Education sector: news in brief - May 2026

Government launches new missions to boost opportunities for disadvantaged children

The government has launched two new education missions designed to improve outcomes for children in some of England’s most disadvantaged areas.

The initiatives, known as Mission North East and Mission Coastal, will begin in September and target communities including the North East, Hastings and Scarborough where exam results have remained persistently low.

The programmes will deliver targeted support to thousands of pupils by placing expert practitioners in schools, strengthening teaching and encouraging collaboration between local schools. 

They will also expand opportunities beyond the classroom by building partnerships with employers, sports clubs and community organisations to provide mentoring, careers advice and enrichment activities.

The move follows data showing stark attainment gaps. The North East has the lowest exam results in England, while disadvantaged pupils in coastal areas such as Hastings and Scarborough perform significantly below the national average. 

NEU moves towards strike ballot over pay and school funding

The National Education Union (NEU) has announced plans to launch a formal ballot for strike action, warning that teachers could walk out if concerns over pay and funding are not addressed.

The union’s national executive agreed to move to a formal ballot of teachers and support staff in England, with voting expected to run from 3 October to 15 December. 

The decision follows earlier indicative ballots in which members overwhelmingly backed potential strike action over pay, funding and workload pressures. 

The NEU said current government proposals are unlikely to deliver a fully funded pay rise above inflation and warned that schools may have to absorb costs from already stretched budgets, risking job losses and increased workload. 

Union leaders argued that chronic underfunding has left schools “running on empty”, contributing to recruitment and retention challenges across the education sector. 

New service launched to help schools tackle cyber attacks

The Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new service to support schools in responding to cyber attacks, amid concerns that the education sector faces growing threats but lacks strong defences.

The online Cyber Security Hub aims to provide schools with clear, practical guidance to improve their IT security and respond effectively to incidents. 

The service includes step-by-step advice, resources and templates to help schools develop cyber response plans, alongside guidance tailored to specific types of attacks. 

The hub delivers accessible information for all school staff, not just IT specialists, recognising that cyber security has become an organisation-wide issue rather than a purely technical concern. 

School leaders step up opposition to new Ofsted framework

School leaders have moved closer to potential industrial action in response to Ofsted’s new inspection framework, warning that existing concerns about the system have not been addressed.

Delegates at the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) annual conference backed motions to escalate opposition to the framework, including exploring legal, industrial and campaigning options. 

Union members stressed that the move does not signal an immediate strike, but ensures industrial action remains a possibility if concerns are not resolved. 

Leaders criticised the framework as fundamentally flawed, arguing it increases pressure on staff and contributes to rising stress and workload. Motions passed at the conference highlighted widespread concerns about the impact on wellbeing, with some delegates describing the system as a threat to school leaders’ health and livelihoods. 

The union also called for significant reform, including the removal of headline grading and the introduction of a more supportive and developmental approach to accountability.

Unions secure new workload protections for sixth form college staff

Teachers in sixth form colleges have secured new workload protections following negotiations between unions and employers as part of the 2025/26 pay round.

The National Education Union (NEU), alongside the NASUWT, agreed changes with the Sixth Form College Association (SFCA) that introduce, for the first time, a contractual right to planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time for college teachers. 

The deal also establishes a “rarely cover” provision, limiting how often teachers can be required to cover for absent colleagues, and sets out agreed principles on directed time and workload to better define expectations on staff. 

OfS publishes analysis of student sexual misconduct experiences

The Office for Students (OfS) has published expanded analysis of its national research into students’ experiences of sexual misconduct in English higher education, offering fresh insight into how rates vary across subjects and student groups. 

The analysis builds on the regulator’s 2025 survey of final-year undergraduates, the largest of its kind in the UK. It previously found that 24.5% of students reported experiencing sexual harassment since entering higher education, while 14.1% reported sexual assault or violence. 

The new findings show significant variation depending on what and where students study. Students studying language and area studies, veterinary sciences, and medicine and dentistry reported some of the highest levels of sexual harassment, with more than 40% affected in each of these subject areas. 

Reports of sexual assault or violence were also higher in certain courses. Nearly three in ten veterinary science students said they had experienced such behaviour, compared with around one in seven students overall.

The analysis also highlights disparities linked to gender, with female students more likely to report experiences of sexual misconduct across all subject areas. 

New Technical Excellence Colleges to boost skills and jobs

The government has announced a new wave of Technical Excellence Colleges aimed at equipping young people with the skills needed for high‑growth industries.

A total of 19 colleges across England will receive £175 million in funding to deliver specialist training in sectors including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence, and digital technologies. 

The initiative is expected to support around 65,000 learners, helping them gain the high‑level technical skills required for well‑paid jobs and providing clearer pathways from education into employment. 

Ministers said the programme responds to growing skills shortages, with nearly 600,000 additional workers projected to be needed in these industries by 2030. 

Cheating in functional skills exams reaches highest levels

Cheating in functional skills exams has risen sharply, with the qualifications now recording more malpractice penalties than any other vocational or technical course, according to new figures. 

Data from Ofqual shows cases of cheating in functional skills qualifications (FSQs) have more than doubled over three years, increasing from 610 in 2022–23 to 1,385 in 2024–25. These qualifications, which serve as alternatives to GCSE English and Maths, now account for the highest number of recorded malpractice cases. 

The increase has been driven largely by breaches of exam conditions, including students leaving early or removing exam materials, which surged from just 20 cases to 480 in three years. Meanwhile, plagiarism has also grown, with misuse of artificial intelligence contributing to higher levels of malpractice in non-exam assessments. 

 NEU survey highlights pressures on SEND provision in schools

The National Education Union (NEU) has warned that the system for supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is under significant strain, based on new survey findings from teachers and support staff.

The data, drawn from responses from more than 13,000 education professionals in England, reveals widespread concern about schools’ ability to deliver inclusive education. 

A key finding is that 89% of teachers believe class sizes are too large to support effective inclusion, limiting the ability to meet pupils’ individual needs. 

The survey also highlights low confidence in the current system, with only 22% of teachers saying they believe referrals for SEND assessment will result in the necessary support for pupils. 

Staff identified several major barriers to inclusion, including insufficient support staff, high workload, and limited access to specialist services such as educational psychologists and therapists.

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