Education Media - EdCentral - Results from #120

DfE set to publish enrichment goals for colleges

Colleges will be included in new government enrichment benchmarks to be published this week, but ministers have not said they will be eligible for funding from a new £132.5 million activities scheme.

King’s birthday honours 2026: Damehood for ex-FE commissioner Shelagh Legrave

Former FE commissioner Shelagh Legrave has been made a dame in the King’s birthday honour list.

Ofsted to test new SEND inclusion cash plans

Colleges and training providers receiving new SEND inclusion funding will have to show inspectors how the money is improving outcomes for students under updated Ofsted rules coming into force this September.

Government rolls out emergency MenB vaccine scheme for students

Around one million young people will be offered a meningitis B (MenB) vaccination this summer under a one-off government programme aimed at preventing outbreaks in universities and residential further education colleges.

Surge in EHCPs fuels latest rise in SEND pupils, DfE data shows

The number of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has risen by 5.2% to more than 1.8 million over the past year, according to data released by the Department for Education.

King’s Birthday Honours: top accolades for data science pioneers

University of Lancashire vice-chancellor and former chief executive of Advance HE also recognised in annual list.

Marking boycotters face heavy sanctions as assessments disrupted

Edinburgh extends pay deductions to those who refuse to cover for colleagues taking part in industrial action.

Universities too reliant on cuts to balance the books – Blunkett

Former education secretary says mergers the solution for institutions in financial crisis as he calls for more ‘ambition’ in higher education.

The purpose of student survey feedback should be student success

For student survey feedback to create the most value it needs to be treated as a system.

The global window on higher education.

Revealed: the widening gender gap in MAT CEO pay

There has been a sharp rise in the salary gap between male and female leaders of the 100 biggest academy trusts, Tes analysis reveals.

Eastern trusts plan 42-school merged MAT

The Inspiring Futures through Learning trust and Chiltern Learning Trust hope to merge next year if their plan gets DfE approval.

NEU strike fund falls as teacher pay decision looms

Industrial action ballots have jumped by nearly two-thirds since 2023, the union’s latest accounts show, as redundancy disputes rise.

Natural history GCSE finally gets go-ahead

Landmark qualification to be made available in schools years after its initial target start date, with content to be decided after a 12-week consultation.

Number of pupils with EHCPs rises above half a million

The latest official data shows a 24 per cent increase in the number of pupils with an education, health and care plan in the past two years.

A-level music ‘could disappear’ after entries sink to record low

Tes analysis shows entries are down 41 per cent since 2013, with the government accused of showing ‘none of the action required’ to help music flourish.

Wanted: £70k leader for DfE’s new policy testing team

Ministers have begun their search for a “strategic” leader of a new team set up to test key policies from the schools white paper.

SATs markers given more time and money due to online glitches

Markers of year 6 SATs have been given more time to finish processing papers and a pay bonus, after facing weeks of technical glitches on a new Pearson-run system.

Minister suggests Ofsted could inspect new school food standards

New school food standards “will have to be monitored” by Ofsted, a health minister has suggested.

More cuts coming as energy bills soar, leaders warn

School leaders are warning of more cuts if ministers do not provide urgent help to cover surging energy bills caused by Donald Trump’s war with Iran.