Policy Threads

2026

11 events

29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure safeguarding standards and accountability are applied consistently across all types of schools.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities investigate historical safeguarding failures where new survivor testimony emerges.

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29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that data supporting compliance with statutory duties relating to special educational needs and disabilities

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that data supporting compliance with statutory duties relating to special educational needs and disabilities is held and accessible across local authorities in Engl

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what mechanisms exist to ensure that local authorities provide timely access to historical care records for former looked-after children who make such requ

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what mechanisms exist to ensure that local authorities provide timely access to historical care records for former looked-after children who make such requests.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Schools White Paper, whether moving to all schools being part of school trusts means academy trusts.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the time taken to issue ECH plans in (a) South West and (b) West Dorset over the past 5 years.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps has has her department taken to improve the time taken to issue ECH plans in a) Rural areas and b) West Dorset.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to help strengthen complaints and whistleblowing processes with respect to the Teachers Regulation Authority.

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29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what accountability measures is she implementing for local area partnerships that perform under the required standard.

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28 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what remedies are available to parents who wish to challenge disciplinary decisions made by academy schools.

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28 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Education linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to introduce additional oversight mechanisms for academy trusts in relation to complaints about suspensions and behaviour management.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2025

8 events

9 Sep 2025 | Announcement Department for Education linked

Response to consultation on school accountability reform

UIN: HCWS914 Today I am announcing the Government’s response to its consultation on school accountability reform. It is vital we have a better accountability system that sets clear expectations, facilitates improvement and spreads excellence to drive high and rising s...

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9 Sep 2025 | Announcement Department for Education linked

Response to consultation on school accountability reform

UIN: HLWS913 My Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson MP) has made the following statement:Today I am announcing the Government’s response to its consultation on school accountability reform. It …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓

9 Sep 2025 | Impact assessment Department for Education linked

equality impact assessment

Government assessment of the potential impact of proposed reforms to school accountability on individuals with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ School accountability reform: equality impact a… (31pp)

9 Sep 2025 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

outcome published

We are seeking views on school accountability principles, school profiles and a stronger approach to school improvement through intervention for state schools across England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ School accountability reform: government respon… (35pp)

28 Apr 2025 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

consultation closed

We are seeking views on school accountability principles, school profiles and a stronger approach to school improvement through intervention for state schools across England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ School accountability reform: government respon… (35pp)

3 Feb 2025 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

consultation opened

We are seeking views on school accountability principles, school profiles and a stronger approach to school improvement through intervention for state schools across England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ School accountability reform: government respon… (35pp)

3 Feb 2025 | Announcement Department for Education linked

School accountability and intervention

UIN: HCWS410 I am today launching a twelve-week consultation on proposals to reform school accountability and announcing the next steps on the Government’s manifesto commitment to deliver Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) teams. Ofsted has also ...

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3 Feb 2025 | Announcement Department for Education linked

School accountability and intervention

UIN: HLWS407 My Right Honourable Friend, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities (Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson) has made the following statement.I am today launching a twelve-week consultation on proposals to reform school accountability an...

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2024

3 events

2 Sep 2024 | Announcement Department for Education linked

Education reforms to deliver on the government’s opportunity mission

UIN: HCWS54 With immediate effect single headline grades will no longer be issued by Ofsted when they inspect state-funded schools, to drive high and rising school standards for children and increase transparency for parents.For state-funded schools inspected in the ...

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19 Jan 2024 | Announcement Department for Education linked

School Accountability Update

UIN: HCWS197 Following the tragic death of Ruth Perry, the Department for Education and the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) have today published their respective responses to the Regulation 28 report from the Senior Coroner …

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19 Jan 2024 | Announcement Department for Education linked

School Accountability Update

UIN: HLWS193 My Right Honourable Friend, The Secretary of State for Education (Gillian Keegan), has made the following statement.Following the tragic death of Ruth Perry, the Department for Education and the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and S...

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2023

4 events

6 Jul 2023 | Announcement Department for Education linked

Academies Financial Oversight

UIN: HCWS920 Today, my Noble Friend, The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System and Student Finance (Baroness Barran) has made the following statement. The 2023 Academy Trust Handbook (ATH), published today and applicable from 1 September 2023, …

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6 Jul 2023 | Announcement Department for Education linked

Academies Financial Oversight

UIN: HLWS904 The 2023 Academy Trust Handbook (ATH), published today and applicable from 1 September 2023, will introduce improvements to the financial oversight framework for academy trusts. These improvements will maintain the rigour of the current framework, while a...

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30 Mar 2023 | Announcement Department for Education linked

School System Update

UIN: HLWS680 Today, 27 March, the Department for Education has published the Academies Regulatory and Commissioning Review. The report sets out a framework for how we move forward with growing the academies system to ensure that we continue to nurture …

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28 Mar 2023 | Announcement Department for Education linked

School System Update

UIN: HCWS679 Today my Noble Friend, The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for The School System and Student Finance (Baroness Barran) has made the following statement.Today, 27 March, the Department for Education has published the Academies Regulatory and Commiss...

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2022

7 events

30 Jun 2022 | Announcement Department for Education linked

School Improvement

UIN: HCWS162 My noble friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System (Baroness Barran) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement:The 2019 manifesto committed the Government to intervening in schools with entrenched underperformance...

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30 Jun 2022 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Supporting schools that are not making necessary improvements — outcome published

We are proposing to bring schools with two consecutive Ofsted judgments below ‘Good’ in scope for intervention.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Supporting schools not making necessary improve… (25pp)

16 Jun 2022 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Changes to the school admission appeals code — outcome published

We're seeking views on a revised version of the statutory school admission appeals code.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Changes to the school admission appeals code: g… (25pp)

24 May 2022 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Supporting schools that are not making necessary improvements — consultation closed

We are proposing to bring schools with two consecutive Ofsted judgments below ‘Good’ in scope for intervention.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Supporting schools not making necessary improve… (25pp)

3 Apr 2022 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Changes to the school admission appeals code — consultation closed

We're seeking views on a revised version of the statutory school admission appeals code.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Changes to the school admission appeals code: g… (25pp)

28 Mar 2022 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Supporting schools that are not making necessary improvements — consultation opened

We are proposing to bring schools with two consecutive Ofsted judgments below ‘Good’ in scope for intervention.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Supporting schools not making necessary improve… (25pp)

7 Feb 2022 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Changes to the school admission appeals code — consultation opened

We're seeking views on a revised version of the statutory school admission appeals code.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Changes to the school admission appeals code: g… (25pp)

2021

1 event

19 Jul 2021 | Policy paper Department for Education linked

School and college accountability: 2021 to 2022 academic year

In response to: School and college accountability approach: 2020 to 2022

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2020

1 event

10 Jun 2020 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Online schools accreditation scheme — outcome published

We are seeking views on a proposal to establish a voluntary accreditation scheme for online schools.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Online Education Accreditation Scheme governmen… (65pp)

2019

5 events

8 Nov 2019 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Online schools accreditation scheme — consultation closed

We are seeking views on a proposal to establish a voluntary accreditation scheme for online schools.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Online Education Accreditation Scheme governmen… (65pp)

5 Sep 2019 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Online schools accreditation scheme — consultation opened

We are seeking views on a proposal to establish a voluntary accreditation scheme for online schools.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Online Education Accreditation Scheme governmen… (65pp)

3 May 2019 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Identifying schools for support — outcome published

We are seeking views on how we identify which schools should be eligible for an offer of support to help improve educational performance.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Identifying schools for support (18pp)

25 Mar 2019 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Identifying schools for support — consultation closed

We are seeking views on how we identify which schools should be eligible for an offer of support to help improve educational performance.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Identifying schools for support (18pp)

28 Jan 2019 | Consultation outcome Department for Education linked

Identifying schools for support — consultation opened

We are seeking views on how we identify which schools should be eligible for an offer of support to help improve educational performance.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Identifying schools for support (18pp)

2018

2 events

4 May 2018 | Policy paper Department for Education linked

Principles for a clear and simple school accountability system

High-level principles for how the accountability system for educational performance will operate and how the different organisations fit within it.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Principles for a clear and simple accountabilit… (3pp)

11 Apr 2018 | Consultation outcome Department for Education Standards and Testing Agency linked

Primary assessment in England — outcome published

We’re seeking views on the future of assessment in primary schools and the implications for accountability.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Primary assessment in England: government respo… (41pp)

+1 more

↓ Measuring progress in primary schools (2pp)

2017

2 events

22 Jun 2017 | Consultation outcome Department for Education Standards and Testing Agency linked

Primary assessment in England — consultation closed

We’re seeking views on the future of assessment in primary schools and the implications for accountability.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Primary assessment in England: government respo… (41pp)

+1 more

↓ Measuring progress in primary schools (2pp)

30 Mar 2017 | Consultation outcome Department for Education Standards and Testing Agency linked

Primary assessment in England — consultation opened

We’re seeking views on the future of assessment in primary schools and the implications for accountability.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Primary assessment in England: government respo… (41pp)

+1 more

↓ Measuring progress in primary schools (2pp)

2015

1 event

25 Mar 2015 | Policy paper Department for Education linked

SEND: supporting local and national accountability

Plans to support long-term local and national accountability for special educational needs and disability (SEND).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Special educational needs and disability: suppo… (17pp)