Education law: news in brief – December 2025

Teacher wellbeing hits crisis point

The latest Teacher Wellbeing Index by Education Support reveals that the mental health of education staff in the UK has reached its lowest level since records began in 2019. 

According to Education Support, 76% of staff report feeling stressed, while over a third (36%) are at risk of clinical depression. And 77% say that their poor mental health linked to their work.

Senior leaders are particularly affected, with 86% reporting stress and 81% saying they face overwhelming workloads. Nearly half of education staff believe their organisation’s culture negatively impacts their mental health, and 40% feel employees with mental health issues are not adequately supported.

The charity warns that poor wellbeing among teachers threatens the quality of education for children and young people.

Trainee teacher numbers climb, but secondary shortfall persists

The number of trainee teachers in England has risen by 11% this year, according to new Department for Education figures. A total of 32,175 entrants joined initial teacher training for 2025-26, up from 28,898 the previous year.

Postgraduate routes – the most common entry point – saw a 10% increase to 26,620, while undergraduate entrants grew by 16% to 5,555. Primary recruitment exceeded expectations, hitting 126% of its target, but secondary recruitment continued to fall short, reaching just 88% despite a significant improvement from last year’s 61 %. 

Overall, postgraduate initial teacher training met 99% of its combined target, aided by a 19% reduction in recruitment goals. However, experts warn that persistent under-recruitment in secondary subjects remains a concern.

Ofsted halts NPQ inspections amid review

Ofsted has confirmed it will pause routine inspections of National Professional Qualification (NPQ) programmes for the remainder of the 2025/26 academic year. It plans to use that time to redevelop its inspection framework for NPQs and the Early Career Framework (ECF) to reflect its new approach to inspections. 

Ofsted intend to engage with the sector on these proposed changes in spring 2026.

School suspensions drop for first time since pandemic

Suspension rates in England’s schools have fallen for the first time since Covid lockdowns, according to new Department for Education data. 

Figures for the autumn term 2024/25 show a suspension rate of 4.02 per 100 pupils, down from 4.13 the previous year. However, rates remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, which stood at 2.17 in 2019.

The proportion of pupils suspended at least once fell by 4%, from 171,800 to 165,600. Permanent exclusions also dipped to 0.04 per 100 pupils, matching pre-pandemic levels.

Persistent disruptive behaviour remains the leading cause, accounting for over half of suspensions and nearly 40% of exclusions. Regional disparities persist, with the Northeast recording the highest suspension rate at 6.66, while London has the lowest at 1.8.

School leaders struggle with AI attendance reports

School leaders are continuing to face challenges with the government’s AI-generated attendance reports, despite recent updates implemented to fix earlier errors. The Department for Education admitted that “no model is perfect” after heads raised concerns about it. 

The reports were designed to help schools improve attendance and rank each institution within a group of 21 “similar” schools and suggest four higher-performing schools to go to for advice. However, leaders say the system often pairs schools with others, hundreds of miles away' or even recommends their own school as a source of advice. In some cases, schools were not linked with any peers at all.

The AI model groups schools based on factors such as free school meal eligibility, special educational needs, and urban or rural location. 

Teacher workload falls slightly, but retention crisis persists

Teachers and school leaders in England are working fewer hours and report improved wellbeing, according to the latest Department for Education workload survey. 

The annual study, involving over 10,800 participants, shows average weekly hours for full-time teachers dropped to 50.1, down from 51.2 last year. Leaders also saw a reduction, averaging 56.5 hours compared to 57.6 in 2024.

Wellbeing indicators improved across the board, with stress levels falling from 89% to 86% and fewer staff saying their job leaves no time for their personal life. Satisfaction with pay also rose, with 38% of respondents happy with their salary, up from 30% last year.

Flexible working arrangements are on the rise, with 51% of staff benefiting from options such as part-time roles, off-site planning time, and remote work. 

But there are also some big concerns. Nearly three in ten teachers and leaders plan to leave the profession within a year, citing workload, stress, and feeling undervalued. While 26% now consider their workload acceptable, union leaders warn that working over 50 hours a week is still unsustainable. 

Under 5s using social media sparks concern among experts

A new report from the Centre for Social Justice warns that children under the age of five are increasingly accessing social media platforms, raising fears about exposure to harmful content and online risks. 

The study highlights that early engagement with apps such as TikTok and Instagram could impact child development and wellbeing.

Key findings:

• 37% of parents of children aged 3–5 say their child uses at least one social media app, up from 29% in 2023
• 19% of 3–5-year-olds use social media independently
• 40% of children under 13 have a social media profile despite age restrictions
• 25% of 8–9-year-olds who play online games report interacting with unknown individuals
• 75% of parents are concerned about exposure to age-inappropriate content.

Teachers warn government’s testing plans will harm pupils and narrow the curriculum

A recent survey by the National Education Union (NEU) has revealed widespread concern among teachers that the government’s decision to retain all statutory primary assessments and introduce a new Year 8 reading test will damage student wellbeing and restrict learning opportunities.

The poll of 1,136 teachers found that 75% of primary respondents believe current testing policies will worsen pupil engagement and mental health, while 86% said SATs negatively affect wellbeing. Only 4% felt these assessments would broaden the curriculum, with most warning they instead narrow subject choice.

Secondary teachers expressed similar fears, with 60% predicting the Year 8 reading test will reduce time for teaching other subjects. The same proportion argued that relying on exam-only assessment fails to reflect students’ true abilities.

Government launches national conversation on SEND

The Department for Education has announced a nationwide initiative to gather views on improving support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). 

The “National Conversation on SEND” aims to involve families, educators, and professionals in shaping future reforms to ensure better outcomes and fairer access to services.

The consultation will focus on practical solutions to reduce delays in assessments, improve consistency across local authorities, and strengthen inclusion in mainstream schools. The government also plans to explore how funding and accountability can be aligned to deliver high-quality provision. 

Government confirms early SEND support

The government claims that families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will gain faster access to help from April when it rolls out new early intervention services in Best Start Family Hubs. 

Each hub will recruit a dedicated SEND practitioner to provide direct, family-facing support. 

The initiative forms part of a £500 million investment to establish hubs in every local authority, prioritising disadvantaged communities.

The aim is that by 2028, the hubs will act as one-stop shops for families, offering proven interventions such as speech and language sessions for toddlers and specialist parent-and-baby groups.

More education sector updates – December 2025

• Solving the SEND crisis: one Trust’s blueprint for reducing wait times and improving outcomes
• Teacher dismissed after threatening to ‘whack’ pupil: was the decision fair?
• Confidentiality clauses and severance payments in FE colleges and Academy Trusts: important update
• New guidance for Ofsted inspectors on RSHE, protected characteristics and separating classes by sex
• Trade union consultations: what do the government’s proposals mean for schools and colleges?
• Budget 2025: impact on the education sector