Sats ‘devastating’ for Send pupils, Motherland star and parent campaigners say Anna Maxwell Martin and 22 parent organisations and campaigners were delivering an open letter to the Education Secretary. Evening Standard · Nov 18, 2025
‘They all think Keir is done’: how push to protect Starmer’s job backfired spectacularly Botched briefing operation was proof to many that PM is leading an ineffectual No 10. How did it go so wrong? The Guardian - UK · Nov 14, 2025
Children’s services should come before Parliament over Sara Sharif failings – MP Surrey County Council has apologised after a safeguarding review found a series of missed opportunities to protect the 10-year-old. Evening Standard · Nov 13, 2025
All schools in England to be given AI-generated pupil attendance targets Unions decry move, saying it will put more pressure on headteachers without tackling absence from classrooms The Guardian - UK · Nov 12, 2025
The Guardian view on education reform: Labour risks missing its chance to change schools Editorial: Ministers should encourage teachers who are keen to try new things before the new curriculum’s formal adoption The Guardian - UK · Nov 10, 2025
Rachel Reeves signals plan to remove two-child benefit cap in budget Chancellor understood to be preparing to fully reverse measure, which would cost over £3bn but could lift 350,000 children out of poverty The Guardian - UK · Nov 10, 2025
Girl, 17, ‘exposed to beheadings, shootings and porn’ joins smartphone legal action against government Flossie McShea and a mother-of three have added their support to two fathers’ claim for a judicial review, which seeks to have smartphones completely banned in schools The Independent UK · Nov 10, 2025
Girl, 17, joins lawsuit against UK government after seeing horrific phone videos at school Flossie McShea from Devon says she saw a shooting, a beheading and porn and that other students ‘show you their screen without invitation’ The Guardian - UK · Nov 10, 2025
Thursday briefing: Inside Labour’s ambitious rethink of the national curriculum In today’s newsletter: After decades of political tinkering, a new review of England’s national curriculum promises change without chaos – but can it really add without overwhelming? The Guardian - UK · Nov 6, 2025
Hackney primary school closed due to falling pupil numbers set to reopen as a SEN school for 48 pupils The school would be repurposed to offer 48 new special school places for SEN students, providing tailored support as an expansion of Ickburgh School Evening Standard · Nov 5, 2025
Phillipson: New year 8 reading test will sit alongside maths and writing tests Bridget Phillipson told MPs a statutory reading test will run alongside ‘diagnostic’ maths and writing tests Evening Standard · Nov 5, 2025
More reading tests won’t help children improve their literacy – here’s what will Letters: Michael Robinson says teachers, governors and unions need to get round the table and find real solutions, not argue about testing for 13-year-olds. Plus letters from Simon Gibbs, Helen Elliott and Tristram Burden The Guardian - UK · Nov 5, 2025
Ed Sheeran welcomes school curriculum changes to boost study of music The said the move diversifying the music genres taught in schools and removes ‘outdated systems that stop kids from studying music and the arts’. Evening Standard · Nov 5, 2025
Ed Sheeran praised by Keir Starmer as government announces changes to music education in UK schools Education secretary Bridget Phillipson announces government plans to ‘revitalise arts education’ after Sheeran published an open letter backed by Harry Styles, Stormzy and Elton John The Independent UK · Nov 5, 2025
The Independent UK · Nov 5, 2025 Government’s potential AI qualification ‘may face teacher shortage challenges’ Ministers will explore developing a new level 3 qualification in data science and AI
Evening Standard · Nov 5, 2025 Brexit and austerity still causing ‘major problems’ for economy – Phillipson Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s comments came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepared the ground for tax hikes in her November 26 Budget.
The Independent UK · Nov 5, 2025 Minister doubles down on Reeves’ doom warning: ‘We will do what’s right for the future of our economy’ While the education secretary insisted the government takes its manifesto pledges seriously, she said there are ‘major problems’ plaguing the economy
The Guardian - UK · Nov 4, 2025 England curriculum should focus less on exams and more on life skills, finds review Experts say pupils should spend less time in exam halls and more time on activities like life skills, sport and work experience
Evening Standard · Nov 4, 2025 Government announces plan to cut GCSE exam time by up to three hours The final curriculum review report, commissioned by Labour last year, has recommended exam volume at key stage 4 be reduced by 10%.
The Guardian - UK · Nov 4, 2025 Tuesday briefing: Why Labour won’t press the ‘big red button’ to lift 450,000 children out of poverty In today’s newsletter: The Labour Party recently sounded resolute in its intention to cut the two-child benefit cap. But against an ugly fiscal backdrop, the chancellor may be having second thoughts
The Guardian - UK · Nov 4, 2025 Phillipson calls for ‘less public debate’ from EHRC on gender recognition rules Minister responds to calls from watchdog’s chair to approve new guidance on transgender rights ‘as soon as possible’
The Guardian - UK · Nov 1, 2025 Bridget Phillipson ‘ready to take on unions’ over year 8 reading tests Education secretary says mandatory test needed to tackle ‘shocking outcomes’ for many working-class children
The Guardian - UK · Oct 31, 2025 Soaring costs trigger calls to address transport for Send pupils in England National Audit Office finds £415m overspend as more children travel farther to schools that meet their needs
The Conversation · Oct 30, 2025 Special educational needs reform could be a bureaucratic nightmare – here’s how to put families first Plans to reform support for children with special educational needs in England have been delayed after the government announced its new policy would not be unveiled until 2026, rather than autumn 2025.
The Guardian - UK · Oct 28, 2025 All schools in England with removal grants to be Raac-free by 2029, says Phillipson Education secretary says ‘clear timelines’ are in place to permanently remove crumbling concrete