DfE
The latest news and analysis on the Department for Education and the secretary of state for education, including new policy, legislation and appointments
Thursday
10th Sep 2026
9 in 10 secondaries financially ‘worse off’ than in 2010
Coalition of teaching and school leader unions says schools would need an extra £4.5 billion a year to restore funding to 2010 levels
How we drove a huge increase in our GLD score in 3 years
A primary school leader outlines how a thorough redesign of its nursery site and more staff training had a huge impact on good level of development outcomes
Early years experts demand ‘urgent review’ of RBA
The Reception Baseline Assessment contradicts the government’s own screen-time guidance for young children, says letter to education secretary
Wednesday
9th Sep 2026
DfE apologises to primary heads for prior attainment error
Schools are advised that progress scores will not be affected, but heads voice fears about ‘additional stress and workload’
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Quarter of schools cannot afford teacher pay rise, union warns
NASUWT urges the government to increase education spending to at least 6 per cent of GDP, saying that schools will be forced to cut jobs
Schools risk ‘financial millstone’ from DfE solar deals
Schools warned against entering potentially decades-long private financing agreements
Tuesday
8th Sep 2026
Pisa: scores rise in science but flatten in maths and reading
DfE hails ‘strong’ results for England in international tests, but makes the case for change
Where will Mission Coastal go next?
Tes looks at which coastal areas could follow Hastings and Scarborough in the government’s school improvement scheme
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Monday
7th Sep 2026
Reform considers return to single-phrase Ofsted grades
Suella Braverman also tells Tes the party favours Michaela-style behaviour rules, alongside plans to mandate hymns and flags in schools
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Northern areas hit hardest by long-term declines in A-level grades
After last month’s A-level results showed a continued widening of the regional divide in attainment, Tes looks at how local authorities in some parts of the country have seen a drop in grades since before the pandemic
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Government warned of ‘critical’ risks to SEND reforms
Ministers told their plans could be undermined by a shortage of experts, teacher burnout and parental backlash
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