The Department for Education (DfE) has initiated a consultation on proposed reforms to tighten controls on university franchising arrangements in England. The measures aim to address concerns raised by the National Audit Office regarding fraud and quality issues in the sector. Key proposals include mandatory registration with the Office for Students for delivery partners with 300 or more students, annual publication of student outcome data for subcontracted partnerships, and potential fines or suspension for non-compliant providers. The consultation, open until 4 April, forms part of a broader package of higher education reforms expected to be announced this summer. Implementation of new regulations could commence as early as spring 2025, subject to the consultation outcome.

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a consultation seeking views on proposals to improve 16–19 school and college performance measures. The DfE's proposals aim to reform these measures to improve outcomes and provide parents, students and other data users with more reliable and meaningful information. The consultation seeks views on ways to: (1) make 16–19 performance measures more consistent and comprehensive; (2) improve English and maths progress measures and (3) refine retention measures. The consultation fulfils commitments made in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, published on 20 October 2025, and the government’s response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review, published on 5 November 2025. The DfE seeks comments from interested parties, including parents and carers, students, post-16 providers, school and college leaders and teachers. The consultation closes on 21 July 2026, with the outcome expected to be published in autumn 2026.

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a consultation on proposals to update the legislative framework governing school food standards in England. The consultation relates to the Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014, SI 2014/1603, which set the statutory framework for school food, but which the government considers outdated and no longer aligned with current dietary guidance. The proposed reforms focus on improving nutritional quality, particularly by increasing fibre and reducing sugar, including measures to require vegetables or salad with all main meals, ensure desserts contain or are served with fruit, increase wholegrain foods, and include pulses weekly. The proposals also seek to restrict sweetened baked goods and desserts, remove fruit juice and combination drinks, limit permitted drinks mainly to water and milk-based options, and prohibit the addition of sugar, honey and syrups. Further measures include banning deep-fried foods, limiting processed meats and similar items, restricting cheese as a main ingredient and narrowing permitted snacks. Additional proposals include introducing separate standards for breakfast provision, recognising pulses as a protein source, restricting plant-based meat alternatives, setting requirements for meal deals, limiting non-sugar sweeteners, phasing in certain requirements for secondary schools and removing modified lunch standards for maintained nursery schools. The consultation closes on 12 June 2026.

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the implementation of its free breakfast clubs scheme, commencing April 2025 with 750 primary schools across England's nine regions. The initiative, part of the government's Plan for Change, will provide universal free breakfast and 30 minutes of childcare daily, potentially saving families up to £450 annually. The early adopter phase, which will inform the subsequent national rollout, is expected to benefit 180,000 children, including 67,000 in deprived areas. Schools will receive funding for food and staffing costs, with the programme forming part of a broader strategy to address child poverty and expand wraparound childcare provision. Research indicates the scheme could improve educational attainment by up to two months in key areas. The initiative aligns with the government's commitment to reduce living costs and enhance educational outcomes through the Child Poverty Taskforce.

The Department for Education (DfE), under the leadership of Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, has issued its first official guidance on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools across England. This forms part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, which seeks to raise educational standards by reducing teachers’ administrative workload. The guidance, developed in consultation with education professionals, prioritises teacher-led learning, data protection, and the verification of AI-generated content. To support the initiative, the DfE has allocated £1 million in innovation funding to accelerate the development of AI tools aimed at automating tasks such as marking and personalised feedback, thereby enabling teachers to dedicate more time for face-to-face teaching and direct pupil engagement.

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the launch of a national public engagement campaign to reform the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. The DfE will host nine in-person events and five online sessions in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children. Discussions will centre on five principles: (1) early intervention; (2) local provision; (3) fairness; (4) effective practice; and (5) shared working across education, health and care services, including collaboration with local government, families, teachers, experts and representative bodies. A Schools White Paper is expected in early 2026, followed by a formal consultation.

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched an open consultation on proposed safeguarding requirements to strengthen the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework. The DfE is seeking views from the public and those who have an interest in childcare. The consultation closes on 17 June 2024.

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a technical consultation regarding its proposed introduction of an experience-based route to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. This introduces an experienced-based route for practitioners to gain approved status to work within child to staff ratios. The consultation tests the proposed model for the experienced-based route, eligibility criteria and process requirements. The consultation closes on 20 May 2024.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a policy paper detailing planned changes to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 implementation. The paper outlines strengthened legal duties for higher education providers on free speech protection, while repealing certain provisions including direct duties on students' unions and the statutory tort. The Office for Students (OfS) will receive expanded powers to introduce new registration conditions and handle complaints. The changes also include a ban on non-disclosure agreements for staff, students and speakers in specific circumstances.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a policy paper setting out a 10-year plan to improve school and college buildings in England. The policy paper, laid before Parliament on 11 February 2026, is intended for those responsible for managing school and college estates. It outlines the government’s vision for an education estate that supports opportunity for all learners, from early years through to post-16 education. At the core of the strategy is a shift towards more proactive estate management, with a focus on long-term strategic maintenance and renewal rather than reactive repairs. The government states that this approach will prioritise building condition, risk and resilience, alongside the delivery of high-quality new buildings where they are required. The DfE adds that it will continue to ensure sufficient learner places across all phases and that place creation will be more closely aligned with wider policy ambitions, including special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and skills.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published the 2023 Industry Training Board (ITB) review, which examines the role and effectiveness of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB). The review made 17 recommendations, including merging the ITBs into a single workforce planning and development body, supported by a statutory levy, as well as developing a digital skills passport to verify and monitor competency, among other suggestions. Alongside the review, the DfE has published its response to the recommendations, emphasising the vital role of the ITBs within the construction and engineering construction industries and concluding that the ITB levy-grant model should be retained. While the review proposed merging the CITB and ECITB, the government has not committed to legislating for a single body. Instead, a steering group will be formed to consider implementing the review's recommendations. The Skills Minister has also called for increase collaboration between the CITB and ECITB in key areas such as infrastructure, clean energy jobs, and skills passporting.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published comprehensive updates including the College Financial Handbook 2025 and Academy trust handbook 2025, alongside new guidance on Financial Support and Oversight for Academy Trusts. The update package contains confirmed pupil premium allocations and universal infant free school meals conditions for 2025-2026, qualification achievement rates guidance and details on expanded Free Courses for Jobs construction programme. The documents apply to further education providers, academies and local authorities in England.