Education sector: news in brief - August 2026

Here's our round-up of education sector news for August 2026.

The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that colleges will receive funding for eligible in-year growth in 16 to 19 student numbers during the 2026-27 academic year, giving providers greater certainty ahead of September enrolments. 

The change is designed to help colleges offer places to young people to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). Unlike the previous two years, when only part of exceptional growth demand was funded, the DfE has said it will meet growth costs under its published funding methodology.

Study calls for more targeted approaches to school suspensions

Schools should avoid blanket approaches to suspensions and take account of pupils’ individual circumstances, according to new research from the University of Manchester. The study found that suspensions are linked to a range of factors, including disadvantage, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), bullying, peer pressure and relationships with school staff.

Researchers analysed data from more than 19,000 pupils in Years 8 and 10 across 69 mainstream secondary schools in Hampshire and Southampton. Around 6% of pupils included in the study had been suspended at least once during the 2023-24 academic year. 

The study found that pupils receiving SEN support were more than twice as likely to be suspended as pupils without SEND. Pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) were also twice as likely to be suspended, while pupils eligible for free school meals were nearly two and a half times more likely to be suspended than their peers.

Researchers also found links between suspension risk and experiences such as bullying, peer pressure and substance use. Pupils who felt they belonged at school, had positive relationships with staff and were satisfied with their academic progress were less likely to be suspended.

Report calls for more joined-up approach to SEND reform

A new report from the Institute for Government argues that England’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system will only be successfully reformed if central government takes a more active role in coordinating services and delivery. 

The report warns that improving early intervention and inclusion will not be enough on its own to address rising costs, pressure on services and poor outcomes for children. It suggests that, without changes to the way the SEND system is designed, schools, councils and health services will continue to face competing pressures.

It identifies several challenges facing the reform programme, including reported NHS job cuts affecting SEND teams, ongoing local government and NHS reorganisations, and limited coordination between government departments working on related reforms.

Among its recommendations, the report calls for the Department for Education to:

• set out a clearer vision for SEND reform
• create a cross-government working group to oversee delivery
• clarify the role and resourcing of health services within the SEND system; and 
• taking steps to address funding barriers between services.

Record high number of EHCPs in England

The number of children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in England has reached a record high, according to government statistics. There were 718,838 active EHCPs in January 2026, marking the largest annual increase since the plans were introduced in 2014. 

Key figures include:

• 718,838 active EHCPs in January 2026, up 12.5% on the previous year. 
• 110,708 new EHCPs issued during 2025, an increase of 13.3% compared with 2024. 
• 162,702 requests for needs assessments, up 5.3% year-on-year.
• 118,821 needs assessments carried out, a rise of 12.8% from 2024. 
• Only 46.1% of new plans were issued within the statutory 20-week timeframe, slightly down from 46.4% in 2024. 

The data also shows growing demand for support in mainstream education. In 2026, 326,800 children and young people with EHCPs were attending mainstream schools, an increase of 16.9% on the previous year. More than 100,000 children and young people with EHCPs were attending further education settings.

Majority of school Prevent referrals returned without action

Most school referrals to the government’s Prevent programme, which aims to identify and support people at risk of being drawn into terrorism or extremism, are being returned without further action. This has prompted calls for clearer guidance and training for education professionals.

A report from the Children’s Commissioner for England found that while referrals to Prevent have increased significantly in recent years, the majority of cases raised by schools do not progress through the programme. 

In 2024-25, education settings made 60% of all Prevent referrals, yet 65% of those cases were closed and returned to schools, and 93% did not reach the panel stage. 

The report raises concerns that professionals are finding it difficult to access appropriate support for children whose behaviour causes concern but does not meet the threshold for Prevent intervention. It notes that staff are often unclear about when a referral is appropriate and what support is available if a case is not accepted.

Government expands support to reduce school costs for families

The government has announced a package of measures aimed at reducing education costs for families. Ministers said some households could save up to £1,200 a year through expanded free school meals, breakfast clubs and lower school uniform costs.

From September 2026, more than three million children in families receiving Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals. The package also includes the rollout of 1,400 additional free breakfast clubs, expanded childcare provision and new restrictions on branded school uniforms. 

The announcement follows research suggesting many families continue to make difficult financial choices during term time, including cutting back on food and other household spending. The government said more than 80% of parents surveyed believed support such as free breakfast clubs, free school meals and childcare would help ease pressure on family budgets.

The government also confirmed that new school food standards, described as the first major update in more than a decade, will be published by the end of September.

Nearly one million young people classed as NEET in UK

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that an estimated 981,000 people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment or training (NEET) between April and June 2026, equivalent to around one in eight young people in the UK.

Although the number has fallen slightly from the previous quarter, when it was above one million and represented 13.5% of all 16 to 24-year-olds, it remains higher than a year earlier. Compared with the same period in 2025, the number of young people classed as NEET increased by 3%, from 951,000.

The annual increase was mainly driven by a rise in the number of young men who were not in education, employment or training. The data suggests there were 25,000 more young men in the NEET category than a year earlier, alongside an increase of 4,000 young women.

Literacy and attendance remain key barriers for disadvantaged pupils

The study published by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) analysed more than 1,200 Pupil Premium strategy statements from primary and secondary schools across England to understand the barriers schools are trying to address through targeted funding.

The research found that 91% of schools identified literacy and English attainment as a key challenge for disadvantaged pupils, while 83% highlighted attendance. Attendance concerns were particularly prominent in schools with higher proportions of disadvantaged pupils, where 89% identified it as a challenge compared with 74% of schools with lower levels of disadvantage.

The findings also varied by school type. Primary schools were slightly more likely to identify literacy difficulties and social, emotional and mental health needs, while secondary schools were more likely to identify attendance as a challenge. Schools in the North East were also more likely than those in other regions to report local issues such as housing, transport and access to enrichment opportunities.

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