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Ensure any new teacher entering the classroom has, or is working towards, Qualified Teacher Status
Announced: 08 Jan 2025 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would ensure any new teacher entering the classroom has, or is working towards, Qualified Teacher Status.
17/12/24 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduced to Parliament. As part of the Bill, new teachers in state primary and secondary schools will need to have qualified teacher status, or be working towards it. The requirement will come into effect from 1st September 2026, to give schools time to prepare.
08/01/25 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill had its second reading on 8th January 2025.
Improve data sharing across services, with a single unique identifier, to better support children and families
Announced: 08 Jan 2025 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would improve data sharing across services, with a single unique identifier, to better support children and families.
17/07/24 - The Children's Wellbeing Bill was announced in the King's Speech 2024. Details of the Children's Wellbeing Bill include 'requiring local authorities to have and maintain Children Not in School registers and provide support to home-educating parents, to ensure fewer children slip under the radar' and 'giving Ofsted more powers to investigate unregistered schools and tackle patterns of poor care in children’s homes to keep children safe'.
09/09/24 - The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, Stephen Morgan, told the House of Commons that the bill would be introduced as soon as time allows.
17/12/24 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduced to Parliament, which included introducing compulsory Children Not in School registers in every local authority in England. Parents will no longer have an automatic right to home educate if their child is subject to a child protection investigation or under a child protection plan. For all children, if a local authority deem the education and/or home environment unsuitable, local authorities will now have the power to intervene and require school attendance. The government is piloting using a single unique identifier number for children across services – similar to how the NHS number works for adult social care – to test how this can improve information sharing to better protect children’s safety.
08/01/25 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill had its second reading.
A modern curriculum so young people are ready for work and life
Announced: 08 Jan 2025 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 – The 2024 Labour Manifesto, Labour promised to launch an expert-led review of curriculum and assessment in their manifesto.
19/07/24 - The review was launched and panel announced, to be chaired by Professor Becky Francis.
25/09/24 - A call for evidence opened, running until 22nd November 2024. The review is also hosting 2 online webinars and 9 events across England during October and November 2024. The review will publish recommendations in 2025.
17/12/24 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduced to Parliament. The review is due to publish its recommendations in autumn 2025. The Bill will require all state-funded schools – including academies – to teach the national curriculum. The government will bring the measure into force once a reformed curriculum has been developed following the advice of the Curriculum and Assessment Review
08/01/25 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill had its second reading.
Free breakfast clubs in every primary school
Announced: 08 Jan 2025 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 – The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour Party would create free breakfast clubs in every primary school.
17/07/24 - The Children's Wellbeing Bill was announced in the King's Speech 2024. Details of the Children's Wellbeing Bill include free breakfst clubs in every primary school.
09/09/24 - The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, Stephen Morgan, told the House of Commons that the bill would be introduced as soon as time allows.
30/10/24 - Autumn Budget 2024. £30 million being provided for the roll-out of free breakfast clubs in thousands of primary schools
17/12/24 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduced to Parliament, which includes free breakfast club provision in primary schools.
08/01/25 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill had its second reading.
Placing a duty on the safeguarding partners to give educators a greater role
Announced: 08 Jan 2025 - Current Status: Ongoing
17/12/24 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill announced placing a duty on the safeguarding partners for local authorities, police and health to give educators a greater role enabling them to influence decision-making at every level. 'Teachers and educators are often the first to spot warnings of abuse or neglect, and last year, schools were the second largest referrer of cases into children’s social care. But currently the law doesn’t require all nurseries, schools or colleges to be included in safeguarding arrangements. The government is placing a duty on the safeguarding partners for local authorities, police and health to give educators a greater role enabling them to influence decision-making at every level.'
08/01/25 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill had its second reading.
Changing the current duty to issue academy orders to failing schools to a discretionary power
Announced: 08 Jan 2025 - Current Status: Ongoing
02/09/24 - The Government announced that, with the exception of schools already due to convert to academies, the policy of intervening where a school receives two or more consecutive judgements of ‘requires improvement’ under the ‘2RI’ policy will change.
17/12/24 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which included measures to 'introduce greater flexibility for the government to intervene in failing schools, changing the current duty to issue academy orders to a discretionary power. Currently the Secretary of State has to issue an academy order to all maintained schools that are judged by Ofsted to be in a category causing concern - schools requiring special measures or requiring significant improvement. That means they are converted into sponsored academies. Repealing the duty to issue academy orders will allow the Secretary of State the flexibility to determine what the most appropriate action is to drive school improvement in each individual case. School improvement may be supported by the new Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) teams.'
08/01/25 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill had its second reading.
Councils will be given the opportunity to open all types of school
Announced: 08 Jan 2025 - Current Status: Ongoing
17/12/24 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill announced that councils will be given the opportunity to open all types of school, not just academies, so they can meet the needs of local parents. Schools and local authorities will also work together when it comes to school admissions and place planning. For example, they will have greater powers to direct the admission of an individual child into both maintained schools and academies, when a place is needed for that child.
08/01/25 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill had its second reading.
All teachers will be part of the same core pay and conditions framework
Announced: 08 Jan 2025 - Current Status: Ongoing
17/12/24 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill announced that all teachers will be part of the same core pay and conditions framework. Before requiring academies to comply with the framework the government will ask the School Teachers’ Review Body to consider additional flexibilities within the statutory framework to make it most effective for all schools. This will be no earlier than September 2026. Many 16-19 academies have pay and conditions arrangements that are different to the school sector and bringing them in line with schools would be disruptive. They are therefore excluded, but can still choose to follow the framework voluntarily.
08/01/25 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill had its second reading.
Limit the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require
Announced: 08 Jan 2025 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would bring down the cost of school by limiting the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require.
17/07/24 - The Children's Wellbeing Bill was announced in the King's Speech 2024. Details of the Children's Wellbeing Bill include 'limiting the number of branded uniform items that a school can require, to bring down costs for parents'.
09/09/24 - The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, Stephen Morgan, told the House of Commons that the bill would be introduced as soon as time allows.
17/12/24 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduced to Parliament.
08/01/25 - Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill had its second reading.
End the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools
Announced: 30 Oct 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would end the VAT exemption and business rates relief for independent schools.
30/10/24 - Autumn Budget 2024. The government will introduce 20% VAT on education and boarding services provided for a charge by private schools from 1 January 2025. The government will also remove business rates charitable rate relief from private schools in England from April 2025. Together, these policies are expected to raise £1.8 billion per year by 2029-30
3,000 new primary school-based nurseries
Announced: 30 Oct 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 – The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour Party would create 3000 new primary school-based nurseries
25/09/24 - The Education Secretary announced the first stages, to upgrade spaces in primary schools. From October, schools will be invited to bid for a share of £15 million capital funding, with capacity in the programme to deliver up to 300 new or expanded nurseries in this first round. Funding will be allocated in Spring 2025.
17/10/24 - First round of funding announced. Primary schools can now apply for up to £150,000 of £15 million capital funding. Further details.
30/10/24 - Autumn Budget 2024. £15 million to begin delivery of the pledge to create 3,000 new or expanded nurseries through upgrading space in primary schools.
Recruit 6500 new expert teachers in key subjects
Announced: 30 Oct 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour Party would recruit 6,500 new expert teachers in key subjects
08/07/24 - Education Secretary begins push to recruit 6500 new teachers. The DfE will resume and expand its flagship teacher recruitment campaign, Every Lesson Shapes a Life. It will also restart its further education recruitment campaign, Share Your Skills. The Education Secretary also wrote a letter to the education workforce to 'reset the relationship'.
30/10/24 - Autumn Budget 2024. Further supporting recruitment of 6,500 new teachers in England, through increases to the core schools budget of £2.3 billion.
Deliver the extension of government funded hours families are entitled to
Announced: 30 Oct 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would deliver the extension of government funded hours families are entitled to.
25/09/24 - Schools invited to bid for a share of £15 million capital funding. Schools will need to demonstrate how their proposals will respond to need in their local area, supporting the 2025 expansion of government-funded hours of childcare and early education for working parents to 30 hours a week.
30/10/24 - Autumn Budget 2024. Allocating an additional £1.8 billion to continue the expansion of government funded childcare, providing young children with high-quality early education.
Create a flexible Growth and Skills Levy
Announced: 30 Oct 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would create a flexible Growth and Skills Levy, with Skills England consulting on eligible courses to ensure qualifications offer value for money.
17/07/24 - Reform of the apprenticeship levy was mentioned in the King's Speech 2024.
30/10/24 - Autumn Budget 2024 . Providing an additional £300 million for FE to ensure young people are developing the skills they need to succeed and taking steps to transform the Apprenticeship Levy into a Growth and Skills Levy through £40 million investment.
Reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body
Announced: 21 Oct 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body.
10/10/24 - Employment Rights Bill introduced to Parliament. The bill includes provisions to reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body.
21/10/24 - Employment Rights Bill has its second reading.
Replace single headline grades with a new report card system
Announced: 04 Sep 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would replace single headline grades with a new report card system.
02/09/24 - Single headline Ofsted grades scrapped. Inspections in the 2024/25 academic year will result in four grades across the existing sub-categories: quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development, and; leadership and management. School Report Cards will be introduced in September 2025.
04/09/24 - Ofsted's external reference group members announced. The seven external reference groups are: curriculum, teaching, and assessment; behaviour and attendance; inclusion; well-being of leaders and staff; early years regulation and social care; insights and evidence (education), and; insights and evidence (social care).
Introduce new Regional Improvement Teams
Announced: 02 Sep 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would introduce new Regional Improvement Teams, to enhance school-to-school support, and spread best practice.
02/09/24 - From early 2025, the government will introduce Regional Improvement Teams that will work with struggling schools to quickly and directly address areas of weakness. Name changed to Regional Improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) teams.
The government has also committed to further legislation
Announced: 01 Aug 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
The government has also committed to further legislation in the coming months that will mean all schools will be required to share their daily school registers. This, together with reforming pupil registration practice, will modernise how schools record and share data on attendance and support them to understand what is driving absence in their school and provide early support and intervention where pupils are displaying worrying trends of absence.
Find out moreA national communications campaign on the importance of attendance
Announced: 01 Aug 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
A national communications campaign on the importance of attendance is also launching today targeting parents and carers. Under the strapline ?Moments Matter, Attendance Counts? it outlines the importance of attendance for attainment, wellbeing, and development as well as signposting to advice for further support. Key advice includes a recent letter from the Chief Medical Officer that outlines best practice when it comes to attendance and illness. The intention is to ensure that parents have the guidance they need when it comes to making decisions when deciding to send their child to school or when to keep them home.
Find out moreMore than one million children and young people will be...
Announced: 01 Aug 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
More than one million children and young people will be supported into regular education as part of a major expansion of the attendance hubs. 32 Attendance hubs with nearly 2000 schools helped to tackle persistent absences. Hubs are run by schools with excellent attendance that share practical ideas with other primary, secondary, alternative provision and special schools in England who need help to boost their attendance. From direct pupil engagement initiatives like breakfast clubs and extracurricular activities, to improving their processes and analysis of attendance data, lead hub schools provide a range of support to schools that they can tailor to their pupils and families.
Find out moreEstablish Skills England
Announced: 17 Jul 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would establish Skills England to bring together business, training providers and unions with national and local government, to support the delivery of Labour's Industrial Strategy.
17/07/24 - The Skills England Bill was announced in the King's Speech 2024. Additional details at the following link.
Create a new Excellence in Leadership Programme
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would create a new Excellence in Leadership Programme, a mentoring framework that expands the capacity of headteachers
Find out moreFund evidence-based early-language interventions in primary schools
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would fund evidence-based early-language interventions in primary schools.
Find out moreImprove numeracy and the quality of maths teaching across nurseires and primary schools
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would improve the quality of maths teaching across nurseries and primary schools.
Find out moreIntroduce a new Teacher Training Entitlement
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would introduce a new Teacher Training Entitlement to ensure teachers stay up to date on best practice with continuing professional development.
Find out moreUpdate the Early Career Framework
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would update the Early Career Framework, 'maintaining its grounding in evidence'.
Find out moreThe way bursaries are allocated, and the structure of retention payments, will be reviewed
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would review the way bursaries are allocated and the structure of retention payments.
Find out moreHigh-quality apprenticeships and specialist technical colleges
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto promised high-quality apprenticeships and specialist technical colleges
Find out moreProtecting time for physical education
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would protect time for physical education.
Find out moreSupport children to study a creative or vocational subject until they are 16
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would support children to study a creative or vocational subject until they are 16, and ensure accountability measures reflect this.
Find out moreTransform Further Education Colleges into specialist Technical Excellence Colleges
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would transform Further Education Colleges into specialist Technical Excellence Colleges.
Find out moreBring forward a comprehensive strategy for post‐16 education
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would bring forward a comprehensive strategy for post‐16 education.
Find out moreOpen 'Young Futures Hubs'
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would open 'Young Futures Hubs', providing every community with an open-access hub for children and young people with drop-in mental health support
Find out moreAccess to specialist mental health professionals in every school
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school.
Find out moreIntroduce an annual review of safeguarding, attendance, and off-rolling
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would introduce an annual review of safeguarding, attendance, and off-rolling.
Find out moreBring Multi-Academy Trusts into the inspection system
Announced: 13 Jun 2024 - Current Status: Ongoing
13/06/24 - The 2024 Labour Manifesto announced that the Labour party would bring Multi-Academy Trusts into the inspection system.
Find out moreIncreasing Funding for Schools: boosting schools funding, investing in new...
Announced: 24 Sep 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Increasing Funding for Schools: boosting schools funding, investing in new buildings and repairing facilities, and undoing the Conservatives? damaging cuts to the Pupil Premium.
Find out moreExtending Free School Meals: extending free school meals to every...
Announced: 24 Sep 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Extending Free School Meals: extending free school meals to every child in primary school and to secondary school pupils whose families receive Universal Credit.
Find out moreDedicated Mental Health Support: a dedicated, qualified mental health professional...
Announced: 24 Sep 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Dedicated Mental Health Support: a dedicated, qualified mental health professional in every school.
Find out moreSupporting Our Teachers: tackling the crisis in teacher recruitment and...
Announced: 24 Sep 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Supporting Our Teachers: tackling the crisis in teacher recruitment and retention with a workforce strategy that ensures every secondary school pupil is taught by an expert in their field.
Find out moreA Modern Curriculum: building a consensus across parties and teachers...
Announced: 24 Sep 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
A Modern Curriculum: building a consensus across parties and teachers to revamp the curriculum and make qualifications at 16 and 18 fit for the 21st century.
Find out moreReforming Ofsted Inspections
Announced: 24 Sep 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Reforming Ofsted Inspections: giving parents a clear picture of the true strengths and weaknesses of each school, and giving schools the guidance and support they need to improve.
Find out moreEnriching Extra-Curricular Activities: expanding access to sports, music, drama, debating...
Announced: 24 Sep 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Enriching Extra-Curricular Activities: expanding access to sports, music, drama, debating coding, and other activities, starting with a new free entitlement for disadvantaged children.
Find out moreKeeping Parents Informed: improving communication and engagement with parents, with...
Announced: 24 Sep 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Keeping Parents Informed: improving communication and engagement with parents, with regular surveys and accessible information on what their children are learning.
Find out moreRishi Sunak plans A-level reform with British baccalaureate. English and...
Announced: 22 Sep 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Rishi Sunak plans A-level reform with British baccalaureate. English and maths studied to 18 as PM backs key recommendation of Times Education Commission. The government has announced its ambition to introduce the Advanced British Standard in England, a new Baccalaureate style qualification, which will provide greater breadth of study, improve essential literacy and numeracy skills, and ensure technical and academic education are put on equal footing.
Find out moreFamily Hubs and Start for Life Programme
Announced: 02 Sep 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme
Find out moreBroader extracurricular activities
Announced: 30 May 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Broader extracurricular activities and giving pupils at least two hours a week of access to PE. Private schools could be compelled to provide sports facilities to neighbouring state schools as part of their partnership work
Find out moreRoot and branch reform of Ofsted
Announced: 30 May 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Root and branch reform of Ofsted (not scrapping it). More holistic and supportive.
Find out moreEnd forced academisation for schools with a poor Ofsted grade.
Announced: 30 May 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
End forced academisation for schools with a poor Ofsted grade.
Find out moreExtend Ofsted's scope to include MAT-level inspections
Announced: 30 May 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Extend Ofsted's scope to include MAT-level inspections.
Find out moreGive LAs the power
Announced: 30 May 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Give LAs the power to act as 'strategic education authorities', including responsibilities for admissions, exclusions, and opening new community schools. Councils should also have ?more locus? by ?participating in governing bodies and having a seat at the table in terms of how academies are governed?.
Find out moreDedicated mental health professional in every school
Announced: 30 May 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Dedicated mental health professional in every school.
Find out moreRe-create the Department for Children, Schools and Families
Announced: 30 May 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
re-create the Department for Children, Schools and Families and to create a cabinet member for children with a ?roving brief? to stop young people?s policy being ?fragmented across several different departments?.
Find out moreReview on curriculum and exams
Announced: 30 May 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Review on curriculum and exams.
Find out moreSubsidising NTP by 50% for 2023-24
Announced: 23 May 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Subsidising NTP by 50% for 2023-24. Level was 75% in 21/22. Had initially been planned to be cut to 25% in 23/24.
Find out moreImproving attainment in maths
Announced: 17 Apr 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Improving attainment in maths
Find out moreAll school pupils in England study some form of maths...
Announced: 01 Apr 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
All school pupils in England study some form of maths to the age of 18
Find out moreBan pupils using phones in school
Announced: 10 Feb 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
Ban pupils using phones in school
Find out moreSEND and AP Improvement Plan
Announced: 03 Feb 2023 - Current Status: Ongoing
SEND and AP Improvement Plan
Find out moreCouncil led trusts
Announced: 28 Mar 2022 - Current Status: Ongoing
Council led trusts (Schools White Paper)
Find out moreAll schools to join a MAT
Announced: 28 Mar 2022 - Current Status: Ongoing
All schools to be in or preparing to join a MAT by 2030 (Schools White Paper)
Find out moreSchools White Paper (Schools Week list of policies)
Announced: 28 Mar 2022 - Current Status: Ongoing
Schools White Paper (Schools Week list of policies)
Find out moreBy 2030, the number of primary school children achieving the...
Announced: 02 Feb 2022 - Current Status: Ongoing
By 2030, the number of primary school children achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths will have significantly increased. In England, this will mean 90% of KS2 children will achieve the expected standard, and the percentage of children meeting the expected standard in the worst performing areas will have increased by over a third.
Find out moreSchool Rebuilding Programme. Carries out major rebuilding and refurbishment projects...
Announced: 02 May 2021 - Current Status: Ongoing
School Rebuilding Programme. Carries out major rebuilding and refurbishment projects across England. Currently 400 projects in the programme, announced in 2021 and 2022. 39 are in the NE. The first set of 50 schools, announced in February 2021, the second set of 50 schools, announced in July 2021, the third set of 61 schools, announced in July 2022, the fourth set of 239 schools, announced in December 2022.
Find out more2019 manifesto
Announced: 12 Dec 2019 - Current Status: Ongoing
2019 manifesto
Find out more