After the PM announced new technical pathways for Year 10, @teachertapp.bsky.social data shared with Tes reveals over a quarter of schools offer no KS4 vocational qualifications - and they’re more common in less affluent schools. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

After a major education policy shakeup the sector is left with far more questions than answers. @tesmagazine.bsky.social summarises what we know about new technical education pathways and what remains unanswered. @cerysturner.bsky.social @johngroberts.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

New technical routes for schools: what we do and don’t know

A huge announcement on secondary education was made by Andy Burnham last night, begging a raft of questions. We set out the answers the sector needs and the detail - where it exists - we know already

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'Compatible' teaching of RE and science could boost interest in Stem - @ktorm-social1.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new... @ucl.ac.uk @tesmagazine.bsky.social

‘Compatible’ teaching of RE and science could boost interest in Stem

Many secondary students do not see science and religion as ‘contradictory’, UCL research suggests - and ‘connected’ teaching of the subjects can encourage further Stem studies

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Excl: DfE accused of showing “scant regard” for schools after publishing significant policy updates just weeks before the end of term. @tesmagazine.bsky.social Story with @jabedahmed.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Late DfE policy dump ‘shows scant regard’ for schools

Schools tell Tes they have been left with little time to implement significant policy changes on safeguarding, enrichment and attendance after the DfE released substantial updates late in the summer t...

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Excl: Despite gov’t backing a social media ban & the NCA advising parents against sharing photos of kids, most schools post pupils' photos on socials. If a ban goes ahead, kids won't consent to being posted or legally be able to view the photos. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Most primary schools post pictures of pupils on social media

As new National Crime Agency guidance warns parents against posting images of their children online, Teacher Tapp research reveals most schools show pictures of pupils on public platforms

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Excl: Exam board OCR stands by decision not to re-mark GCSE paper despite an upheld complaint from Ofqual and pressure from Tories. OCR says it wishes to protect the “integrity” of exams and the watchdog considers the matter ongoing. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

OCR defends decision not to re-mark controversial GCSE paper

Exam board’s managing director, in an exclusive Tes interview, says that despite a complaint being upheld by Ofqual and pressure from Tories, it cannot award marks for ‘incorrect answers’

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Excl: More than 1/3 schools inspected by Ofsted this year are facing monitoring inspections - more than double the proportion under the previous framework. Heads say this is exactly what they had warned about. Story @cerysturner.bsky.social @johngroberts.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

More than 1 in 3 inspected schools face Ofsted monitoring

Tes analysis reveals a big increase in Ofsted monitoring inspections, prompting warnings about school leaders’ wellbeing and inspector workload

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With new guidance on pupils questioning their gender, AI-generated deepfakes, data protection and more, schools have just two weeks of term and 54 days in total to implement significant changes to safeguarding policies required under KCSIE. @tesmagazine.bsky.social

KCSIE changes for 2026: what you need to know

Updated safeguarding guidance has now been published, with schools expected to be fully compliant by 1 September

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New: 2010-15 coalition gov't was wrong to “neglect” the Sure Start strategy, its former education sec Lord Gove has said. Speaking at @csjthinktank.bsky.social NEET crisis panel, he said Bridget Phillipson is right to focus on school-readiness. @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Gove: Coalition government wrong to ‘neglect’ Sure Start

Speaking on a panel with the author of the review into the Neet problem, the former Conservative education secretary says Bridget Phillipson is right in prioritising school readiness

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Excl: Key Stage 2 Sats results are set to be delayed by a minimum of a week, Tes understands. Schools were expecting the data next Tuesday, but issues with marking and IT systems have resulted in a postponement. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

KS2 Sats results delayed by at least a week

Primary schools were due to receive the assessment results next Tuesday but there will be a delay because of problems with marking and IT systems

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🚨EXCL: Teachers will get a 3.5% pay deal for the upcoming year. - Schools to fund the first 1% - A further 3% offered for 2027-28 More from @tesmagazine.bsky.social: www.tes.com/magazine/new...

New: DfE's influencer spend tops £700k since 2024, raising questions over gov't priorities from shadow education sec Laura Trott. For Lib Dems' Munira Wilson, it's a “kick in the teeth”. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/dfe-spending-on-social-media-influencers-criticised

Have schools been put into an attendance trap? Important piece from @ktorm-social1.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Have schools been put into an attendance trap?

New guidance on communicating with parents about absence leaves schools with the ‘all but impossible’ task of improving attendance without being able to hold families to account, warn leaders

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Amid increasing attendance targets and a sharper policy focus, new guidance tells schools to strike a collegiate tone with parents, but leaders say the task is “all but impossible”. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/headteachers-warn-dfe-over-school-attendance-guidance

Excl: Exam board AQA has apologised after a mistake was identified in its GCSE science papers. AQA notified schools this afternoon and said it can ensure no pupils were disadvantaged. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

AQA apologises for mistake in 'all versions' of GCSE science paper

In correspondence seen by Tes, England's largest exam board tells exams officers it has reported the issue to Ofqual and will ensure no students are disadvantaged

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Excl: Exam board Pearson halted marking on a GCSE higher-tier maths exam after saying it wasn’t “confident” marks were being correctly recorded. Pearson tells Tes the issue is now fixed with no impact on accuracy. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Technical issues halt marking of GCSE maths paper

Pearson Edexcel says marking has now resumed and there has been no impact on its ‘accuracy or integrity’, after issues emerged last night

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Excl: One in ten schools’ rejected government offers of “enhanced support” through attendance and behaviour hubs. @ascl-uk.bsky.social says schools may not be confident the support available is suitable, while the DfE is “not concerned”. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Rejected: 1 in 10 offers of extra attendance and behaviour help

Schools targeted for help under DfE scheme may feel 'unfairly stigmatised', says heads' leader

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2026 GCSE and A level entries data reveals reductions in entries for 8/15 EBacc subjects and higher uptake in 9/17 non-Ebacc qualifications. Combined science remains the most popular GCSE and maths the A level with highest entry figures. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

New: The DfE is now citing Taylor Swift gig‑related absences among Year 9–10 girls as evidence for a tougher line on “one‑off” days off. The new focus comes after the latest official data showed severe absences reached a record high last year. @tesmagazine.bsky.social

DfE highlights Taylor Swift gig in crackdown on ‘one-off’ absences

Government publishes the research behind its plans to curb one-day absences, alongside a new parental communications guide for schools to help keep messaging ‘useful’

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Fewer assessments, rather than shorter exams, the answer to reducing the burden? Tes analysis shows most schools already avoid the longest GCSE assessments. @ascl-uk.bsky.social says fewer papers, not “tinkering”, is the better solution. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Schools lack scope to cut exam time as most pick shorter papers

Ofqual says schools can cut exam times by choosing different awarding bodies, but Tes analysis reveals that, in most cases, this isn't an option – and school leaders are now calling for the number of ...

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Tes analysis shows trusts with more disadvantaged & SEND pupils face deficits up to 75% higher — a £320 per‑pupil gap. Experts say the funding and accountability system is failing schools. www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/academy-trusts-higher-disadvantage-and-send-face-bigger-financial-deficits

The CEO of England's third largest exam board recently told Tes that schools have raised concerns over students' capacity to "engage" with on-screen assessments, and raised doubts over presumptions that all young people are "digital natives". @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Students lack skills for on-screen assessment, warns exam board boss

In an exclusive interview with Tes, Eduqas CEO Ian Morgan talks about the risks of moving to on-screen assessment, the use of AI to mark exams and the debate over how long exams should be

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Revealed: the trickiest times-table question faced in schools www.tes.com/magazine/new... @ktorm-social1.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Revealed: the trickiest times-table question faced in schools

Findings come shortly before the statutory multiplication tables check opens for schools' Year 4 pupils

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KCSIE highlights how critical the DSL role is but doesn’t require supervision - it only says that schools "should" provide support. Leaders say DSLs are at risk of burnout and call for "protected time" to deliver the supervision needed. @tesmagazine.bsky.social

DSLs suffer 'vicarious trauma' and need supervision, say leaders

Designated safeguarding leads should be given 'protected time' for supervision support to help them cope with the stresses of the job, leaders tell a Tes safeguarding event

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Tes’ excellent graphics dep’t created this extremely handy timeline of all the key changes schools can be expected to implement over the next year. @jasminenorden.bsky.social also sets things out very well here: @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Excellent piece by @johngroberts.bsky.social assessing the tension between Ofsted findings and inclusion in schools. Data says nearly 90% of schools meet the expected standard but policymakers appear to want major changes. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Are schools as inclusive as Ofsted grades suggest?

Almost nine in 10 schools are making the grade in Ofsted’s inclusion checks - but is the system working?

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Excl: Shadow education secretary Laura Trott has written to Ofqual and OCR asking why an upheld complaint didn't lead to “regulatory intervention", and raised exam‑system “confidence” concerns with schools minister Georgia Gould. @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Tories demand ‘corrective action’ over GCSE maths complaint

Shadow education secretary raises concerns over confidence in exams system and impact on results, as she calls for regulator to do more following upheld maths complaint

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Should schools be given more time to implement safeguarding requirements? DSLs tell Tes the proposed KCSIE changes feel like a “significant overhaul” and raise concerns about the timeframe for compliance. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

‘Significant overhaul’ to KCSIE leaves schools with ‘unrealistic’ deadline

Safeguarding leaders tell Tes the proposed changes to the official guidance are more extensive than in previous years and will demand more time for implementation

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After the Curriculum & Assessment Review proposed shorter GCSE exams, Ofqual chief Sir Ian Bauckham said schools can already cut exam time. Tes analysis shows some reductions are possible — but leaders warn it shouldn’t fall to schools, arguing change must be systemic.

Schools can lead the way in cutting exam times - but should they?

Tes analysis shows schools can cut the time GCSE students spend in exams, a current government and Ofqual priority - although leaders are cautioning against shifting the responsibility to schools

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Really good piece by @ktorm-social1.bsky.social investigating the rise in suspensions among primary school pupils. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

The complex story behind rising suspensions in primary schools

Suspensions have risen in primary schools but fallen in secondaries. Here, education leaders tell Tes what they think is behind the contrasting trends

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