The number of teachers in state nursery, primary and secondary schools fell by 4,754, or 1.1 per cent, between the 2023-24 and 2025-26 academic years, according to an analysis of Department for Education (DfE) data published yesterday, showing state schools are losing teachers despite the government's pledge to boost their numbers with its VAT on fees policy. Responding to the census figures, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, said ministers are "over 70 per cent of the way to our target", with more than 4,654 more teachers "in the places they’re needed most". By Albert Tait and Ollie Corfe, The Telegraph. In an article immediately following the news item, shadow education secretary Laura Trott describes the tax policy as "not just vindictive but a total failure", and writes: "Labour claimed that taxing private education would boost teacher numbers in state schools. Instead, teacher numbers have fallen, while children face the heartbreak and disruption of school closures and mid-year transfers. Yesterday’s figures from the DfE’s own school census tell a stark story no amount of spin can obscure." Ms Trott added that the decline was "particularly worrying" in secondary schools, "where demand for teachers will only grow as more SEND pupils are educated in mainstream settings". 

News of the DfE's teacher numbers has been widely covered elsewhere, including The Guardian, by Richard Adams, Tes, by Charlotte Santry; Schools Week by Ruth Lucas, and The Independent, by Ellie Ng.

Falling pupil numbers in England's schools should lead to smaller class sizes, Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), has warned. According to the DfE, primary pupil numbers are expected to fall by 6.8 per cent between 2023 and 2029, with secondary numbers stable. With primary pupil numbers falling, ministers have cut their target for recruiting new teachers for the next school year by 23 per cent. Speaking to BBC News, Mr Kebede said around a million children are being taught in classes of more than 31 pupils, and instead of cutting its teacher recruitment, the government should use the "historic opportunity" of falling pupil numbers to make class sizes smaller. By Branwen Jeffreys, with additional reporting by Hope Rhodes.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), was interviewed alongside journalist and campaigner Fiona Millar on BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show yesterday in light of figures showing a fall in pupil numbers at independent schools since the introduction of Labour's VAT on fees policy. Ms Robinson said the tax is already having a greater impact than forecast, with around 30,000 pupils leaving the sector compared with an expected 37,000 over five years. Warning that families and communities are being disrupted while mainstream independent schools continue to close, she said: "I'm also a governor in a state school in North London and we're not seeing any tangible positive effect from this tax policy that Labour brought in. What we ought to do with any policy is be guided by evidence and if the evidence shows effects that are different from those forecast then those effects should be reviewed." Ms Robinson also stressed that independent schools are part of the wider education ecosystem, working in partnership with state schools to broaden opportunities and share resources. She also added that strengthening education outcomes depends on collaboration between sectors rather than additional taxation. "You don't have to enact an extra tax to get that. You just work together to spread educational opportunities", she explained. Following the debate, a number of listeners called in to share their experiences of the impact of the new tax. Describing VAT on fees as "a horrible policy", Lesley from Lincolnshire told Mr Vine her daughter was halfway through her A-levels at Queen Margaret's near York when the school closed last summer. Lesley said the board of directors had cited VAT as affecting the school's intake, adding that it "wasn't financially viable to keep the school open". Ms Robinson's interview starts from 38:10.

In light of the recent Schools’ Enterprise Association Commercial Benchmarking Study, which analysed the commercial activity of 139 independent schools across England, Wales and Scotland, head-elect at St John’s College Luke Ramsden writes in Tes about how some independent schools are turning to income-generating activities to help meet financial challenges, including the impact of the government's VAT on fees policy. "The schools appearing to perform most strongly commercially are not necessarily those pursuing revenue most aggressively", says Mr Ramsden, adding: "More often, they are schools where commercial development feels closely connected to the wider identity and strengths of the institution itself."

Deficits in trusts that are struggling financially are almost 75 per cent larger in those serving higher numbers of children from low-income families and with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), Tes analysis has found. The paper's analysis looked at the 261 academy trusts that recorded financial deficits over the three years to 2024-25, with the aim of focusing on those facing consistent financial pressures. Trusts with above-average levels of pupils on free school meals and children with SEND were found to have a median deficit of £756 per pupil over three years, compared with £436 among the trusts where both factors were below average. By Jabed Ahmed.

More than 20,000 people have signed a petition calling for Ofqual, England's exam regulator, to review an A‑level maths paper they say was significantly more challenging than any previous exam. Wednesday's Pearson Edexcel paper one exam left pupils feeling "overwhelmed" and "uncertain" by questions that required "multiple layers of reasoning" as well as "extended algebraic manipulation". Ofqual has said it is now "closely monitoring" the marking of the paper. The petition calls for grade boundaries to reflect the difficulty of the exam. By Hannah Karpel, BBC News.

This Friday, we celebrate The Grammar School at Leeds' (GSAL) ongoing partnership with Child Friendly Leeds (CFL) and Leeds City Museum (LCM), helping to create free, enriching experiences for children and families across the city.

As a CFL ambassador, GSAL sponsors family fun days at the museum, providing hands-on activities that encourage creativity, curiosity and community connection. Designed to be accessible to families from all backgrounds, the events bring together art, science and culture in welcoming and engaging ways. Recent events have included a Spirograph-themed day featuring collaborative artwork, structured LEGO building, and workshops led by professional artists. Another family day focused on animals and mathematical patternmaking, attracting more than 600 visitors. GSAL students and staff also support activities through volunteering and event participation, helping younger children engage with creative and educational experiences.

One parent who recently attended said: "The event was absolutely fantastic – there was so much for children to do and learn. My children loved getting creative and trying activities they’d never experienced before. It was welcoming, inspiring and such a brilliant day for families."

Through the partnership, GSAL is helping widen access to cultural opportunities across Leeds while encouraging its pupils to develop empathy, leadership and civic responsibility. This reflects a shared ambition to make Leeds the best possible place for every child to grow, learn and thrive.

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