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12 May 2026

Author: Freddie Whittaker

DfE to scrap LA-moderation of EYFS profile, despite calls for its retention

The government is to proceed with plans to scrap statutory moderation of the early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) by local authorities, despite pleas to keep it in place. The Department for Education has published its response to a consultation on the EYFSP, which is how pupils’ development and learning is assessed at the end […]

Dropping GCSEs only for ‘exceptional circumstances’, leaked DfE guidance states

School leaders will be told to only allow GCSE students to drop a subject in “exceptional circumstances” next year, according to draft guidance on the reopening of schools. Leaked details of the proposals were first revealed yesterday by HuffPost UK, which reported that the guidance set out how “some pupils may have to drop some […]

Three in four secondary schools reopen to more pupils

Almost three in four secondary schools began face-to-face support for year 10 and 12 pupils last week, while almost nine in ten primary schools had reopened more widely. The latest attendance data from the Department for Education shows 89 per cent of schools normally open to reception, year 1 and year 6 pupils had reopened […]

Oak National Academy could collect ‘basic data’ on users, says chair

The Oak National Academy could begin to collect “some basic data” about its users, its chair has said. Ian Bauckham told a Westminster Education Forum event on education technology this morning that there was a “huge level of interest in the data that we could collect”, and said the site may “move into the realm of […]

School absence fines will resume in September, says Williamson

Parents could be fined if they fail to send their children back to school in September, the education secretary has said. But the decision potentially puts headteachers in the firing line, as they have the final decision on whether to “authorise” absences from school. Gavin Williamson told LBC this morning that “unless there is a […]

£1bn for school rebuilding projects in 2021, but details on new 10-year plan scarce

A new school rebuilding programme will see 50 projects split £1 billion in funding next year, the government has announced. The funding, for projects due to start from September 2021, will form part of a “ten-year school rebuilding programme”. However further information about the level of funding for the scheme will not be confirmed until […]

Dame Alison Peacock: Don’t ‘guilt trip’ teachers into working over summer

Teachers must not be “guilt-tripped” into working on summer catch-up programmes run by schools, the head of the Chartered College of Teaching has said. Dame Alison Peacock said it would be “foolhardy” to expect teachers to “just take a few days off and then come back in again over the summer”, warning that “exhausted” teachers and […]

Kate Green appointed shadow education secretary

Kate Green has been appointed as the new shadow education secretary. The MP for Stretford and Urmston, a former chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, replaces Rebecca Long-Bailey, who was sacked on Thursday. She has previously served as a shadow minister for disabled people, shadow minister for women and equalities and shadow minister […]