England's New Lifelong Learning Loan System Opens for Applications
Applications open for England’s Lifelong Learning Entitlement, offering eligible learners tuition-fee loans up to £39,160 for courses starting in 2027.
Staff member · 3 min readLatest in Education
Government Approves 139 Local SEND Reform Plans as Funding Conditions Take Effect
Ministers approve 139 local SEND reform plans at first submission, linking council deficit support to delivery. Ten areas, including Southend and Thurrock, must resubmit.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readScottish Government Announces Misogyny Bill and £1 Million Schools Respect Fund
John Swinney has announced up to £1 million in additional funding from 2027–28 for school programmes challenging misogyny, alongside a renewed commitment to introduce a Misogyny Bill before summer 2027.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readOfsted Announces Independent Complaints Pilot That Could Lead to School Reinspections
Ofsted is piloting independent reviews of school inspection complaints, with the Chief Inspector able to order a fresh inspection if grading concerns are upheld.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readMet imposes strict conditions on Palestine student march planned for October 7 anniversary
Police impose route, timing and face-covering restrictions on a student Palestine march planned for October 7, while renewing calls for a different date.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readTories pledge foreign student-loan crackdown claiming £900m-a-year taxpayer saving
The Conservatives have pledged to restrict student-loan access for non-EU foreign nationals and claim the policy could save taxpayers around £900 million a year.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readGovernment launches national taskforce to tackle misogyny across Britain
The Government has launched a National Taskforce for Tackling Misogyny, bringing together ministers, local leaders, academics and women's organisations to examine harmful attitudes online, at work and within communities.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readGovernment U-turns on teacher-pay funding after strike threat
The Government has changed its position on funding the teacher pay award in England after the NEU prepared to ballot members for strike action, with pension-scheme savings now expected to cover the previous school-budget shortfall.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readGovernment unveils biggest overhaul of school food in a generation
The Government has unveiled the biggest overhaul of school food in a generation, updating England's school food standards for the first time in more than a decade.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readGovernment closes school-uniform loopholes as ministers threaten action over branded-item cap
The Government has tightened school-uniform rules to stop schools circumventing new limits on compulsory branded clothing and PE kit, with ministers warning they can intervene where policies breach the requirements.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readNew legal duty begins for England’s 177,000+ homeless children
Councils in England must now notify schools, GPs and health visiting services when children are placed in temporary accommodation, as the Government says around 177,530 children are living in such housing — the highest number on record.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readFree school meals expanded to more than three million children as school-cost package takes effect
More than three million children from Universal Credit families are now eligible for free school meals as the Government rolls out a wider package of breakfast clubs, childcare and school-cost support.
Daniel Whitmore · 4 min readStudent loan interest capped at 6% as new rules take effect
A government cap preventing Plan 2 and Plan 3 student-loan interest rates from exceeding 6% has taken effect for the 2026/27 academic year, with ministers citing the risk of inflationary shocks linked to conflict in the Middle East.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readMajor DBS safeguarding law change takes effect as barred-list checks widen
A major change to the legal definition of regulated activity with children has taken effect, removing the supervision exemption and bringing more regularly supervised staff and volunteers within the barred-list regime.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAndy Burnham Highlights 22,000 Apprenticeships Backed by Nuclear Investment
Andy Burnham has welcomed investment in the UK's nuclear deterrent, highlighting the creation of 22,000 apprenticeships and the role of defence manufacturing in supporting skilled jobs.
Staff member · 2 min readEducation Secretary Lucy Powell Says Student Loan Reform Is 'Top of My In-Tray'
Education Secretary Lucy Powell has said reviewing England's student loan system is "at the top of my in-tray", describing the current system as needing reform while stressing that no decisions have yet been made.
Staff member · 2 min read