We round up the latest employment news.
New free speech rules come into force
New legal duties to safeguard free speech and academic freedom in higher education came into force on Friday 1 August, as part of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.
Universities, colleges, and student unions in England must now take steps to:
- Secure lawful freedom of speech for staff, students, and visiting speakers
- Protect academic freedom in teaching and research
- Avoid “no-platforming” and other forms of censorship; and
- Train staff to ensure they understand the new duty and can properly apply it when making decisions.
Find out more about the amended duty to protect free speech in higher education and its implications for colleges.
Drop in primary trainee teachers
The Department for Education has released its 2023–24 initial teacher training (ITT) performance profile, revealing a continued decline in primary teacher recruitment alongside a modest rise in secondary trainees.
Overall, postgraduate trainee numbers fell to 22,760, down from 24,277 the previous year. Despite this drop, 93% of trainees achieved Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a slight improvement in success rate.
Primary training saw the sharpest decline, with numbers falling from 11,457 to 9,378. In contrast, secondary trainee numbers rose to 13,382, up from 12,820. Both phases maintained a 93% QTS pass rate.
Keeping children in education until 18 has ‘limited impact’
A decade ago, the government introduced changes designed to keep young people in learning until the end of the academic year in which they reached 18 years old. It was intended to improve the education and skill levels among young people and help reduce inequality of opportunity. But a new study suggests the policy has only had a limited effect.
Private schools surge ahead in AI use
New research from the Sutton Trust reveals a growing digital divide in UK education, as private schools outpace state schools in adopting and benefiting from artificial intelligence (AI).
The report highlights stark disparities:
- 45% of private school teachers have received formal AI training, compared to just 21% in state schools
- 77% of private school teachers have had informal training, versus 45% in state schools; and
- Private schools are three times more likely to have a school-wide AI strategy (27% vs 9%).
AI use is becoming widespread, with 62% of all teachers reporting they had used AI tools at least once in the previous month. However, private school teachers are more likely to use AI daily (18% vs 11%) and across a broader range of tasks.
New training for Ofsted inspectors isn’t going down well
Inspectors have criticised Ofsted’s latest training regime as “rushed” and “ridiculous”. Under the new requirements, inspectors must complete:
- 27.5 hours of online training
- Two days of in-person or live online sessions; and
- Nine hours of reading to familiarise themselves with new inspection toolkits.
Those inspecting special schools or secondary settings have to do even more preparation. And the training, part of the new “underpinning skills programme,” must be completed by Wednesday 29 October.
Inspectors voiced frustration over the timing, which was only announced at the start of the summer holidays and requires them to complete part of the training by the end of October. They are also unhappy that they’re expected to complete the equivalent of six days of unpaid training, with some also having to pay for their own travel expenses.
Ofsted launches sector engagement programme
Ofsted has announced a new sector engagement programme to help education providers prepare for changes to inspections set to begin in November 2025.
The initiative includes a series of face-to-face and online events aimed at schools, colleges, and other providers. These sessions will offer guidance on the updated education inspection framework (EIF), which places greater emphasis on curriculum quality, safeguarding, and leadership.
IPPR launches Inclusion Taskforce
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has launched a new Inclusion Taskforce to tackle deep-rooted issues in England’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. The taskforce will develop a roadmap for reform ahead of a government white paper, which is expected in the autumn.
The taskforce has highlighted the following challenges:
- One-in-five children now have SEND – equivalent to six per classroom
- The number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) has doubled since 2014
- Only 22% of children on SEN Support achieve a grade 5 or higher in English and maths, compared to 46% nationally; and
- Fewer than 50% of EHCPs are issued within the statutory 20-week timeframe.
The IPPR aims to publish its recommendations later this year.
Report urges expansion of language hubs
A new report from the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) warns of a deepening crisis in language learning and calls on the government to expand its network of language hubs.
The report highlights wide inequalities:
- Pupils in poorer areas are 20% less likely to study a language at GCSE (46% vs 69% in affluent areas)
- Just 2.97% of A-levels taken in 2024 were in modern foreign languages, classical subjects, Welsh or Irish; and
- Language teacher recruitment remains a major challenge, with only 43% of the government’s target being met in 2024.
Early years education falling behind
The Education Policy Institute (EPI) has published its 2025 Annual Report, revealing that educational inequalities in England are deepening, particularly in early years settings.
The report confirms that 40% of the attainment gap seen at age 16 is already present by age five. Despite targeted funding, the disadvantage gap has widened since 2019, with disadvantaged pupils now 18.8 months behind their peers by the end of secondary school. For pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the gap exceeds two years.
The EPI attributes these outcomes to real-terms funding cuts, rising child poverty, and teacher shortages, especially in deprived areas.
Read more – August 2025
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