Thursday
Unfilled secondary school places up 50% in two years
Increase comes amid a major demographic shift caused by a falling birth rate that has resulted in the number of available primary places dropping to a decade-long low
EHCPs up 11% as DfE mulls their future
The number of education, health and care plans has more than doubled since 2016. Here are five key points from today’s DfE data
DfE ‘should auto-enrol’ pupils for free school meals
Call for all eligible children to be automatically enrolled for FSM follows the government announcement that it is expanding the entitlement from next year
Wednesday
Times are still tight, but the Spending Review sends the right signals
The fact that education has done better in the government’s Spending Review than other departments shows a positive change in priorities, writes this MAT chief executive
Spending Review 2025: what it means for schools
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set out government spending plans up to 2029. Here’s what you need to know
Ofsted delay: Sir Martyn’s and Bridget Phillipson’s letters
Read the full exchange between the Ofsted chief and the education secretary on the ‘regrettable’ and ‘disappointing’ delay in the watchdog providing its consultation response
DfE proposes changing who is included in school support staff body
The DfE is consulting on excluding certain staff – including MAT leaders – from the new School Support Staff Negotiating Body
Dame Christine Gilbert to be appointed chair of Ofsted’s board
Former chief inspector, who led a major review into Ofsted, has been selected as chair of the schools watchdog
Tuesday
Cutting EHCPs ‘treats the symptom not cause’ of SEND crisis
A parliamentary inquiry into solving the SEND crisis heard evidence today from school leaders and research experts. Here is everything you need to know
DfE sets out how schools can ‘safely’ use AI
New guidance for schools on using AI can help to cut teachers’ workload, says the government
Spending Review 2025: what schools can expect
A funding increase for schools is expected to be announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves this week – but experts question how much of a difference it will make
