Henry Hepburn
@henryhepburn.bsky.social
Senior editor at Tes magazine https://www.tes.com/campaign/download-the-tes-magazine-app
ICYMI: A-level results 2026: regional divide grows again www.tes.com/magazine/new... @ktorm-social1.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social
A-level results 2026: regional divide grows again
Today’s A-level results for England also reveal increases in the top grades awarded and in the overall pass rate
tes.com
ICYMI: Which A-level subjects recorded the highest grades in 2026? www.tes.com/magazine/new... @ktorm-social1.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social
Which A-level subjects recorded the highest grades in 2026?
Maths and English literature both saw a bigger increase in top A-level grades this year than the marginal rise recorded across all subjects
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Reporter @ktorm-social1.bsky.social breaks down this year’s A-level results by subject: ♦️ Maths and English literature saw a bigger increase in A*/As ♦️ Boys recorded more top grades in all sciences ♦️ Psychology was the second most popular subject
Which A-level subjects recorded the highest grades in 2026?
Maths and English literature both saw a bigger increase in top A-level grades this year than the marginal rise recorded across all subjects
tes.com
This year’s A-level results show that the regional divide in students getting the top grades in England has widened again – and also reveal an increase in the top grades awarded and in the overall pass rate
A-level results 2026: regional divide grows again
Today’s A-level results for England also reveal increases in the top grades awarded and in the overall pass rate
tes.com
ICYMI: Most teachers to pay less into their pension under new plans www.tes.com/magazine/new... @jabedahmed.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social
Most teachers to pay less into their pension under new plans
DfE launches consultation on cutting employee contribution rates for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme across most salary bands
tes.com
ICYMI: Neet data justifies 'rewiring entire education system', says Powell www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social @cerysturner.bsky.social
Neet data justifies ‘rewiring entire education system’, says Powell
Education secretary warns that vocational studies must not play ‘second fiddle’ in schools, the week after prime minister Andy Burnham announced new technical education routes
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There is no ‘trade-off’ between being supportive of pupils and having high expectations of them – these go ‘hand in hand’ when trying to develop a sense of belonging in school, according to new @nuffieldfoundation.org @ioe.bsky.social @liftschools.org research
Supporting pupils and having high expectations ‘not in conflict’
Students’ sense of belonging in school is strongest where teachers both support them and challenge them to ‘think hard and learn more’, according to new research
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Primary schools should be required to identify pupils who are at risk of being Neet when they leave school at 16, according to a former minister leading a review into youth unemployment
Primaries should identify pupils at risk of being Neet, says Milburn
The ‘warning signs’ that children will leave school not in education, employment or training are visible from preschool, says former health secretary who is leading a major review of the Neet issue
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Leading a school means you have to take difficult decisions – so how do you know whether you’ve got it right? Christopher Hoare shares 6 reflective questions to help you make the correct move
6 questions to help you make better leadership decisions
Leadership is filled with difficult choices – but how do you know you’re making the right one? This leader proposes a series of reflective questions to guide your thought process
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Pupil absence rates increased in the autumn term last year, DfE figures show, sparking calls for the government to focus on its reform of SEND support
Autumn absence on the rise in England’s schools
Pupil absence increased in both school phases in the autumn term last year, official figures show, prompting calls for the government to focus on implementing its SEND reforms
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Education research from the past year all schools should know about – from setting vs mixed-ability grouping to absence interventions and phone pouches
The education year in research: 5 studies schools should know
Ofsted is pushing schools to become more evidence-informed, so here are five key studies from the past year and what they found
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The amount most teachers pay into their pensions is set to fall, with the DfE launching a consultation on reducing employee contributions and making other pension changes
Most teachers to pay less into their pension under new plans
DfE launches consultation on cutting employee contribution rates for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme across most salary bands
tes.com
Education secretary @lucympowell.bsky.social has vowed to ‘rewire the entire education system’, promising that vocational career paths will no longer ‘play second fiddle in schools’
Neet data justifies ‘rewiring entire education system’, says Powell
Education secretary warns that vocational studies must not play ‘second fiddle’ in schools, the week after prime minister Andy Burnham announced new technical education routes
tes.com
The chances of parents successfully challenging a school admissions decision through appeal have hit a record low, new DfE data shows
Successful school admission appeals fall to record low
The number of appeals reaching a panel has dropped again, shows DfE data published today, as pupil numbers continue to decline
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Exam entries for drama are down, but now, given the new focus on oracy and preparing young people for the future workplace, the subject has a big opportunity to take the limelight, writes educator Georgie Ross
The rise of AI sets the stage for a revival of drama
The national focus on oracy to help prepare young people for the future world of work presents a huge opportunity to rethink the role of drama in our schools, says this educator
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With England planning to ban social media for under-16s, what can it learn from the ban in Australia? Head Luke Ramsden looks at the key findings from the first evaluation of the restrictions Down Under
What can the UK learn from Australia’s social media ban?
Australia’s eSafety commissioner has released the first findings in a longitudinal study of the effects of the country’s social media ban for under-16s. Here Luke Ramsden rounds up the key takeaways
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ICYMI: Teachers systematically predict lower grades for boys relative to 'observationally similar' girls who go on to get the same results, according to research www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social @cam.ac.uk @bristoluni.bsky.social
‘Pro-girl’ gap in teachers’ predicted A-level grades identified
Teachers often predict higher A-level grades for girls than boys, and this could be affecting students’ access to university courses, researchers warn
tes.com
Today marked the first time @qualifications.gov.scot published annual exam results data - so what trends emerged? www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social
Qualifications Scotland results 2026: pass rates up across the board
Today’s Scottish exam results data also shows a slight narrowing in disadvantage-related attainment gaps, and ‘record numbers’ taking vocational qualifications
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‘We cannot tolerate a situation where large numbers of students leave school without qualifications, confidence or a clear route into adult life’: Sir Hamid Patel explains why he is giving Andy Burnham’s plan for new technical education routes a chance
Technical routes could tackle an inherent tension in education
Our education system works well for many pupils, but it also leaves many behind, which is why giving vocational routes more prominence has merit, says Sir Hamid Patel
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If schools are getting better at teaching reading, why are so many pupils still not choosing to read, asks Adam Lancaster, who suggests we think of reading in ecological terms
Why schools must consider the ‘ecology’ of reading
Our understanding of how young people learn to read has never been better, so why are so many pupils still not choosing to be readers? Adam Lancaster suggests that ecological factors could be at play
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ICYMI: We look at the questions the sector needs to know about the newly announced plans for technical routes for schools, and share the detail – where it exists – that we know already
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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The bestselling books list for teens shows the ‘chasm’ between GCSE texts and ‘what young people actually enjoy reading’ – how do you close the gap? Tes explores www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Teachers systematically predict lower A-level grades for boys relative to 'observationally similar' girls who go on to get the same results, according to research
‘Pro-girl’ gap in teachers’ predicted A-level grades identified
Teachers often predict higher A-level grades for girls than boys, and this could be affecting students’ access to university courses, researchers warn
tes.com
It’s easy to focus on everything that’s wrong with education, but teachers must not let the challenges overshadow the positive parts of the job, argues Ben Levinson
Teaching is brilliant - and we shouldn’t be afraid to say it
It’s easy to focus on everything that’s wrong with education, but teachers must not let the challenges overshadow the positive parts of the job, argues Ben Levinson
tes.com
BREAKING: Secondary schools will be expected to offer new technical routes for 14-year-olds by 2028, the PM has announced – but unions have criticised a lack of detail in the proposals and the fact they have been released during the holidays
New technical pathways in secondary schools by 2028, PM announces
Schools will be inspected by Ofsted on vocational offering, but sector leaders want more details on multiple aspects of the plans
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Exclusive: The launch of a new careers service for schools has been delayed so that officials can respond to the new prime minister Andy Burnham’s priorities, Tes reveals
New careers service delayed while officials weigh up PM’s ‘priorities’
Updated careers support and guidance for schools has been delayed, Tes can reveal, despite a recent inquiry highlighting the crisis of young people not in employment, education or training
tes.com
The past academic year could be the first with no reduction in pupil absence since the Covid pandemic, according to @fftedudatalab.bsky.social analysis
School attendance improvement stalls for first time since Covid
While the June heatwave was a factor, no meaningful improvements in attendance were made during the rest of the year, finds FFT analysis
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With the Burnham government planning new technical education pathways, what lessons can it learn from university technical colleges? @cerysturner.bsky.social investigates
Could UTCs provide a blueprint for new technical education routes?
A new vision for technical education has been announced by the Burnham government - but could it build on the existing example of university technical colleges?
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The proportion of qualified teacher trainees employed in England's state schools after graduating has fallen - @cerysturner.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social
Only 7 in 10 teacher trainees employed in state schools
The proportion of postgraduate trainees working in state schools is lower than previous years, official data from 2024-25 cohort shows
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New careers service delayed while officials weigh up PM's 'priorities' - exclusive report from @cerysturner.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social
New careers service delayed while officials weigh up PM’s ‘priorities’
Updated careers support and guidance for schools has been delayed, Tes can reveal, despite a recent inquiry highlighting the crisis of young people not in employment, education or training
tes.com