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.
Allergy safety in schools
Statutory guidance from DfE about the support that pupils with allergies must receive in schools. It includes information and examples that schools can use to: create and publish an allergy safety policy put allergy safety training in place for all staff identify the children and young people who require Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) to manage … Continue reading Allergy safety in schools
Preventing and tackling the bullying and harassment of school staff
Bullying and harassment of school staff is unacceptable. This new non-statutory guidance from the DfE outlines the government’s expectations of schools and provides clarity for employers on: their legal duties to prevent and address bullying and harassment the actions they should take to ensure all staff are supported, respected and protected in line with the … Continue reading Preventing and tackling the bullying and harassment of school staff
Keeping Children Safe in Education
This week the Department for Education (DfE) published updated statutory safeguarding guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), which will take effect on 1 September 2026. (This is also linked to on our Key Documents page). Key additions include: The requirement for boards to review filtering and monitoring systems annually. Guidance for schools supporting children … Continue reading Keeping Children Safe in Education
Teacher pay award
On 1st July the DfE announced the teacher pay award for 206-2027 and 2027-2028. On a positive note the award is 6.5% over the next 2 years with additional funding of £1.8 billion over 2 years. The negative aspect of this is that schools will be expected to meet the first 1% out of existing … Continue reading Teacher pay award
Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges
Published in 2022, the DfE has issued an update to it's guidance "Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges". Derbyshire County Council's schools Cyber Security team have posted a useful summary of the changes, highlighting what schools need to know and do. You can find it herehttps://services.derbyshire.gov.uk/Article/189895
The enrichment framework for schools and colleges
The DfE have published non-statutory guidance to support schools and colleges to design and deliver a high-quality enrichment offer for all pupils and students. While the guidance is non-statutory, it will be a reference point for Ofsted from September 2026, meaning enrichment will increasingly be seen through the lens of how purposeful, broad and inclusive … Continue reading The enrichment framework for schools and colleges
The widening disadvantage divide
The NFER have published a blog article: The widening disadvantage divide: Disadvantaged primary schools appear to be most affected by falling pupil numbers. This explores the implications of the fact that pupil numbers are falling fast, and the financial pressure this creates leading to schools making adjustments, such as cuts to staffing and provision, which … Continue reading The widening disadvantage divide
Inclusive education estates
The DfE have published guidance on design adaptations to support an inclusive and accessible environment in mainstream education settings. This is supported by investment of £3.7 billion over five years enabling local areas to make education estates more accessible and inclusive, delivering a transformational expansion of inclusion bases in mainstream settings and expansion of special schools where … Continue reading Inclusive education estates
Inclusive mainstream fund: 2026 to 2027
The government have issued an update to the Inclusive mainstream fund: 2026 to 2027. They sate that over time they aim to re-balance funding for SEND, directing much more of it into core budgets for schools and colleges. This will allow planning for provision, employing staff and delivering interventions, without having to go through lengthy … Continue reading Inclusive mainstream fund: 2026 to 2027
Church of England Schools Statement of Entitlement 2026
The Church of England Statement of Entitlement for Religious Education sets out the minimum expectations that pupils in a Church school should expect to receive in their RE learning. It is intended as a foundation on which to build secure RE practice.The Church of England Statement of Entitlement for Religious Education is a key document … Continue reading Church of England Schools Statement of Entitlement 2026
What Heads Really Think About Ofsted: Urgent improvement needed
The revised Ofsted inspection framework has failed in its aim to improve the wellbeing of Heads and their staff, according to an independent survey of 100 schools to experience the new regime, published on 22 June. The vast majority of Heads offered negative comments about their inspection. These included: “I’m determined to retire before the … Continue reading What Heads Really Think About Ofsted: Urgent improvement needed
School attendance: annual and one-off events driving short-term absences
A report published on 9 June by the DfE showcases a number of different scenarios and their association with pupils’ school attendance. These are illustrative examples: we know each local community will have its own unique circumstances and that there are similar annual and occasional events all across the country taking a variety of forms. … Continue reading School attendance: annual and one-off events driving short-term absences
Record numbers of children with mental health support in schools
A new press release dated 10 June from the DfE states that the government is on track to meet its manifesto promise that every school and college will have access to mental health support teams by the end of 2029. Read more here.