1) Year 8 reading test plans surfaced — and the debate began

The government is drawing up plans for a mandatory reading test in Year 8 as part of the upcoming schools white paper, with results published nationally rather than at school level (to avoid becoming an accountability stick).

Read: Schools Week — Year 8s to sit mandatory reading test under white paper plans (25 Sept).
Reaction: Tes — Phillipson pushes back at criticism over Year 8 reading tests (28 Sept).

2) Exam access arrangements: ‘Try rest breaks before extra time’

Updated guidance reiterates that supervised rest breaks can be “more effective and appropriate” than defaulting to 25% extra time, especially for candidates with anxiety, attention or medical needs. Evidence remains key.

Read: Schools Week — Exams: Try rest breaks before asking for extra time (29 Sept).

STEM angle: plan calm, short breaks for timed practical write-ups and mocks; consider centre-delegated doodle sheets where appropriate.

3) A library in every English primary — pledge welcomed, questions remain

Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged libraries for roughly 1,700 primaries currently without one. Leaders welcome the ambition yet raise space, staffing and sustainability questions.

Read: Tes — Reeves pledges library in every English primary school (29 Sept).
Watch: Sky News video — Phillipson: “Education means opportunity for all” (29 Sept).

4) Attendance: ‘Support, not just sanctions’

Trust leaders warn that fines alone won’t fix absence; schools need funded attendance support so they aren’t “starving classrooms” to staff teams.

Read: Tes — ‘Support not sanctions’ will help schools tackle absence (29 Sept).

5) Inclusion & Ofsted focus — special sector seeks clarity

Special school leaders fear subjective judgements unless inclusion criteria are crystal-clear; an ex-HMI warned the new judgement risks inconsistency without detailed guidance.

Read: Tes — Special schools fear ‘subjective’ Ofsted judgements (26 Sept).
Opinion: Schools Week — Ofsted’s inclusion judgement: “a poisoned chalice”? (24 Sept).

6) SEND system next steps: more tools, more training

A DfE-commissioned report calls for teacher-facing tools and strengthened ITT content to support earlier identification and classroom strategies; several councils will trial elements of a refreshed local offer.

Read: Tes — SEND: Call for more teacher tools and training (25 Sept).
Local delivery: Schools Week — Councils to test ‘local offer’ in new inclusion plans.

7) Scotland: week-long outdoor education a step closer

A member’s bill granting every pupil the right to a five-day residential moved forward as the government lodged its financial resolution — affordability still in focus.

Read: Tes — Outdoor education bill takes big step forward (Scotland) (25 Sept).

8) Sustainability leads: most schools still don’t have one

Despite the DfE’s climate strategy expectation, a Teacher Tapp poll suggests two-thirds of schools have yet to name a sustainability lead this term.

Read: Schools Week — Two thirds of schools have no sustainability lead (30 Sept).

9) 6,500 teachers pledge: detailed delivery plan due by December

Under PAC pressure, ministers will publish a plan detailing definitions, tracking and the split between recruitment and retention.

Read: Schools Week — Government promises details of 6,500 teachers pledge (26 Sept).

10) Support staff: “time to champion rights”

An opinion piece from the Education Secretary sets intent to improve pay, conditions and recognition for support staff — central to SEND, behaviour and attendance.

Read: Schools Week — It’s time to champion school support staff (24 Sept).

11) Maintenance grants to return (priority L4–6 under the LLE)

Bridget Phillipson announced means-tested maintenance grants for low-income learners on priority technical courses (L4–6), funded via a new levy on international students. Details due at the 26 Nov Budget.

Read: FE Week — Maintenance grants to return under the LLE (30 Sept).

12) Youth guarantee for NEETs (with conditionality)

A job or training guarantee for 18–21-year-olds on long-term benefits; benefits could be withdrawn if offers are refused. Funding and employer incentives expected at the Budget.

Read: FE Week — Chancellor to ‘guarantee’ job or training place to young NEETs (29 Sept).

13) Ofsted FE report cards: Q&A with Lee Owston

One month out from rollout, Ofsted’s national director discussed anxiety, transparency and the new inclusion grade — framed as an evolution, not a revolution.

Read: FE Week — Report cards Q&A (26 Sept).

14) Industrial relations: UCU warns 76 colleges

UCU wrote to 76 college principals demanding 10% (or £3,000) pay rises plus workload commitments — hinting at possible disputes.

Read: FE Week — UCU’s 76-college ‘hit list’.

15) Apprenticeships market share: Multiverse tops revenue

New DfE data shows Multiverse as England’s largest revenue-generating apprenticeship provider (Apr 2023–Mar 2024), edging QA and Lifetime.

Read: FE Week — Multiverse leads rivals on revenue.

16) Private schools: Ofsted inspection fees set to rise ~50%

A DfE consultation proposes significant fee hikes for non-association independent schools, moving toward fuller cost recovery.

Read: Schools Week — Private schools face 50% fee hike (25 Sept).

17) New EEF guidance for 16–19 settings

EEF released guidance on building high-quality CPD for teachers in the 16–19 phase — timely for sixth forms and colleges planning improvement cycles.

Read: EEF — New guidance to support 16–19 settings.
Context: EEF — Research Agenda: EdTech.