Schools Week

KCSIE 2026: Everything schools need to know Proposed guidance strengthens expectations around serious violence and mobile phone use in schools

Schools should report concerns about a child carrying a weapon and make sure they review internet filtering system effectiveness at least once a year, draft new safeguarding guidance states
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/kcsie-2026-everything-schools-need-to-know/

Looking overseas for SEND policy lessons Different approaches to SEND in 14 countries provide valuable insight for English policymakers

'Most countries are trying to improve their approach to special needs, and several have introduced major reforms against tough odds. There are therefore important lessons we can learn from our neighbours'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/looking-overseas-for-send-policy-lessons/

SEND bailout could 'reduce incentives to contain costs' Leaders welcome write-off plan, but warn there is 'not currently enough money in the system'

School leaders have welcomed ministers’ pledge to wipe nearly all historic SEND deficits, but funding experts warned the bailout could 'reduce the incentives' for councils to 'contain costs'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/send-bailout-could-reduce-incentives-to-contain-costs/

Ofsted requests schools publish report QR code with grades Watchdog wants parents to get links to full reports to avoid 'cherry picking' only positive grades

Ofsted is requesting schools publish a QR code link alongside any content they share from new report cards to help prevent leaders 'cherry picking' grades shared with parents

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-requests-schools-publish-qr-code-with-report-card-content/

‘Inclusion base’ for every school – but who will pay? Leaders call for clarity as data shows current provision - and how it is funded - varies

Ministers face calls to clarify how their plan for an 'inclusion base' in every secondary school will be funded

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/inclusion-base-for-every-school-but-who-will-pay/

KCSIE 2026: Everything schools need to know Proposed guidance strengthens expectations around serious violence and mobile phone use in schools

Schools should report concerns about a child carrying a weapon and make sure they review internet filtering system effectiveness at least once a year, draft new safeguarding guidance states
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/kcsie-2026-everything-schools-need-to-know/

We’ll fail a generation if we say SEND reform is too hard The white paper represents a pivotal moment for policy and system leadership

'Now is the time to step forward together and seize this moment to create one system with high ambition for all children'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/well-fail-a-generation-if-we-say-send-reform-is-too-difficult/

Ofsted reviews data shown in special school report cards New reports currently compare metrics like capacity of special schools to other schools in their phase

Ofsted is considering removing national data comparators for special schools from its report cards, following concerns that labelling them 'well below average' for pupil numbers could confuse and mislead parents

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-reviews-data-shown-in-special-school-report-cards/

Draft gender guidance urges 'very careful approach' Proposed guidance also states there are 'no exceptions' for single-sex spaces in schools

Schools should take a 'very careful approach in relation to social transition', new draft government gender guidance states, with 'particular caution' urged in primary settings

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/draft-gender-guidance-urges-very-careful-approach-to-social-transition/

Mixed trusts are a smart choice, not a messy compromise By design, mixed-setting trusts dissolve the boundaries between 'mainstream' and 'special'

'Mixed-setting trusts are no silver bullet for deep-rooted SEND challenges. But they offer something the system urgently needs: structures that make collaboration inevitable, not optional'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/mixed-setting-trusts-are-a-smart-choice-not-a-messy-compromise/

Education estates strategy: What schools need to know New process for repairs to standalone academies and small trusts will not require 'full bids', says DfE

From replacing the school condition improvement fund to creating a framework for the use of surplus school land, here's everything schools need to know about the DfE's education estates strategy
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/education-estates-strategy-to-replace-cif-and-create-surplus-land-framework/

Education estates strategy: What schools need to know New process for repairs to standalone academies and small trusts will not require 'full bids', says DfE

From replacing the school condition improvement fund to creating a framework for the use of surplus school land, here's everything schools need to know about the DfE's education estates strategy
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/education-estates-strategy-to-replace-cif-and-create-surplus-land-framework/

Education estates strategy: What schools need to know New process for repairs to standalone academies and small trusts will not require 'full bids', says DfE

The DfE's school condition improvement fund will be replaced with a new programme that will not require full bids and a new framework will govern the use of surplus school land amid falling rolls
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/education-estates-strategy-to-replace-cif-and-create-surplus-land-framework/

'Inclusion bases' expectation for all secondary schools Each school would have a 'dedicated safe space where pupils can access targeted support', says DfE

All secondary schools will be expected to have 'inclusion bases' where 'pupils can access targeted support that bridges the gap between mainstream and specialist provision', the government has said

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-expects-all-secondary-schools-to-have-inclusion-bases/

Teaching apprenticeships offer the continuity children crave Predictable adults support predictable lessons, which lowers anxiety and increases engagement

'Our message to school leaders considering the postgraduate teaching apprenticeship is simple. When training is rooted in continuity and backed by great mentoring, pupils feel it – and outcomes follow'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/teaching-apprenticeships-offer-the-continuity-children-crave/

Siloed trusts are the elephant in the room on inclusion We need an expectation that compels partnership and reconnects the fragments of our system

'We need a national expectation that compels partnership, aligns accountability and reconnects the fragments of our system for the children who need us most'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/siloed-trusts-are-the-elephant-in-the-room-on-inclusion/

Star fell victim to ‘historic fraud’ over several years MAT with 36 schools says 'all reasonable steps taken' following 'significant financial irregularity'

📝 One of England's biggest academy trusts fell foul of a 'historic fraud' over a number of years

Read more 🔽

Heads 'on trial': 8 findings from first RISE evaluation Report concludes the initial rollout of Labour's school improvement scheme has been a 'success'

📝 Bosses of under-performing schools given targeted support through the government’s RISE improvement scheme have felt 'on trial' and ignored during the first few months of the programme

Read more 🔽

Government to write off 90% of councils' SEND deficits Local authorities will get a grant to cover all but 10% of deficits accrued by the end of 2025-26

The government has pledged write off 90 per cent of councils’ historic SEND deficits – estimated to be worth £5 billion

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-write-off-90-of-councils-send-deficits/

Government to write of 90% of councils' SEND deficits Local authorities will get a grant to cover all but 10% of deficits accrued by the end of 2025-26

Breaking: The government has pledged write off 90 per cent of councils’ historic SEND deficits – estimated to be worth £5 billion

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-write-off-90-of-councils-send-deficits/

Secret £1m bailout as PFI windfalls and school woes grow Deal to cover £1m 'bullet payment' revealed as figures suggest PFI firms could have made £86m in one year

💸 Exclusive: One of England’s first PFI schools struck a secret deal for taxpayers to cover a £1m 'bullet payment' to break free of its contract

Analysis also suggests PFI owners of English schools could have made as much as £85.7m in profits in one year

Heads 'on trial': 8 findings from first RISE evaluation Report concludes the initial rollout of Labour's school improvement scheme has been a 'success'

📝 Bosses of under-performing schools given targeted support through the government’s RISE improvement scheme have felt 'on trial' and ignored during the first few months of the programme

📰 Schools news: The weekly round-up

Check out this week's news summary. If you still need to register for our newsletter updates, you can sign-up at the below link.

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First report cards show Ofsted still requires improvement It is dedicated staff and leaders who are at the front line of 'improving lives' every day

'Inspections must be more honest, humane, accurate and considerate. A consistently high conduct of inspections is non-negotiable'

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/first-report-cards-show-ofsted-still-requires-improvement/

Secret £1m bailout as PFI windfalls and school woes grow Deal to cover £1m 'bullet payment' revealed as figures suggest PFI firms could have made £86m in one year

Exclusive: One of England’s first PFI schools struck a secret deal for taxpayers to cover a £1m 'bullet payment' to break free of its contract

Analysis also suggests PFI owners of English schools could have made as much as £85.7m in profits in one year
schoolsweek.co.uk/secret-1m-ba...

We don't use suspensions too much, say most school staff Polling shows staff are at odds with government as it looks to keep more suspended pupils in school

Exclusive: Fewer than one in 30 teachers and leaders say their school uses suspensions excessively, despite fresh government pressure on leaders to keep more pupils in school
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/we-dont-use-suspensions-too-much-say-most-school-staff/

CEO of trust with £8.4m deficit resigns Richard Gill leaves his role at the head of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership

The prominent boss of a troubled academy trust saddled with a multi-million-pound deficit has resigned following a leave of absence

Ofsted plans closer monitoring of impact on heads' wellbeing Deal will broaden new framework feedback and establish union-led 'independent advisory group'

ICYMI: Ofsted has agreed to gather more feedback from school leaders on inspections’ impact on their wellbeing, as part of a deal with heads that will see a new 'independent advisory group' launched

Ofsted plans closer monitoring of impact on heads' wellbeing Deal will broaden new framework feedback and establish union-led 'independent advisory group'

A new 'independent advisory group' set up by union NAHT is to scrutinise the effect new Ofsted inspections have on school leader wellbeing.

Feedback will be collected from a range of leaders post-inspection, and reviewed by the panel

School nurseries lack staff and room for extra care - report The government has promised £400 million towards 'tens of thousands of places' in school-based nurseries

School nurseries lack the staff, space or demand to offer more wraparound, holiday or pre-school childcare, particularly in poorer areas, research shows

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/school-nurseries-lack-staff-and-space-for-extra-care-report-finds/