Breaking: Georgia Gould remains at DfE, after her boss Bridget Phillipson was replaced last night by Lucy Powell Those hoping for some degree of continuity may be relieved, while journalists hoping for some degree of sleep are annoyed There surely has to be a better way of doing this

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · 2w ago

Breaking: The schools minister Georgia Gould has been re-appointed as a Department for Education minister in Andy Burnham’s government, with her exact brief unconfirmed schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-mini...

Congratulations to @lucympowell.bsky.social. I know from her time in shadow role that she cares deeply about our schools Thanks to @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social. Test of many school reforms is years off, but I think work on child poverty will pay off sooner

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · 2w ago

Breaking: Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell has been appointed as education secretary in a reshuffle by new prime minister Andy Burnham schoolsweek.co.uk/lucy-powell-...

Moving house during a heatwave is not something I would recommend. Especially if you’ve decided to do all the moving yourself. Just a public service announcement for anyone considering

Big scoop this evening from @lydiach.bsky.social. Understand further details coming as soon as tomorrow (alongside the pay award)

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · last mo.

Exclusive: Academy bosses’ pay should follow 'rules' that are 'in line' with other parts of the public sector like the NHS, the schools minister has said, as government prepares to announce curbs on CEO salaries https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-plans-nhs-style-rules-for-academy-ceo-pay/

Spotted: the incoming heat wave crossing through the sky in north Devon

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson will be quizzed by MPs on the education committee this morning. Follow our live blog for updates ⬇️ https://schoolsweek.co.uk/bridget-phillipson-at-education-committee-live-blog/

Bridget Phillipson at education committee: Live blog

Education secretary to be quizzed by MPs on SEND, teacher recruitment and curriculum reforms

schoolsweek.co.uk

Are grammar schools inclusive? Ofsted seems to think so…

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Ofsted has branded every grammar school inspected so far under its new framework as inclusive, prompting a backlash from social mobility campaigners https://schoolsweek.co.uk/grammar-schools-are-inclusive-says-ofsted/

👇 Watch it, it’s lovely!

North of Cam@northofcam.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Btw Rye Lane on iplayer at the moment and I watched it for the first time at the weekend - just adored it

The £320 million PE and sport premium for primary schools will be scrapped in favour of a new 'partnerships network' with around 40 per cent less annual funding https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-scraps-pe-and-sport-premium-in-favour-of-partnerships-network/

DfE scraps £320m primary PE and sport premium

Total annual funding for the replacement scheme will be around 40% lower than what schools receive now

schoolsweek.co.uk

I am once again begging the users of London Bridge station to navigate it with due care and attention It is not your first day on earth, you have been here before, look up from your phone and re-embrace the old ways, I beg you

Headteachers are gathering in Belfast for the annual conference of the NAHT school leaders’ union. The Schools Week team is on hand to bring you all the key updates on Friday and Saturday - follow here ⬇️ https://schoolsweek.co.uk/naht-conference-2026-live-blog/

NAHT conference 2026: Schools Week live blog

Live updates from team Schools Week in Belfast

schoolsweek.co.uk

Freddie @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social and I will be travelling to Belfast for the @naht.org.uk annual conference tomorrow. Please do get in touch if you're attending and want to meet for a coffee - samantha.booth@schoolsweek.co.uk or DM on here

As heads head to Belfast for @naht.org.uk conf where funding will be a big discussion point, this piece from @jackydys.bsky.social is essential reading While some trust finances are improving, the fortunes of many of those already in trouble are getting worse schoolsweek.co.uk/a-tale-of-tw...

More academy trusts £1m+ in the red, but others improve

'The mixed picture on deficits reflects the mixed financial situations of schools and trusts'

schoolsweek.co.uk

The government has a bad habit of sending press releases about policy announcements close to the end of the working day, embargoed for the following day. It means journalists don’t have the full facts on which to base stories, nor the time to ask important questions

In my latest podcast, @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social told me why he was sceptical about the Government's ambition in the Schools White Paper for all state schools to join a new or existing trust. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

Make no mistake that any weakening of FOI is an attack on all of our civil liberties, and would be a clear example of democratic backsliding. It is clear that the government is now seriously considering an attack on your right to know. www.ft.com/content/2c34...

UK considers FOI clampdown as requests soar

Moves to tighten system likely to be met with resistance from campaigners

ft.com

Very excited to be joining the team at Schools Week! Feel free to get in touch with any education-related stories, particularly if they relate to exams, the curriculum, edtech (AI) and post-16

Samantha Booth@samanthajbooth.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Delighted to welcome our new reporter @esmekenney.bsky.social to the Schools Week team. She has a super newsy patch including exams, curriculum, edtech and post-16 stories. So please do connect with her and get in touch...

Delighted to welcome our new reporter @esmekenney.bsky.social to the Schools Week team. She has a super newsy patch including exams, curriculum, edtech and post-16 stories. So please do connect with her and get in touch...

The head of Ofsted believes the fact it issues more ‘needs attention’ grades than ‘requires improvement’ is evidence it is raising standards, prompting criticism for comparing the new and old frameworks https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-chief-criticised-over-inspection-framework-comparison/

Ofsted chief criticised over inspection framework comparison

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

schoolsweek.co.uk

School leaders are gathering in Liverpool for the annual conference of union ASCL. The Schools Week team will bring you the key updates throughout the day - follow along on our live blog ⬇️ https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ascl-conference-2026-schools-week-live-blog/

ASCL conference 2026: Schools Week live blog

Live updates from our journalists in Liverpool

schoolsweek.co.uk

Exclusive: Councils will be given top marks by the government if their SEND reform proposals include 'little to no' plans to increase special school or alternative provision capacity, it has emerged https://schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-dfes-secret-plan-to-cut-special-school-expansion/

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

schoolsweek.co.uk

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 What does the Schools White Paper mean for pupils, teachers and leaders? @missmc.bsky.social and @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social join me to explore the big ideas and proposed reforms in the White Paper. Listen here: insideyoured.com

🚨 Breaking: Former NCG CEO Joe Docherty, now Lord Docherty, has been suspended as a Labour peer after it emerged he resigned from his college role after conducting sexual liaisons during working hours https://feweek.co.uk/joe-docherty-labour-peer-quit-college-role-over-inappropriate-conduct/

Joe Docherty: Labour peer quit college role over ‘inappropriate conduct’

The former education executive has been suspended by the party weeks after being sent to the House of Lords by Sir Keir Starmer

feweek.co.uk

It's been a huge week for schools policy, and it will take weeks, maybe months to properly digest the government's plans for schools and SEND In the meantime, v proud of edition 421 of @schoolsweek.bsky.social, with everything you need to know so far Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...

Well it's above 10 degrees, so it's time to stop using the Central Line until November

Pupils’ special educational needs will be met through a new layered system of support, with education, health and care plans reserved for only the most complex cases Here's what you need to know... https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-white-paper-the-key-send-reform-policies/

Schools white paper: The key SEND reform policies

DfE documents finally flesh out proposed 'layered' approach

schoolsweek.co.uk

In case you missed it: Government officials working on white paper proposals to encourage all schools to join a group https://schoolsweek.co.uk/white-paper-plan-for-schools-to-be-part-of-a-group/

White paper plan for schools to be part of a ‘group’

DfE officials have drawn up white paper plans to encourage schools to be part of a group, Schools Week understands

schoolsweek.co.uk

Breaking: Newly-appointed headteachers will be offered retention payments of up to £15,000 to work in certain areas under a planned pilot, the government has said https://schoolsweek.co.uk/new-headteachers-to-get-15k-to-work-where-theyre-needed-most/

New heads to get £15k to work where they're 'needed most'

Trial of retention payments comes alongside plans to emulate London Challenge in parts of England

schoolsweek.co.uk

In case you missed it: Family income data will replace free school meals eligibility as the trigger for pupil premium and other deprivation funding for schools https://schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-premium-income-data-to-replace-free-school-meals-as-trigger-for-disadvantage-funding/

Income to replace FSM as trigger for disadvantage funding

Government 'will design new model' for allocating the pupil premium and other disadvantage cash

schoolsweek.co.uk

Fully agree with Jon on this. The ink is more than dry on the white paper. If you’re ready to announce the headlines, be ready to give the details

Jon Severs@jonsevers.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Major 'leaks' of huge changes for schools - not fleshed out enough to provide any certainty or enable practical thought - during half term is really, really poor.