DfE
The latest news and analysis on the Department for Education and the secretary of state for education, including new policy, legislation and appointments
Tuesday
7th Jul 2026
Nearly half of primaries struggle to find time for languages
Languages are coming ‘under pressure’ from primary school onwards – but the primary experience is key to enthusiasm for languages in secondaries, finds British Council
Andrew O’Neill: ‘A school usually fails due to its systems, not its staff’
In our How I Lead series, we ask education leaders to reflect on their careers, their experience and their leadership philosophy. This month we talk to Andrew O’Neill, headteacher and currently school policy and delivery adviser to education secretary Bridget Phillipson
Monday
6th Jul 2026
Gove: Coalition government wrong to ‘neglect’ Sure Start
Speaking on a panel with the author of the review into the Neet problem, the former Conservative education secretary says Bridget Phillipson is right in prioritising school readiness
Have two years of Labour moved the key data points in schools?
The government is approaching the mid-point of its term in office, so is it making progress on recruitment, behaviour, attendance and its manifesto pledges?
Only 6% of schools opened late after England vs Mexico
Most schools did not make any changes to the school day to accommodate England’s 2am World Cup match against Mexico
Inclusion: experts warn against ‘ineffective’ teaching adaptations
The EEF has produced a new research-backed toolkit to support inclusive teaching, which highlights the risk of approaches that ‘lower expectations’
Thursday
2nd Jul 2026
CST questions legality of CEO pay crackdown
Academy trust sector body tells members it is ‘testing the legalities’ of the government’s plan to limit MAT senior leaders’ pay
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Union calls for ‘flexible’ school start after England vs Mexico
The call from NEU’s Daniel Kebede follows England manager Thomas Tuchel, who told parents to ‘write an excuse for school and let children watch’ the World Cup match
Schools told to pay ‘half’ of teacher pay rise
The DfE has told schools they will need to find the first 1 per cent of next year’s teacher pay rise – but this money will be on top of the ‘financial headroom’ the government claims exists in schools’ budgets
KS2 Sats results delayed by more than a week
Exam board apologises for ‘technical issues’ as government considers cancelling Pearson contract
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