Severe absence in schools has hit a record high, with over 176,000 in England last year. Overall and persistent absence is down, but @csjthinktank.bsky.social says the improvements are "low hanging fruit". @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Before Covid, the school attendance rate sat above 95% — averaging 95.4% for the six years prior. Since the pandemic, it hasn’t come close. So is the White Paper pledge to hit 94% ambitious enough? Experts tell Tes more aspiration is needed. @tesmagazine.bsky.social

An increased focus on inclusion and cost means some schools in England are revising uniform policies - but teachers are divided and leaders are less convinced, exclusive @teachertapp.bsky.social polling reveals. @ktorm-social1.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Excl: Nearly half of secondary teachers would drop smart uniforms for more practical clothing or no uniform at all, data shows. Cost, SEND reforms & student voice are reshaping what “smart” means, but leaders are more cautious. www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/traditional-school-uniform-way-out

Researchers call for a new scheme to support gifted and talented pupils - even though their analysis shows a previous version may have ‘inadvertently reinforced educational inequalities’ @ktorm-social1.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social

The DfE's spend on advertising and marketing has risen by over 40% in the last two years, reaching £50million in 2024-25. @munirawilson.bsky.social tells Tes the number raise "serious questions" over the government's priorities. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

@tesglobal.bsky.social 2026 Wellbeing Report reveals over 70% of teachers now find their workload “unmanageable,” up 10% since 2024. Workload remains the leading cause of work‑related stress and the top reason teachers cited for wanting to leaving the profession.

Could on-screen exams widen disadvantage gaps? www.tes.com/magazine/new... @ktorm-social1.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social @theeef.bsky.social

Responding to Ofqual’s digital exams consultation, the EEF says no rollout should take place until the impact on disadvantaged students is known. EEF fears attainment gaps could widen. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

An important question to ask when any promise is made about libraries - what definition of "library" is being used? www.tes.com/magazine/new... @ktorm-social1.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Excl: Gov't pledge to build libraries in all primary schools by the end of this Parliament may include converting “storage” areas such as cloakrooms and corridors. Treasury previously committed over £10m in funding, now rising to £12.5m. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

“There are severe shortages nationally, with provision varying enormously across local authorities... far more people want to train as EPs than there are funded places available.” EPI's @jzuccollo.bsky.social spoke to @ktorm-social1.bsky.social about the gov't's experts at hand plan.

England's exams watchdog has called for tougher action to stop students bringing mobile phones into exams or using AI to cheat in coursework www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Excl: DfE warned that workforce shortages could affect delivery of its £1.8bn “experts at hand” SEND plan by 2028. Professional bodies welcome the investment, but raise doubts on timeline of delivery. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

England’s largest exam board says ‘cautious’ rollout of on-screen assessments could ‘hinder progress’ - @ktorm-social1.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social

As Ofqual consults on expanding digital assessments, @aqaeducation.bsky.social is calling for a more ambitious rollout, saying England risks falling behind other countries. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Plans to introduce statutory ISPs for all SEND pupils have raised questions about workload pressures for SENDCOs and the potential for heightened tension between schools and families. @johngroberts.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social

After long-awaited details regarding plans to recruit 6500 teachers were revealed this week, new @yougov.co.uk polling shows most adults now view teaching as an unappealing career, with only a small minority finding it “very appealing”. @tesmagazine.bsky.social

In an insightful but also personal piece, @tesmagazine.bsky.social SEND and Inclusion Editor @johngroberts.bsky.social explores the challenges ahead after the Schools White Paper was published, and reflects on the wider discussion around special schools. A must read:

DfE sets out plans to overhaul KS4 progress measures and extend RISE support - a shift that could change how schools enter pupils for qualifications. @tesmagazine.bsky.social

£4bn SEND reform plan lands: £1.6bn for inclusion funding, £1.8bn for local specialist teams, new ISPs, and big changes to EHCPs from 2029. @johngroberts.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Schools in England will be given access to a new 'inclusive mainstream fund' of £1.6 billion as part of a wider £4 billion spending package announced tonight - @johngroberts.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social

School trips give pupils ‘strongest sense of belonging’ - @ktorm-social1.bsky.social reports on @ox.ac.uk research www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Excl: Many schools haven't received AI attendance targets the DfE said it had set "every school" last year. @ascl-uk.bsky.social calls the rollout a "botched exercise". @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Excl: Tes analysis reveals 1/4 CEOs at England’s biggest academy trusts received bigger pay rises than teachers last year, with 12 earning more than £250,000. Unions describe it as “tone deaf”. @tesmagazine.bsky.social @jabedahmed.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

New: KCSIE guidance will outline a cautious, safeguarding‑led approach to gender‑questioning pupils, including single‑sex toilets and changing rooms. Unions back the announcement after previously calling for clarity. @cerysturner.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social

England’s largest academy trusts made nearly £24m in investment income last year, Tes analysis shows. Some generated millions, while others saw income fall as interest rates dropped. @jabedahmed.bsky.social @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Nearly one in five KS4 students were identified with a special educational need in 2024-25, DfE data shows. @mmulholland.bsky.social tells Tes there’s “no simple explanation”, though improved recognition of available support is a factor.

Gov't “particularly keen” to recruit more male teachers in schools, says early education minister. Olivia Bailey said the DfE wants to see male teachers “stay and thrive” in schools and early education settings. @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Reading for pleasure is back under scrutiny, with MPs told it needs a stronger place in the curriculum. Evidence presented to the Education Select Committee highlighted links between reading for enjoyment, attainment and wider wellbeing. @tesmagazine.bsky.social:

New research from Professor John Jerrim finds 'feeling in control' can accelerate students' progress in reading by up to two months. Prof Jerrim tells me there are 'similarities' between his work and the findings of Carol Dweck. For @tesmagazine.bsky.social:

Exclusive: DfE appoints nine Regional Attendance and Behaviour Advisers & confirms remaining 36 lead hub schools - bringing total to 93. Speaking exclusively to @tesmagazine.bsky.social, DfE ambassador Jayne Lowe discusses their role & SEND schools' future in hubs.

Excellent piece on the growth of 'mixed' trusts and what it might mean for inclusion from @johngroberts.bsky.social

No Progress 8. New accountability pressures. Old questions about fairness. In the absence of P8, @tesmagazine.bsky.social explores how schools have managed without it, how they’re being judged and what this means looking ahead. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Has a world without P8 been as damaging as many believed it would be for those schools in disadvantaged areas? @ktorm-social1.bsky.social has looked at the data, talked to the sector and looked at the fallout, particularly with Ofsted - and the picture is mixed. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Great piece by @ktorm-social1.bsky.social showing Covid ripple effects after Sats were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 - meaning England is now in a two-year spell without the crucial Progress 8 measure of how far students have come since then. www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social

House of Lords backs Lord Nash’s amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to ban under‑16s from social media. It now goes to the Commons, where MPs would need to remove or vote against it to stop it becoming law.

Don’t deny special schools new libraries, government told - @ktorm-social1.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Teachers increasingly supportive of social media restrictions for under-18s, reports @cerysturner.bsky.social after exclusive polling for @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new... @teachertapp.bsky.social

On Tuesday, Ofqual's chief regulator Sir Ian Bauckham told the Education Select Committee that while AI may have a role to play, it cannot be the "sole marker" of students' work. Writing exclusively for @tesmagazine.bsky.social, Sir Ian explains why:

Really interesting to read the concerns of the chief regulator of exams in England about use of AI in coursework - @ktorm-social1.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new... @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Education Select Committee Chair @helenhayes.bsky.social has urged the government to update its guidance on supporting students with medical conditions before the Schools White Paper is published. @johngroberts.bsky.social latest:

Ofqual Chief Sir Ian Bauckham tells the Education Select Committee that the regulator is assessing the risks of students using AI for A-Level coursework. He told MPs that Ofqual is considering potential reforms to the qualifications to combat the issue.

📲 Excl: Teachers are overwhelmingly supportive of social media restrictions for under 18s 70% now strongly agree, up from 62% in 2024 and 49% in 2021. Primary teachers are also more supportive. Whether the govt goes ahead with a full ban, or introduces restrictions, it appears teachers will back.

Education committee chair @helenhayes.bsky.social has written to Ofcom with urgent concerns about Grok: committees.parliament.uk/publications...

Exclusive: A new partnership aimed at helping schools to reduce suspensions and repeat room removals is being launched by @thedifferenceed.bsky.social which will provide £150k worth of support to ten schools over the next three years. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Do schools get too much pushback on exclusions? Superb investigation by @ktorm-social1.bsky.social this morning - he digs into the data, the appeals process and talks to heads to find out what is really going on. www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

"While some say schools have become too quick to exclude, others point to worsening classroom behaviour and argue that, if anything, heads face too much “pushback” on removing students." @ktorm-social1.bsky.social explores a fierce debate on exclusion. www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Much has been made of permanent exclusions reaching record levels last year. But what happens next? Exclusion reviews are rising every year - so what does this mean for schools? Are heads facing more scrutiny? My latest for @tesmagazine.bsky.social:

Writing exclusively for Tes, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson shares the reasons behind plans to introduce inspections of multi-academy trusts. EdSec says best MATs will be "celebrated" but commits to "stepping in" when standards aren't being met.