Education journalist at Tes. X: @ktormreport Tips: kyle.tormey@tes.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3muobxnyon22gHeads are demanding "absolute clarity" after Education Sec Lucy Powell wrote to the Commons Select Committee insinuating that new or reformed qualifications at GCSE level may be required to aid technical pathways announced in July. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/leaders-demand-clarity-powell-proposes-new-tech-qualifications04 Sep 2026 06:00 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3muobxnyon22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3ms6nvueuq22lAfter the PM announced new technical pathways for Year 10, @teachertapp.bsky.social data shared with Tes reveals over a quarter of schools offer no KS4 vocational qualifications - and they’re more common in less affluent schools. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/how-many-schools-offer-vocational-qualifications-ks4-technical-education03 Aug 2026 14:00 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6nvueuq22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mrpotublsk2jAfter a major education policy shakeup the sector is left with far more questions than answers. @tesmagazine.bsky.social summarises what we know about new technical education pathways and what remains unanswered. @cerysturner.bsky.social @johngroberts.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/new-technical-education-routes-schools-need-to-know28 Jul 2026 15:07 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrpotublsk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mr56ea4fm22fExcl: DfE accused of showing “scant regard” for schools after publishing significant policy updates just weeks before the end of term. @tesmagazine.bsky.social Story with @jabedahmed.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/schools-warn-of-impact-of-late-dfe-policy-changes-safeguarding-attendance-enrichment21 Jul 2026 06:24 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr56ea4fm22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mqnyxg6bxc2rExcl: Despite gov’t backing a social media ban & the NCA advising parents against sharing photos of kids, most schools post pupils' photos on socials. If a ban goes ahead, kids won't consent to being posted or legally be able to view the photos. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/most-primary-schools-post-pictures-pupils-social-media15 Jul 2026 05:38 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqnyxg6bxc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mqiwzixpvc24Excl: Exam board OCR stands by decision not to re-mark GCSE paper despite an upheld complaint from Ofqual and pressure from Tories. OCR says it wishes to protect the “integrity” of exams and the watchdog considers the matter ongoing. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/ocr-defends-decision-not-re-mark-controversial-gcse-paper13 Jul 2026 05:20 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqiwzixpvc24https://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mqbjjgqtjs2zExcl: More than 1/3 schools inspected by Ofsted this year are facing monitoring inspections - more than double the proportion under the previous framework. Heads say this is exactly what they had warned about. Story @cerysturner.bsky.social @johngroberts.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/rise-in-ofsted-monitoring-inspections-schools10 Jul 2026 06:30 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqbjjgqtjs2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mq6xg54bpq2rWith new guidance on pupils questioning their gender, AI-generated deepfakes, data protection and more, schools have just two weeks of term and 54 days in total to implement significant changes to safeguarding policies required under KCSIE. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/what-are-kcsie-changes-for-2026-schools-safeguarding09 Jul 2026 06:00 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq6xg54bpq2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mpzwhkbkj42lNew: 2010-15 coalition gov't was wrong to “neglect” the Sure Start strategy, its former education sec Lord Gove has said. Speaking at @csjthinktank.bsky.social NEET crisis panel, he said Bridget Phillipson is right to focus on school-readiness. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/gove-coalition-government-wrong-neglect-sure-start07 Jul 2026 06:00 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpzwhkbkj42lhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mpnr3i4guc2sExcl: Key Stage 2 Sats results are set to be delayed by a minimum of a week, Tes understands. Schools were expecting the data next Tuesday, but issues with marking and IT systems have resulted in a postponement. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/primary/ks2-sats-results-delayed-least-week02 Jul 2026 09:52 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpnr3i4guc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mpktocip5t2fNew: DfE's influencer spend tops £700k since 2024, raising questions over gov't priorities from shadow education sec Laura Trott. For Lib Dems' Munira Wilson, it's a “kick in the teeth”. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/dfe-spending-on-social-media-influencers-criticised01 Jul 2026 06:00 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpktocip5t2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3momo2ruy5b2pAmid increasing attendance targets and a sharper policy focus, new guidance tells schools to strike a collegiate tone with parents, but leaders say the task is “all but impossible”. @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/headteachers-warn-dfe-over-school-attendance-guidance https://magazine-cms.tes.com/magazine/news/general/headteachers-warn-dfe-over-school-attendance-guidance19 Jun 2026 06:00 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3momo2ruy5b2phttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3moln2gdewc27Excl: Exam board AQA has apologised after a mistake was identified in its GCSE science papers. AQA notified schools this afternoon and said it can ensure no pupils were disadvantaged. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/aqa-apologises-mistake-gcse-science-papers18 Jun 2026 20:09 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3moln2gdewc27https://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3moiqqpnf6k2eExcl: Exam board Pearson halted marking on a GCSE higher-tier maths exam after saying it wasn’t “confident” marks were being correctly recorded. Pearson tells Tes the issue is now fixed with no impact on accuracy. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/technical-issues-halt-marking-gcse-maths-exam-paper-pearson-edexcel17 Jun 2026 16:37 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3moiqqpnf6k2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mohnxjhuos2xExcl: One in ten schools’ rejected government offers of “enhanced support” through attendance and behaviour hubs. @ascl-uk.bsky.social says schools may not be confident the support available is suitable, while the DfE is “not concerned”. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/rejected-1-10-offers-extra-attendance-and-behaviour-help17 Jun 2026 06:15 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mohnxjhuos2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mnw2p5qivw2d2026 GCSE and A level entries data reveals reductions in entries for 8/15 EBacc subjects and higher uptake in 9/17 non-Ebacc qualifications. Combined science remains the most popular GCSE and maths the A level with highest entry figures. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/gcse-and-a-level-entries-2026-most-popular-subjects10 Jun 2026 06:15 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnw2p5qivw2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mnvzuke5ot2hNew: The DfE is now citing Taylor Swift gig‑related absences among Year 9–10 girls as evidence for a tougher line on “one‑off” days off. The new focus comes after the latest official data showed severe absences reached a record high last year. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/dfe-highlights-taylor-swift-gig-crackdown-one-absences10 Jun 2026 06:00 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnvzuke5ot2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mntklq6hvc2sFewer assessments, rather than shorter exams, the answer to reducing the burden? Tes analysis shows most schools already avoid the longest GCSE assessments. @ascl-uk.bsky.social says fewer papers, not “tinkering”, is the better solution. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/schools-lack-scope-cut-exam-time-most-pick-shorter-papers09 Jun 2026 06:21 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mntklq6hvc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mnjhkbkvub23Tes analysis shows trusts with more disadvantaged & SEND pupils face deficits up to 75% higher — a £320 per‑pupil gap. Experts say the funding and accountability system is failing schools. www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/academy-trusts-higher-disadvantage-and-send-face-bigger-financial-deficits05 Jun 2026 06:00 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnjhkbkvub23https://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mn4v7ywrep2mThe CEO of England's third largest exam board recently told Tes that schools have raised concerns over students' capacity to "engage" with on-screen assessments, and raised doubts over presumptions that all young people are "digital natives". @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/students-lack-skills-screen-assessment-warns-exam-board-boss-eduqas31 May 2026 06:00 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mn4v7ywrep2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mmba3byanq2vKCSIE highlights how critical the DSL role is but doesn’t require supervision - it only says that schools "should" provide support. Leaders say DSLs are at risk of burnout and call for "protected time" to deliver the supervision needed. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/safeguarding-schools-dsls-need-more-support20 May 2026 06:00 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmba3byanq2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mm45nqrq6s2yTes’ excellent graphics dep’t created this extremely handy timeline of all the key changes schools can be expected to implement over the next year. @jasminenorden.bsky.social also sets things out very well here: @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/general/whats-changing-education-2026-27-your-school-ready18 May 2026 05:33 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm45nqrq6s2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/ktorm-social1.bsky.social/post/3mluomy2is22eExcellent piece by @johngroberts.bsky.social assessing the tension between Ofsted findings and inclusion in schools. Data says nearly 90% of schools meet the expected standard but policymakers appear to want major changes. @tesmagazine.bsky.social https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/are-schools-inclusive-ofsted-grades-suggest-send-inclusion15 May 2026 06:16 +0000at://did:plc:rtm2d2r7sxtf5vk7fpefiiif/app.bsky.feed.post/3mluomy2is22e