At a glance

• Estates & safety: RAAC removal deadline set for 2029; ministers promise estates strategy “very soon” after select committee grilling (6 takeaways).
• Capital & funding: DfE finally explains the opaque Strategic School Improvement Capital pot (what schools need to know); government evidence floats a 6.5% teacher pay rise over three years.
• Inspection & accountability: High Court rejects NAHT’s judicial review over Ofsted report cards.
• Attendance & behaviour: DfE minister rebuffs petition to allow term-time holidays (Tes); school referrals to social care hit a record high.
• Curriculum & pathways: MPs press ministers to revisit state-school IB funding cut (Tes); FE sees new reformed apprenticeship assessment plans published amid delays.
• Legal & sector stability (FE): Former training boss’s multi-million pound claim against DfE dismissed.
• Workforce evidence: EEF highlights the extra challenges disadvantaged schools face in teacher recruitment and retention (new package).

Deep-dive summaries (with STEM takeaways)

1. RAAC deadline set: 2029 to remove or rebuild
   The education secretary committed to removing RAAC from all affected schools—or starting replacement rebuilds—within this Parliament. Useful clarity for timetabling decants and practical-work continuity planning. Schools Week (28 Oct). STEM angle: pre-plan “practical-lite” sequences and mobile equipment kits for any labs likely to be offline during works.
2. Estates strategy “very soon” after DfE grilling
   MPs heard updates on rebuilding delays, RAAC spend and research on older buildings; ministers trailed an estates strategy “very soon.” 6 key findings (28 Oct). STEM angle: flag priorities (fume cupboards, gas safety, D&T extraction) into your trust’s estates pipeline now.
3. Mysterious capital pot finally explained
   DfE published guidance on the Strategic School Improvement Capital budget—an academy-sector fund that’s paid out for a decade with little public detail. The explainer sets scope, eligibility and process. Read the guide (30 Oct). STEM angle: if you’re in a trust, assess whether lab refurb, prep-room upgrades or D&T machinery replacements could qualify.
4. Pay evidence: 6.5% over three years floated
   Government evidence to the STRB proposes a cumulative 6.5% rise spread across three years, warning schools will still need to find efficiencies. Schools Week (≈31 Oct). STEM angle: budget for consumables and exam-practical costs early; protect technician hours in any efficiency drive.
5. Term-time holidays: minister says no
   A petition to allow 10 days’ term-time absence without fines was rejected; policy remains focused on improving attendance. Tes (28 Oct). STEM angle: keep “missed practicals” catch-up routes visible—videos, method sheets, and short clinic slots.
6. Social care referrals at a record high
   DfE’s annual statistics show school referrals to children’s social care exceeding 130,000 for the first time. Tes (≈31 Oct). STEM angle: consider safeguarding-aware grouping for practicals and ensure technician risk assessments reflect pastoral context.
7. IB in the spotlight
   MPs urged ministers to reverse the withdrawal of funding for state schools delivering the International Baccalaureate; ministers defended the change. Tes (29 Oct). STEM angle: keep families informed on local post-16 pathways (A-/T-/proposed V-levels, IB where available, HTQs, apprenticeships).
8. Ofsted report cards: NAHT judicial review refused
   The High Court declined NAHT’s application; the union is considering appeal and consulting members. Schools Week (3 Nov). STEM angle: prepare concise evidence packs: practical work log, progression in disciplinary literacy, computing portfolio exemplars.
9. Apprenticeships: reformed assessment plans published (pilot still bumpy)
   Skills England released three of five reformed assessment plans while pausing elements amid employer concerns; timelines remain unclear. FE Week (~30 Oct). STEM angle: Colleges/schools with engineering & digital routes should track assessment spec shifts for employer engagement and curriculum alignment.
10. High-profile FE legal case dismissed
    The High Court dismissed Peter Marples’ multi-million-pound claim against DfE—closing a long-running dispute linked to training provision. FE Week (28 Oct). STEM angle: a reminder to stress-test provider due-diligence where apprenticeships/T Levels rely on external partners.
11. Workforce evidence: disadvantaged schools face extra recruitment barriers
    EEF’s package surfaces drivers and practical ideas—workload, flexible working, leadership culture—to support attraction and retention. EEF (29 Oct). STEM angle: advertise protected practical-planning time, technician support and subject-specific mentoring to make STEM roles more attractive.

Quick actions for STEM departments

• Estates readiness: compile a one-page “lab continuity” plan for any RAAC/estates works (mobile kits, alternative rooms, demo cameras).
• Budget guardrails: ring-fence technician hours and exam-practical consumables ahead of 2026–28 pay-pressure planning.
• Attendance & safeguarding: publish your practical catch-up ladder (what to do if a pupil misses a required practical), with options for supervised rest breaks where appropriate.
• Pathways clarity: update your post-16 map (A/T/IB/HTQ/Apprenticeships; proposed V-levels) with local providers and entry criteria.
• Recruitment messaging: use EEF insights to refresh adverts—highlight subject mentoring, curriculum time for experiments, and CPD on disciplinary literacy/computation.

Reflections for staff meetings & CPD

1. Safety vs curriculum: How will we safeguard continuity of practical science and D&T if estates works affect our spaces next term?
2. Evidence into planning: Where can we apply EEF’s recruitment/retention levers to make STEM roles more sustainable in our context?
3. Assessment & inspection: If Ofsted report cards proceed, what STEM evidence do we want ready on inclusion, progression and practical entitlement?
4. Attendance pressures: What low-lift steps will help pupils who miss practical lessons to re-engage without overloading staff?
5. Apprenticeship alignment: Do our KS4–5 projects and employer links reflect the direction of travel in reformed apprenticeship assessments?

Direct links (copy/paste)

• Schools Week — RAAC removal deadline 2029
• Schools Week — DfE estates grilling: 6 findings
• Schools Week — Strategic School Improvement Capital: explainer
• Schools Week — DfE suggests 6.5% pay rise over 3 years
• Schools Week — High Court rejects NAHT Ofsted challenge
• Tes — Minister rejects term-time holiday petition
• Tes — School referrals to social care at record high
• Tes — MPs urge rethink on state-school IB funding
• FE Week — Reformed apprenticeship assessment plans
• FE Week — Marples v DfE case dismissed
• EEF — Recruiting & retaining teachers in disadvantaged schools