Work begins to reshape skills training in Wales
The Welsh Government has announced a package of work to reform vocational skills training in Wales.
Sats marking scheme ‘trying to catch children out’, heads warn
School leaders’ union calls on the Standards and Testing Agency to abandon its ‘rigid’ approach to marking and reward children for demonstrating understanding.
School paperwork surges due to ‘horrendous’ Ofsted workload
Around half of secondary schools have already produced extra documents to prepare for the new inspections.
AQA apologises after GCSE maths paper had wrong insert
Students sitting maths exam today only discovered the problem once papers had been opened – now AQA promises to contact schools before results day to ‘explain what we’ve done to make sure no learners are disadvantaged’.
ASCL to create ‘safe space’ for trust CEOs to ‘amplify’ their voice
New network aims to make government more aware of the challenges being faced by academy trust leaders.
Adult skills funding 2026-27: rule changes you need to know
Construction safety card costs, free maths and English courses for apprentices, visa documentation requirements and frozen funding rates have all been confirmed in new adult skills fund rules published today.
Post-16 students trail schools in mental health teams rollout
Fewer than half of post-16 students are covered by the government’s mental health support teams, despite ministers today claiming they are on track to roll out the service to every school and college by 2029.
‘No room for complacency’ as 35,000 teachers choose to walk away
More than 35,000 teachers walked away from the profession last year for reasons other than retirement with retention rates for new teachers and the use of non-specialist teachers in secondary school still notable concerns.
Children’s enjoyment of reading increases for first time in five years
The renewed focus on reading for pleasure seems to be paying off as children’s engagement with reading has risen for the first time in five years.
Teacher shortages? Five key metrics behind the new DfE workforce data
The new school workforce figures have brought with them headlines of more teachers at the chalkface, but expert Jack Worth warns that this masks a much more mixed picture of teacher shortages in schools.
Government urged to review two-year development assessment to boost school readiness
The Government should review the two-to two-and-a-half year health and development check to increase numbers of children finishing Reception with a good level of development (GLD), a think tank says.
Commissioner calls for quicker roll out of mental health support teams in schools
The creation of mental health support teams (MHST) in schools is too slow and ministers must do more to speed up their roll out, Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza has told MPs.
Barring universities from China trade mission ‘massive own goal’
Sector’s absence from Starmer’s trip to Beijing and Shanghai ‘wasn’t for lack of trying’, says Birmingham vice-chancellor.
Wrong to compare student loans to PPI scandal, says Jacqui Smith
Labour politicians defend student finance system, including retrospective changes, as they suggest uplifting higher education funding is not a priority.
Value-for-money ratings for university degrees hit 13-year high
Steep rise in UK students’ happiness with programmes despite job cuts, fee rises and negativity over student loans.
North-east universities launch joint spin-out fund
Five institutions collaborate with regional mayor to support businesses built on university research.
OfS green-lights three-year student caps for TEF poor performers
Regulator scraps overall ratings after consultation on revamped exercise but commits to plans to limit growth at bronze providers.
First round of consultation on future TEF sees movement on the implications of a Bronze award
The Office for Students has published the outcomes of the first round of consultation on the future Teaching Excellence Framework. Debbie McVitty sets out what's new – and what's still to be decided.
North East England’s new investment fund is a template for university spinout success
Universities in the North East of England have set up a fund dedicated to university spinout creation. Northumbria University vice chancellor Andy Long explains the thinking behind it.
Job cuts risk at university departments
Jobs are at risk at the University of Sheffield as management conducts a review of three departments.