The Key

How AI is changing schools – and what you need to know | The Key Artificial intelligence isn’t just shaping the future, it’s already part of everyday life – and it’s starting to reshape schools. From cutting down on admin to drafting exam-day guidance, AI is a fas...

AI is already transforming education - but what does that look like in practice? 🤖

In our latest blog, we explore how AI is changing schools, what leaders need to know, and how your trust or school can navigate this shift responsibly 👇

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This week’s top sector stories 📰

➡️ Schools to play a greater role in post-16 pupil destinations

♻️ 2/3 of schools are yet to appoint a sustainability lead, new poll finds

🗣️ Bridget Phillipson is calling for more headteacher training on communicating with parents/carers

Sign up: key.sc/signupnews

The Key: New and updated - September 2025 | The Key A selection of new and updated content from across The Key that our members accessed in September 2025, including support for getting to grips with the new Ofsted 2025 inspection framework.

Take a look at a selection of the new and updated content our members gained access to in September, including:

🆕 Ofsted inspection framework 2025: summary of changes

🆕 SEF: guidance and template

🆕 School accountability reform: a summary

#edusky

How to stay compliant with KCSIE 2025 | The Key Another September, another update to Keeping Children Safe in Education, the statutory guidance that sets out safeguarding responsibilities for schools. While the changes are largely technical, they m...

Want peace of mind that you’re fully compliant with KCSIE 2025 this year?

We’ve pulled together a straightforward summary with the key takeaways you need to know ✅

#edusky

Self-evaluation form (SEF): guidance and template | The Key Leaders Get help writing your school's self-evaluation form (SEF). Download our template SEF, based on Ofsted's 2025 inspection framework, to evaluate your provision and identify areas for improvement.

Your new SEF checklist is here 👇

Download our template SEF, based on Ofsted's 2025 inspection framework, to evaluate your provision and identify areas for improvement.

#edusky

This week’s top sector stories 📰

🏫 Concerns raised over how Ofsted will inspect attainment

💰 70%+ of primary schools expect to face budget deficits due to falling pupil numbers

📄 Support for schools needed to help tackle misogyny and violence against girls

Sign up for more: key.sc/signupnews

Here are this week’s top sector stories 📰

📋 MP committee reveals plan to address issues in the SEND system

🏫 Government to set new expectations for schools on engaging with parents

💰 Union calls for government action as the gender pay gap widens

Sign up for all stories: key.sc/signupnews

Most-read by school leaders: 10 essential resources from 2024/25 | The Key As schools settle back into the rhythm of a new term this September, now’s a great time to look back at the resources school leaders turned to most last year. The issues that were top of mind in 2024/...

What were school leaders like you reading most last year? 👀

From safeguarding to GDPR, the issues that topped the list in 2024/25 are just as relevant this year.

We’ve rounded up the 10 most-read resources to share quick takeaways you can put into practice this September and beyond 👇

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We’re looking forward to attending MATPN South West next week!

We’ll be there with our brilliant colleagues from Robin, come and say hello if you’re attending 👋

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A 5-step back-to-school checklist for school leaders | The Key A smooth September sets the tone for the year ahead. From welcoming new colleagues into your school to mapping out the academic calendar, we’ve pulled together 5 essential areas for school leaders lik...

A smooth September sets the tone for the year ahead 🍂

From welcoming new staff to planning your academic calendar, we’ve pulled together 5 essential steps every school leader should focus on this term.

Read the full checklist here 👇

#edusky

Here are this week’s top sector stories 📰

📋 New Ofsted inspection framework released

⬆️ New guidance requires schools to take steps to improve attendance

📣 Children's commissioner calls for new 'education plans' for vulnerable pupils

#edusky

Sign up 👇

Ready, set, September! Start strong with a head start from us | The Key Leaders Feel ready for September with our resource hub, featuring handpicked support and training to shorten your team’s to-do lists and tackle your new-term tasks with confidence.

Want September to feel less overwhelming?

Our resource hub is here to help you start the new term with confidence. You’ll find handpicked support and training designed to cut down your to-do list and make tackling those big tasks easier 👇

#edusky

It's going to be a brilliant course! ⭐

Really looking forward to delivering this with @jamesmgarnett.bsky.social - delighted to be invited back after the popularity of last term’s course with @thekeysupport.bsky.social and hope it is very timely for both schools and trusts!

Leading AI across your school or trust – a masterclass series | The Key CPD Starting from scratch and feeling left behind? Know the basics but need to drill into AI data protection? Or on top of compliance but worried about safeguarding risks? In this flexible, 3-part series,...

3 masterclasses, 2 brilliant hosts, and endless insights and practical advice on AI! ✨

Join Emma Darcy and James Garnett for our AI masterclass series - a must-attend for anyone looking to grow their understanding and use of AI in education 👇

#edusky

Ofsted inspection framework updated for 2025 | The Key Leaders Get your head around the key changes to school inspections, including new report cards and the school inspection toolkit.

Free to access for all schools this autumn term 🔓

Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework for 2025 has been updated.

We know changes like these can make leaders feel uncertain. That’s why our article breaking down the new framework is free to all schools – no membership required.

#edusky #ofsted

School readiness in reception: checklist and action plan | The Key Leaders Find practical strategies for addressing school readiness issues in your reception cohort. Learn how to prioritise issues to minimise classroom disruption and get learning back on track.

As reception pupils settle into their new school this term, you may already be noticing school readiness challenges in your new cohort.

To help, we’ve created a school readiness checklist and action plan.

Explore the resource here 👇

#edusky

Here are this week’s top sector stories 📰

🧑‍🏫 Classroom disruption rising; parents less supportive of behaviour policies

👀 Governors say they lack oversight to support school readiness

🎒 Families see “less stigma” on second-hand uniforms, but costs still high

Sign up for all stories ⬇️

#edusky

Ready, set, September! Start strong with a head start from us | The Key Leaders Feel ready for September with our resource hub, featuring handpicked support and training to shorten your team’s to-do lists and tackle your new-term tasks with confidence.

The new academic year has started!

We’ll help you get ahead with practical resources to save you time, reduce stress, and make sure nothing gets missed.

Feel ready this September here 👇

#edusky

YouTube video by The Key DfE Attendance Adviser: What Every School Leader Needs To Know To Tackle Attendance

"We've gained 3.13 million more school days"

Hear more from Jayne Lowe OBE speaking about tackling attendance on Trust Matters: Lessons in Leadership on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

#edusky #attendance

Ready, set, September! Start strong with a head start from us | The Key Leaders Feel ready for September with our resource hub, featuring handpicked support and training to shorten your team’s to-do lists and tackle your new-term tasks with confidence.

September is here and our 'Ready, set, September!' hub has everything you need to start strong: policy updates, checklists, templates, and more!

#edusky

Here are this week’s top sector stories 📰

📈 Attendance rates improved in 2024/25, but severe absence remained high

📣 DfE announces review to improve pupil behaviour

☀️ Concerns raised over impact of high temperatures on exams

Sign up for all stories 👇

#edusky

Safeguarding and child protection INSET pack 2025/26 | The Key Safeguarding

Find everything you need to deliver effective, up-to-date and compliant training to all your staff this September.

#edusky #INSET

STPCD 2025 published | The Key Leaders It sets out a 4% pay increase, and says part-time teachers' TLR1 and TLR2 payments can be calculated according to how much responsibility they take on.

🆕 Need-to-know: STPCD 2025 published

It sets out a 4% pay increase, and says part-time teachers' TLR1 and TLR2 payments can be calculated according to how much responsibility they take on.

#edusky #STPCD #STPCD25

Tackling Misogyny in Schools: What Every School Leader Needs to Hear In this episode, we’re joined by Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard, a writer, speaker, and school workshop leader on a mission to spark brave, honest conversations abo...

Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard, author of #TheLadder, recently joined Ellie Potter on @thekeysupport.bsky.social's podcast to share honest, practical advice for tackling monogyny in schools. 🎧 Full episode: buff.ly/6TNlPDf

@itlworldwide.bsky.social

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE): September 2025 changes | The Key Leaders An updated version of KCSIE is now in force. Understand the changes for the 2024/25 academic year, and what your next steps should be to ensure compliance here.

Unlocked for everyone: KCSIE September 2025 changes 🔓

To support all school staff ahead of September, we've made our KCSIE September 2025 changes resource free to access for non-members.

Understand the changes and what your next steps should be.

#KCSIE #KCSIE25 #edusky

Here are this week’s top sector stories 📰

🆕 New statutory RSHE and health education guidance published for 2026

💷 Schools facing budget pressures from rising supplier costs

🤖 Faster AI adoption in private schools raises concerns of a widening digital divide

Sign up for more 👇

#edusky

Relationships and sex (RSE) and health education guidance updated | The Key Leaders It will be statutory from September 2026. New topics include positive male role models and AI-generated sexual imagery, along with new guidance on LGBTQ+ content. Age limits for certain topics won’t g...

🆕 Need-to-know: Relationships and sex (RSE) and health education guidance updated

New topics include positive male role models and AI-generated sexual imagery, along with new guidance on LGBTQ+ content.

#RSHE #edusky

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE): summary | The Key Leaders Read key points in KCSIE 2024 and know where to look for information on specific areas of safeguarding in the statutory guidance. Access a clear summary here.

Unlocked for everyone: KCSIE 2025 summary 🔓

To support all school staff ahead of September, we've made our KCSIE 2025 summary free to access for non-members.

✅ Get the key updates at a glance
✅ Know where to find guidance on specific safeguarding areas

#KCSIE #KCSIE25 #edusky

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework updated for September 2025 | The Key Leaders The changes, effective from 1 September, mostly cover safeguarding, attendance and staffing ratios. Find out what's changing and the action you need to take to stay compliant.

🆕 Need-to-know: EYFS statutory framework updated for September 2025

The changes, effective from 1 September, mostly cover safeguarding, attendance and staffing ratios.

Find out what's changing and the action you need to take to stay compliant.

#edusky