Education Media - EdCentral - Results from #100

Farage: I’ll appoint political enforcers to stop schools promoting diversity

A Reform UK government would ban schools and colleges from engaging in diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives and appoint Whitehall enforcers to ensure compliance, the party has said.

Governor oversight of food standards ‘risks being counterproductive’

Making a lead governor oversee the implementation of new school food standards “feels haphazard” and “risks being counterproductive”, ministers have been warned.

College free meals rate lifted after backlash

College students will receive the same per-learner funding for their free meals entitlement as school pupils following backlash from further education leaders.

New enrichment benchmarks: What colleges need to know

Schools and colleges will be expected to provide broad and varied enrichment activities, celebrate participation and achievement and work with external partners where necessary as part of the new enrichment framework.

Farage: I’ll appoint political enforcers to stop colleges promoting diversity

A Reform UK government would ban schools and colleges from engaging in diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives and appoint Whitehall enforcers to ensure compliance, the party has said.

Apprenticeship subcontracting review launched by DWP

A “full review” of apprenticeship subcontracting rules and policy is set to run over the coming months, the government has said.

PeopleCert pursues former City & Guilds chiefs for £3m ‘unauthorised’ bonuses

PeopleCert is seeking to recover almost £3 million in bonuses paid to former City & Guilds chief executive Kirstie Donnelly and finance chief Abid Ismail after an internal investigation concluded the payments were “unauthorised”.

Prime Minister announces social media ban for under-16s

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a social media ban for children aged under 16 which is expected to come into force next spring.

Sheffield Hallam drops plan to employ staff via subsidiary firm

University to keep employing academics directly after predictions that contribution rates to Teachers’ Pension Scheme will come down.

Specialist master’s ‘main victims’ of course-cutting spree

More than 300 social sciences programmes lost in past year, figures show, as critics bemoan decisions made on enrolment numbers alone.

‘Brain architects, not babysitters’: Norland aims for university title

Amid concern over graduate outcomes and the declining value of a degree, one UK higher education provider that boasts a practically perfect employability record is setting its sights on official recognition – and disproving those who might question whether its students need to...

Understanding where global higher education is heading means understanding China’s next moves

Glen Noble gets across what the Chinese government’s recent five-year plan means for international scientific collaboration and UK universities.

Unhealthy school food ‘fuels disruptive behaviour’

Findings come as the government’s consultation on school food standards closes, ahead of new rules in September.

King’s Birthday Honours: heads and MAT leaders recognised

Multi-academy trust CEOs and headteachers are among many education figures included in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

The key changes to Ofsted inspection for 2026-27

Ofsted publishes updated grading toolkits and guides for inspectors coming into effect from September.

£60m framework to supply phone pouches for schools

Lockable pouches that prevent students from accessing their devices during the school day are central to the DfE’s plans for ‘phone‑free’ schools.

DfE set to publish new enrichment benchmarks for schools

The government is set to publish enrichment benchmarks for schools this week, alongside announcing a £132.5 million scheme to fund activities in schools.

King’s birthday honours recognise school leaders

Headteachers, academy leaders, trustees, school support staff and charity leaders are among those recognised for their services to education in the King’s birthday honours.

Ofsted: The key changes to school inspection from September 2026

Ofsted inspectors will look more closely at whether pupils with “barriers to their learning or wellbeing” are achieving well in schools from September.

GCSE natural history: what schools need to know

Pupils will learn how to identify plants, animals and fungi, as well as learn about climate change and habitats, under subject content proposals for the new natural history GCSE.