Ofsted

Ofsted piloting recruiting inspectors en-masse from school groups

Trial will see leaders recruited in groups from trusts and other school networks to make inspection ‘more collaborative’

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
School improvement

Trust bosses to lead DfE KS3 alliance

MAT chiefs selected to spearhead Labour’s bid to make pupils’ transition into secondary less ‘challenging’

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson
Schools

ASCL conference 2026: Schools Week live blog

Live updates from our journalists in Liverpool

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Inclusion

Revealed: DfE’s secret plan to cut special school expansion

Documents reveal how councils’ deficit plans will get top ratings for avoiding expanding specialist provision

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Ofsted

Ofsted chief criticised over inspection framework comparison

Martyn Oliver to claim pattern of gradings in new inspections shows watchdog is ‘raising standards’

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
School funding

ASCL conference: Pay and funding uncertainty loom as heads meet in Liverpool

‘I think that will be what is at the front of everyone’s minds. It’ll be a cloud over the…

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks


News

School staff need better training to support children in care – Ofsted

Watchdog also warns that issues with the systems of support for young people create ‘barriers to progress’

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Schools

Teacher Development Trust to become part of Chartered College of Teaching

Leader says move will ‘protect the legacy’ of the professional development organisation

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
School funding

Sixth forms face real-terms funding cut next year, leaders warn

Government confirms funding for 16 and 17-year-olds will rise by just 0.5%, breaking a pledge made last year

Freddie Whittaker
Anviksha Patel and Josh Mellor
Schools

£100m English hubs had ‘substantial’ impact, researchers say

Evaluation finds school-led scheme boosted pupils’ outcomes and ‘broader literacy’

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson
Assessment

BTECs defunding delayed and first V-level subjects revealed

Defunding will now begin from autumn 2027, instead of this year, in finance, digital, education and early years –…

Freddie Whittaker
Billy Camden and Josh Mellor
Academies

Academy trust to make big cuts after falling £500k into the red

MAT plans curriculum and staffing ‘remodelling’ and reductions to central support as it eyes savings over £3m

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson