Devine Education Consultancy Ltd

18/10/2026

📣 DfE update: School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions 2026

The DfE updated its School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document and guidance on 16th October 2026. The 2026 document is valid from 1st September 2026 and includes changes to pay, rewards and working arrangements.

Key updates

🔹 Pay awards: pay and allowance ranges increase by 3.5% from September 2026 and are set to increase by a further 3% from September 2027. The minimum of the unqualified teacher range outside London has a 5% increase for 2026.

🔹 Recognition awards: schools may introduce modest, one-off awards for genuine contributions beyond a teacher’s core role. They must not replace normal pay progression or TLRs. Any scheme should have clear, published criteria, fair and equal treatment, and governing body oversight.

🔹 Upper pay range progression: appraisal should continue annually, but pay progression for teachers on the upper pay range must be determined at least every two years.

🔹 INSET flexibility: the five INSET days may be organised more flexibly, including as equivalent sessions. Schools should give reasonable notice, consult affected staff and unions where appropriate, and keep directed time within statutory limits.

🔹 Teacher workload: the updated guidance includes a list of administrative tasks teachers should not routinely be expected to do where these do not require their professional skills or judgement.

🔹 Other changes: the document clarifies expectations around leaders’ working time, streamlines parts of salary safeguarding, and updates TLR provisions.

Actions for trustees and governors

✅ Ask leaders to assess the 2026 and 2027 pay awards’ impact on the budget and workforce plan, and confirm that payroll implementation reflects the September 2026 effective date.

✅ Review the school or trust pay policy, including annual pay review dates, grievance arrangements, progression criteria and the process for upper pay range applications.

✅ If considering recognition awards, approve clear written criteria, modest limits, equality checks, reporting arrangements and an appropriate delegation and oversight process.

✅ Check that INSET plans, directed time and staff consultation arrangements reflect the updated guidance.

✅ Review workload arrangements and staffing deployment, including whether administrative tasks can be handled by appropriate support staff.

✅ Ask for assurance that TLRs and salary safeguarding are being applied in line with the current document, with decisions and notifications recorded appropriately.

Scope: the statutory document applies to maintained schools in England. Academy trusts should check their own pay policies, contracts and legal obligations when considering how the changes apply.

Read the DfE update:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-teachers-pay-and-conditions

16/10/2026

🔎 🔎 Ofsted’s new inspection research gives a mixed picture 🔎 🔎

Ofsted’s interim evaluation reports positive views of inspectors’ respect and collaboration, while also highlighting workload and wellbeing concerns during the early months of the renewed approach. A separate analysis found that some schools received a mix of grades across report-card areas. The interim research reflects the initial implementation period; fuller findings are expected in 2027.

Trustees and governors:

Check that the school’s account of its context, strengths and improvement work is clear and evidence-based.

During an inspection window, keep preparation proportionate and ask leaders how they are monitoring staff workload and wellbeing.

Ofsted’s interim research:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-research-finds-ofsteds-new-look-inspections-are-more-collaborative-and-respectful

15/10/2026

Data protection: new DUAA compliance checklist

DfE replaced its previous Data (Use and Access) Act chapter with a practical checklist covering SARs, complaints, automated decisions, lawful bases, children’s data, privacy notices and cookies. Effective date: no new commencement date is stated; the checklist describes requirements already in force. Affected: schools and trusts, their DPOs and data-handling staff.

Check and act:

📌Review SAR procedures, including clarification pauses and proportionate searches.
📌Check the process for acknowledging data-protection complaints within 30 days.
📌Review AI safeguards, human-review arrangements and privacy notices.
📌Ask the DPO to report gaps and owners through governance assurance arrangements.

Retain: completed checklist, action plan, updated procedures, training records, SAR decision logs and relevant DPIAs.

14/10/2026

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Funding to help secondary pupils enjoy reading

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The Department for Education is providing funding to state-funded secondary schools in England to expand access to books and other reading materials.

Eligible schools will receive an allocation of £450 to £1,400 through a dedicated Browns Books account. No application is needed.

The funding can support a varied choice of books, e-books, audiobooks and accessible formats. It is intended to encourage reading for pleasure, so it cannot be used for textbooks, GCSE or English class-set texts, devices, staffing or library furniture.

Orders must be placed by 31 March 2027. Schools should check their allocation and account access, review their current stock, and involve pupils in choosing materials that reflect their interests and reading needs.

Read the guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-for-books-and-reading-materials-for-secondary-schools/funding-for-books-and-reading-materials-for-secondary-schools-guidance-for-schools

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14/10/2026

📌📌 A London school is teaching students how to use AI critically 📌📌

A report on Teddington School’s AI education approach describes lessons that encourage students to explain where AI helped or hindered their work, with teachers modelling its use. The report says the school blocks large language models on school devices but teaches students to use and question them responsibly.

⬇️⬇️ Why it matters ⬇️⬇️

It offers a practical prompt for reviewing school AI guidance: cover accuracy, appropriate use in assessed work, privacy and staff modelling. This is a reported school example, not a new national DfE requirement.

⬇️⬇️ Governance Assurance ⬇️⬇️

Governors and trustees could ask whether the school’s AI approach:

📌sets clear boundaries for use in learning and assessed work;
📌protects pupils’ personal data and explains how AI tools handle it;
📌addresses accuracy, bias and safeguarding risks;
📌gives staff and pupils suitable training; and
📌is reviewed against evidence of impact on learning and wellbeing.

Read the full article: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/britains-first-ai-classroom-lfkzv02wl

How can the next generation be taught to use artificial intelligence to futureproof their careers? A school in southwest London is pioneering a radical approach to new technology. Katie Strick speaks to staff and students

14/10/2026

📍📍📍📍📍📍 Deadline 23rd October 2026 (5pm) 📍📍📍📍📍

Estimated Pupil Numbers for 2027–28
Published: 12 October 2026

What changed: New guidance and digital return opened for academies whose funding agreements allow estimated-number funding.

Effective: Immediately. Deadline: 5pm, Friday 23 October 2026.

🔺 No extensions will be granted.

Affected: Eligible academies, particularly growing schools adding year groups. If no estimate is submitted, DfE will use the latest census data, potentially creating a funding shortfall. GOV.UK

Governors, trustees and leaders should check:

☑️ Whether the funding agreement permits estimated-number funding.
☑️ Accountability for preparing and approving the forecast.
☑️ DfE Sign-in access, including an authorised approver.
☑️ Forecast reconciliation to census data, admissions forecasts and any guaranteed pupil number.
Actions and evidence to retain:
☑️ Supporting evidence for increases, excluding personal data.
☑️ Internal review or approval of the forecast.
☑️ Submitted-form PDF, confirmation email and unique reference number.
☑️Download the PDF promptly: the link expires after six months.

GOV.UK Official DfE guidance ⬇️
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estimating-pupil-numbers-how-to-complete-your-return-for-2027-to-2028/estimated-pupil-numbers-guidance-for-completing-the-digital-form?

14/10/2026

📌 Ofsted’s new inspection research gives a mixed picture 📌

In interim research published 9th October, most surveyed providers said inspections were respectful (88%) and collaborative (76%). But about 4 in 10 said an inspection had negatively affected their or their staff’s mental wellbeing “a fair amount” or “a lot”; the figure was nearly half among schools. The findings cover early implementation and inspections from January to April 2026, with a fuller report due in 2027.

⬇️⬇️ Why it matters ⬇️⬇️

Boards may want to consider staff wellbeing and workload alongside inspection outcomes, while treating these early findings as a snapshot rather than a complete picture of every school’s experience.

⏰For schools in an Ofsted inspection window☎️

Agree a simple wellbeing plan with staff. Consider how leaders will check in with colleagues, manage workload and provide support during and after the visit.

🔍Governors can ask how staff wellbeing will be monitored alongside inspection preparation.

Full report ➡️

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-research-finds-ofsteds-new-look-inspections-are-more-collaborative-and-respectful

A year after new-look inspections began, most education providers feel generally positive about their experience under Ofsted’s renewed education inspection framework (EIF), according to independent research published today.

14/10/2026

Kebede says Martyn Oliver has 'lost the confidence of the profession'

14/10/2026

📌 Leadership and Governance Review 📌

Free school meals: check eligibility before the autumn census

From the start of this academic year, children in households receiving Universal Credit are entitled to a free school meal, but families must apply. Schools and councils should record eligible pupils as targeted or expanded FSM by 2nd November. Expanded FSM alone does not qualify a pupil for pupil premium.

Why it matters: Check that families know they need to apply and that school records distinguish the two categories, so meal entitlements and funding are handled correctly.

Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools-and-local-authorities/implementing-changes-to-free-school-meals

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12/10/2026

📚 School uniform procurement: guidance update for governing boards and trusts

The Department for Education updated its notice on 8th October 2026, confirming that its procurement guidance and templates are being reviewed to reflect the Procurement Act 2023.

Further guidance is expected later this year. It will set out that schools should seek uniform suppliers offering payment plans and review supplier arrangements at least every five years, helping families avoid being tied to one supplier’s prices.

If your school or trust is tendering for, or renewing, a branded uniform contract, check that:

✅ The procurement route follows current legislation and Buying for Schools guidance.
✅ The contract value covers its full term and all participating schools.
✅ Competition is fair and families have time to adjust if the supplier changes.
✅ Automatic renewals are avoided.

Boards should continue to assure themselves that contracts offer value for parents and supplier arrangements are reviewed regularly.

Keep a clear decision trail: uniform policy, value calculation, procurement decision, conflicts register, parent and pupil consultation, tender documents, evaluation scores, approval minutes, signed contract and review records.

Please share with your procurement lead and governing board or trust committee.