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

⁠Music by Slo Pony⁠