The Education Brief: Wednesday 5 November 2025 - Top stories include:
The DfE’s pitch to the STRB is a 6.5% teacher pay rise over three years.
The NAO warns Labour’s SEND reforms must squarely tackle home-to-school transport.
The DfE has lifted the lid on the Strategic School Improvement Capital Budget.
School referrals to children’s social care hit a record in 2024–25, topping 130,000.
Round Up for Schools:
The DfE and Ofsted are both leaning heavily into SEND, highlighting the need for reform in the system.
Absence at primary is just over 4% in primary and 7% in secondary.
New research on summer-born pupils has been released.
The plan is to remove all RAAC from affected schools and colleges before the general election.
Ofsted has refreshed its AI guidance as well as information on workforce transparency and pupil/parent voice.
A/T/V Levels are in focus due to the new Post-16 White Paper.
New guidance has been released on students who may be arriving from Gaza.
HEP Updates:
Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YTTJPez4zw
Listening - https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes/fixing-democracy%3A-tiktok%2C-disinformation-and-distraction
Reading - https://www.ippr.org/articles/breaking-the-cycle-send-reform
AI Tool - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/groups/cgk3rj0kl55t