DfE
The latest news and analysis on the Department for Education and the secretary of state for education, including new policy, legislation and appointments
Today
20th Apr 2026
Government to introduce statutory ‘ban’ on phones in schools
Announcement comes just days after education minister Olivia Bailey told MPs that the problem of phones in schools was ‘already solved’
SEND reforms ‘risk overlooking developmental language disorder’
Charity calls on government to improve training and support plans for pupils with DLD
Friday
17th Apr 2026
NEU members willing to take industrial action over pay and funding
Overwhelming majority of teacher members who voted in indicative ballot reject three-year pay recommendation and indicate support for taking action, but turnout was less than 50 per cent
DfE awards contract for school behaviour toolkit
Education services provider Etio will work alongside ImpactEd to develop a best practice review and toolkit to help tackle pupil behaviour
Gareth Conyard: DfE plan for teacher-training entitlement is ‘disingenuous’
In an exclusive interview, the chief executive of the Teacher Development Trust questions the government’s plan for a new teacher-training entitlement and its decision to fund only three years of SEND training
Exclusive
Key stage 3 alliance announces regional co-chairs
The regional co-chairs will lead schools and trusts to share good practice on what works in early secondary school
Thursday
16th Apr 2026
Banning phones in schools ‘already solved’, claims minister
Education minister Olivia Bailey comes under fire as MPs reject Lords’ proposal for a statutory ban on phones in schools
Why schools will struggle to fund ‘utterly unrealistic’ food standards
A government pilot scheme for the new healthier school food standards showed that costs of meals increased and uptake dropped, says expert
Exclusive
Deprived schools need bigger share of nurseries cash, DfE told
Most of the schools successful in applying for the grant to open new nurseries have fewer FSM pupils than the national average, Tes analysis reveals
Exclusive
DfE warned over ‘chronic shortage’ of educational psychologists
The worst-affected area has only one educational psychologist for every 9,400 pupils, with shortages putting the DfE’s inclusion plans at risk, EPI warns
Wednesday
15th Apr 2026
‘Unbelievably’ tough DfE disadvantage target ‘lacks a huge plan’
The government’s pledge to halve the disadvantage-related attainment gap is ‘intentionally’ vague and does not address the root causes of this inequality in outcomes, experts tell MPs
Stop ‘proactive’ schools grabbing inclusion support, councils told
DfE tasks local authorities with creating ‘experts at hand’ plans for schools – but sector leaders raise concerns about a lack of evidence on how this should be delivered