Council MAT trial next year – but caps on number and size The DfE will ‘test the concept’ of local authority multi-academy trusts, inviting councils to join a small trial
DfE boast of £1 billion savings ‘shameful’, says union Experts say budget cuts mean school savings are ‘unsurprising’
Teacher recruitment targets hiked as DfE predicts post-Covid exodus Ministers have repeatedly missed past targets, but slashed trainee bursaries during a short-lived Covid boom
Academy reserves surge to £3.9 billion after Covid savings The average academy trust saw their reserves jump 29%, boosted by unlikely Covid windfalls
£64m to make grammar schools more inclusive – but the gap widens Despite pandemic surge in free school meals rates, grammars given expansion cash have fallen further behind
Don’t let your energy contracts expire, DfE warns schools Buying energy out of contract will be ‘more expensive’, leaders told
Special schools left ‘begging’ councils for tax hike cash One trust considers legal action over £400,000 loss, while council says it will scrutinise pay before handing out cash
Many DfE cost-cutters couldn’t find schools savings, survey reveals School resource management advisers have been visiting schools since 2018
Pay reforms leave women teachers out of pocket Decline in progression after 2014 reforms ‘more pronounced’ for part-time staff, DfE analysis finds