Specialist Sector

Wednesday

17th Dec 2025

IB issues November exam results to 23,000 students
International Baccalaureate highlights an almost 7 per cent increase in candidates sitting its November exams, including some resit students in the Northern Hemisphere
The International Baccalaureate has issued its November 2025 exam results

Tuesday

16th Dec 2025

Empty churches could be used for pupils with SEND, says Reform
A working group on tackling the SEND crisis is launched by Reform UK, to be led by former DfE minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns
Richard Tice

Friday

12th Dec 2025

SEND spending favours mainstream ‘at expense of special schools’
Leaders question government decision to drop special and alternative provision free schools amid pressure for specialist places
Heads warn SEND spending favours mainstream ‘at expense of special schools’

Thursday

11th Dec 2025

£3bn for mainstream SEND places, but special free schools face uncertainty
DfE announces plans to create 50,000 new specialist places but up to 77 free school projects could be replaced, with councils getting funding instead
£3bn for mainstream SEND places, but special free schools face uncertainty
SEND appeals hit record high
The latest data shows that 99 per cent of SEND tribunal cases found in parents’ favour, as the government sets out its aims for SEND reforms
New data shows SEND tribunal cases reached another record high.

Tuesday

9th Dec 2025

Tes Awards for International Schools 2025 winners revealed
Thirteen individuals and schools from across the world have been honoured at this year’s ceremony celebrating excellence and innovation in the sector
Tes Awards for International Schools 2025: the winners revealed

Monday

8th Dec 2025

Warning over breakfast clubs transport ‘barrier’
Former schools minister questions DfE officials on whether home-to-school transport to breakfast clubs will be a legal entitlement
Catherine McKinnell has asked how DfE will stop transport being a barrier to pupils accessing breakfast clubs

Friday

5th Dec 2025

Call for new national definition of special schools and AP
Children’s commissioner report also calls for alternative provision sector to be renamed to give public better understanding of its work
Call for new national definition of special schools and AP
What do alternative provision leaders want from the White Paper?
AP doesn’t just need to be expanded – it needs to be refocused, say leaders ahead of upcoming reforms
What does the Alternative Provision sector want to see from the white paper?

Tuesday

2nd Dec 2025

SEND: Gould to hear public’s view on national support framework
Schools minister Georgia Gould will hold a series of face-to-face public events about DfE’s planned reforms
SEND: Gould to hear public's view on national support framework

Sunday

23rd Nov 2025

Make special schools autism centres of excellence, say lords
Mainstream schools need more help and stronger incentives to provide autistic students with the support they need, says House of Lords special inquiry
Special schools should be used as centres for excellence to support pupils with autism, a new House of Lords report has said.

Friday

21st Nov 2025

Special schools fear being an ‘afterthought’ on curriculum
In response to the curriculum review, leaders in the specialist sector urge the DfE to focus more on what is taught in special schools and how best practice can be shared
Special schools fear being an after thought on the curriculum.
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