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

12th Dec 2024

EEF: ChatGPT cuts lesson planning by nearly a third
The saved time did not come at the expense of quality, independent evaluation finds
ChatGPT lesson planning

Wednesday

11th Dec 2024

Investigation into suspected illegal collusion on school repair bids
The Competition and Markets Authority says it has reason to suspect some companies colluded to ‘rig bids’ for the Condition Improvement Fund
Investigation into suspected illegal collusion on school repair bids

Tuesday

10th Dec 2024

DfE recommends 2.8% teacher pay rise for 2025-26
The Department for Education has published its evidence to the STRB
The DfE has recommended a 2.8 per cent pay rise for teachers for 2025-26.
Oak independent review delayed until next year
The review into Oak National Academy was originally expected to conclude by September 2024, but is now expected in ‘early 2025’
Oak academy delay
SEND: Deficits to reach ‘absurd’ £8bn without reform
Increasing specialist provision in mainstream schools will be costly and require ‘massive change’, warns Institute of Fiscal Studies
SEND: Deficits to reach ‘absurd’ £8bn without reform

Monday

9th Dec 2024

‘Good progress’ on teacher pension delays, says schools minister
Catherine McKinnell tells MPs that work is under way to recalculate teachers’ pensions, as delays prompt a law firm to investigate a potential group claim.
Mckinnel

Friday

6th Dec 2024

‘Excessive workload’ pushes teachers to switch into support roles
Findings suggest many qualified teachers are working as TAs, but the notion they’ll get an ‘easy ride’ is ‘well wide of the mark’, warns union leader
Coffee mug overflowing
Exclusive

Thursday

5th Dec 2024

Starmer promises record number of ‘ready to learn’ five-year-olds
Prime minister shares concern that some Reception pupils are ‘struggling to speak’, while headteachers say focus on early years is ‘one of the nearest things to a silver bullet’
Keir Starmer
Drop in recruits to primary teacher training
The government saw an increase in entrants to secondary ITT, but still missed its target by 38 per cent
Primary target

Tuesday

3rd Dec 2024

P8 pause could leave schools facing more ‘challenging’ situation
Headteacher questions fairness of Progress 8 scores but warns that two years of measuring schools ‘through the lens of attainment’ would be ‘even more unfair’
Progress 8 pause could leave schools facing more ‘challenging’ situation

Friday

29th Nov 2024

Wellbeing and workload concerns driving teachers to consider quitting
One in three teachers and leaders tell DfE survey that they are considering leaving the profession in the next 12 months for reasons other than retirement
One in three teachers are considering quitting in the next 12 months, according to the latest DfE survey.

Thursday

28th Nov 2024

Senior MPs demand more details on child poverty task force
Child poverty strategy must ensure that children with SEND are taken into account, says Commons Education Select Committee chair
Senior MPs demand more details on child poverty taskforce