Education sector: news in brief - November 2026

Government plans overhaul of Key Stage 3 curriculum

The government has announced plans to restore Key Stage 3 as a separate three-year phase as part of major changes to the National Curriculum. The reforms aim to keep pupils engaged during the early secondary years and give them more time to build strong foundations before starting GCSE's.

The new curriculum will place greater emphasis on core knowledge and skills, including speaking and listening, reading and numeracy, while retaining opportunities in subjects including drama, PE, music, modern foreign languages and technical and digital skills.

Schools will also be expected to avoid routinely starting GCSE courses early or narrowing pupils’ subject choices before Year 10.

Government to strengthen mobile phone guidance

The government plans to strengthen statutory guidance on mobile phone use in schools from September 2027. Schools will be encouraged to prevent pupils from accessing phones throughout the school day rather than relying on “not seen, not heard” policies that allow devices to remain in bags.

Schools will not be legally required to use measures such as lockable pouches, phone collection or secure storage, but will be encouraged to strengthen their policies. The government says only 16% of secondary pupils report that their school’s phone rules are followed all of the time.

Report calls for national approach to AI in schools

A new report by Sir Anthony Seldon and Tim Bunting has called for a national framework governing the use of AI in education in England. It says schools and colleges should develop their own AI strategies by September 2027, backed by appropriate teacher training.

Its 10-point plan also proposes that Ofsted assess how schools put their AI strategies into practice, alongside changes to assessment and greater use of AI to track pupil progress.

Pupil behaviour takes toll on teachers’ health

Poor pupil behaviour is significantly affecting teachers’ physical and mental health, according to NASUWT research involving more than 10,000 teachers. Almost six in ten reported verbal abuse from pupils during the previous year and 17% said they had been physically assaulted.

Teachers experiencing serious behaviour incidents also reported higher levels of work-related health problems. Of those who experienced incidents, only a third felt their employer had dealt with the matter satisfactorily.

School support staff face growing workload pressures

Two-thirds of school support staff work beyond their contracted hours, according to an NEU survey of more than 4,500 staff in state schools and academies in England. Of those working extra hours, 62% said they received no compensation.

The survey also found that 43% of teaching assistants were regularly expected to carry out teachers’ work while remaining on support staff pay. Only 5% of respondents said they could always manage their workload within their contracted hours.

Health professionals raise concerns over screen time in schools

More than 150 health professionals have called for greater scrutiny of screen-based learning and its effects on children’s health. They have raised concerns about eyesight, speech and language development and the impact on children with SEND.

The clinicians argue that educational technology should be subject to greater health scrutiny before being widely adopted by schools.

Apprenticeship dropouts highlight need for better support

Almost one in three apprentices do not complete their programme, according to research from the Sutton Trust. Completion falls to 62% in the most deprived areas, while apprenticeship starts among 16 to 24-year-olds have fallen by 35% since the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in 2017.

Young apprentices cited poor line management, inadequate coordination between employers and training providers, workload pressures and financial difficulties among the reasons for dropping out.

Salary details set to become compulsory in job adverts

Employers are being encouraged to publish salary details in job adverts ahead of planned legislation that will make this compulsory. The government says greater pay transparency will give applicants clearer information and help tackle pay discrimination and the gender pay gap.

A government consultation found 94% of respondents supported the change, and employers are being encouraged to publish salary information voluntarily before the new requirements take effect.

University antisemitism incidents rise

The Community Security Trust recorded 95 university-related antisemitic incidents in 2025–26, up from 83 the previous academic year. Although significantly below the 272 incidents recorded in 2023–24, levels remain substantially higher than before 7 October 2023. 

Universities UK said the figures were a serious concern and called for further work to protect Jewish students and staff and ensure disciplinary processes are effective.

How we can help

Our education specialists advise schools and colleges on employment, safeguarding, discrimination and the wider legal issues affecting the sector. Please contact Jenny Arrowsmith, our national head of education, to find out how we can help.