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.
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