular London outperform pupils elsewhere; Girls outperform boys – but the gap continues to … Continue reading GCSE and A level results
Pupil premium
Updated guidance from the DfE, including guidance for school leaders, and example pupil premium strategy statements for different settings. They are available here, on the DfE website.
SEND consultation supporting information
A series of documents from the DfE setting out the key information and proposed reforms in the schools white paper and SEND consultation document for parents and those working in the sector. Available on the DfE website, here.
Working together to improve school attendance
In July the DfE updated its statutory guidance outlining how schools are expected to maintain high levels of school attendance. The guidance is available here on their website. Pupil attendance in schools is published on the DfE website, here.
Young people and work: interim report
In December 2025 Alan Milburn launched his investigation into the causes of record unemployment and inactivity among 16 to 24 year olds, and on 13 July 2026 he published an interim report. In his Foreword he notes "The NEET rate has barely crept below 10% in 25 years. What should have been treated as an … Continue reading Young people and work: interim report
Exploring the use of classroom removal and how it varies by school-level disadvantage
This Education Policy Institute analysis finds that many pupils spend substantial amounts of time moving in and out of the mainstream classroom. In the 2024/25 academic year alone, 94,400 pupils missed the equivalent of more than one week of school due to suspensions and a further 9,906 pupils were permanently excluded. Alongside these formal exclusionary … Continue reading Exploring the use of classroom removal and how it varies by school-level disadvantage
A Conceptual Foundation for the Development of a Lifelong Learning Measurement Framework
This OECD report proposes a conceptual framework for measuring lifelong learning aimed at improving policy design and evaluation. Lifelong learning is understood as learning across the life course and diverse contexts. The report identifies key limitations in current data systems, including narrow age coverage, lack of longitudinal tracking, overemphasis on labour-market outcomes, and insufficient measurement … Continue reading A Conceptual Foundation for the Development of a Lifelong Learning Measurement Framework
Burnham unveils technical education plan to tackle Neet crisis
The proposed reforms would see all school pupils offered technical subjects from the age of 14 and local leaders given a greater role in connecting education with employment. The plans are part of the government's efforts to support the one million young people who are not in education, employment or training (Neet). You can read … Continue reading Burnham unveils technical education plan to tackle Neet crisis
Cyber-attack on Department for Education
Vanessa Clarke, Senior education reporter for the BBC, reported on 29 July 2026 that hackers have obtained about 607,000 records in a cyber-attack on the Department for Education (DfE) in England. The data taken includes telephone numbers and email addresses relating to individuals and organisations but does not include bank details or other sensitive information. … Continue reading Cyber-attack on Department for Education
Local government reorganisation
The current 2-tier system of county and district councils has been in place since 1974. Following public and stakeholder engagement, councils in Derbyshire submitted various proposals for the future of local government in Derby and Derbyshire including a unified single unitary council and a split between the north and south. The government has now made … Continue reading Local government reorganisation
The Education Policy Institute Annual Report
The Education Policy Institute (EPI) Annual Report considers the attainment of vulnerable groups at the ages of 5, 11, 16 and in 16-19 education. The report analyses attainment gaps based on economic disadvantage, gender, ethnicity, English as an additional language (EAL), Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and geography. Key findings include: Any post-pandemic recovery … Continue reading The Education Policy Institute Annual Report
Academy trusts: governance guide
The DfE have published the new Academy trusts: governance guide, effective from September 2026. It includes new trust standards, an energy procurement requirement, sustainability leadership and climate action plans in education and free school meal expansion grant and the inclusive mainstream fund. You can find the full guide on their website, here.