Education sector: news in brief – January 2026

Impact of homelessness on children’s education 

Over 52% of teachers in state schools across England, responding to a recent survey, say they have worked with children experiencing homelessness in the past year.  

According to new research from Shelter and Teacher Tapp, 175,025 children are living in temporary accommodation.  

Key findings from the study include:

• 92% of teachers observed children arriving at school tired
• 83% reported pupils missing days of school due to unstable living conditions
• 76% said homelessness adversely affected exam and assessment performance; and
• 75% noted a significant negative impact on children’s mental health. 

The survey was answered by over 7,000 teachers in the state sector. Shelter have weighted these results to make them representative.

£3 billion investment for SEND 

The Government has announced a £3 billion investment to address disparities in provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across England. 

The funding is expected to deliver around 50,000 specialist places in mainstream schools and support the 10,000 places already pledged through planned special free schools. 

These additional specialist spaces are designed to help pupils with conditions such as autism or ADHD feel secure and included. Students will still access mainstream classrooms when suitable, to reduce unnecessary travel.  

At present, approximately 180,000 SEND pupils rely on school transport, often travelling more than three miles, with 9% travelling alone in taxis. The new funding aims to reduce these journeys and improve access to local education. 

New strategy to shield children from misogyny and abuse

The UK Government has launched a fresh £20 million Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy designed to protect children from misogynistic attitudes and exploitative behaviour in schools and online. 

Statistics indicate that nearly 40% of teenagers experience abuse in their relationships, and over 40% of young men hold a positive view of influencers like Andrew Tate.

Under the plan, teachers and parents will receive specialist training and resources to teach children about healthy relationships, consent, and respectful behaviour. Secondary schools in England will be required to offer comprehensive relationship education by the end of this Parliament. 

A new helpline will support young individuals worried about their own behaviours, while extra funding will pilot early interventions and behaviour-change programmes aimed at high-risk pupils.

Government launches digital exam Record App to modernise GCSE results

Year 11 students in England will be able to access their GCSE results via a new smartphone app from summer 2026, the Department for Education confirmed. 

The government believes that this will reduce the amount of admin teachers and college staff need to complete and enable them to focus more on teaching and supporting students.  

Students will still collect their results in person and receive face-to-face support from teachers. They will be able to access these via the app afterwards. 

The government anticipates that the app will make it easier for young people to enrol in their post-16 destination and will give them access to their results at their fingertips for life, providing employers with clear, accurate information on a job candidate’s education history without relying on paper certificates which can be easily lost

Colleges and training providers will also gain secure access to pupils’ data, including support requirements such as SEND, free school meals, or whether they need to continue to work towards obtaining an English or maths GCSE.

Parents pitch in as schools face underfunding crisis

A recent poll by Public First and the Parent Voice Project reveals that 41% of parents in England have been asked to contribute to their child’s school’s day‑to‑day running costs this year, with 19% saying they were asked more than once. 

The research highlights that more affluent parents (47%), primary school parents (45%), Londoners (56%), and families with children at grammar schools (56%) are most likely to have been asked to plug gaps. 

While many parents recognise the financial strain on schools, they are uncomfortable being asked to pay to fund for activities or resources they believe are essential.

Other findings:  

• Over half of parents believe schools should cultivate life skills and broaden horizons, rather than just focussing on exam results
• Confidence in education quality is high among primary school parents at 74%, but drops to 63% for those with children in secondary schools and 65% among college families; and
• Parental views of teachers are overwhelmingly positive, with 74% saying their child has a teacher who invests time and supports them.

New national Child Protection Authority announced

The UK Government has unveiled plans to establish a new Child Protection Authority (CPA) to strengthen the nation’s response to child abuse and exploitation. The announcement comes under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. 

The government claims the CPA will provide national oversight, ensuring that emerging threats, such as grooming gangs and organised crime, are identified and addressed swiftly. It says the organisation will bring consistency to child protection by uniting fragmented intelligence, improving data analysis, and embedding best practices across local areas. 

As part of its remit, the CPA will work in partnership with inspectorates, healthcare professionals, social workers, and the police. The body will also absorb and expand the functions of the existing Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. 

The government has launched a 12‑week consultation on the CPA, ending Thursday 5 March 2026.

Inquiry into grooming gangs

The government has also announced that it has set up an independent inquiry into grooming gangs, chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield. It has put aside £65 million to investigate past safeguarding failures, including policing and the responses of local authorities. 

More education sector insights – January 2026

• Employment law changes 2026: a guide for schools and colleges
• 2025 in review: three cases for schools and colleges
• Is it ever appropriate for a teacher to have a sexual relationship with a former pupil?
• Solving the SEND crisis: what does the government have in mind?