Dot.gov | May 2025

Narrowing the divide in schools and colleges – consultation closes on the 23rd of May 2025:

The UK government's consultation on "Narrowing the Digital Divide in Schools and Colleges" is open until the 23rd of May 2025. This initiative aims to establish six core digital standards for all educational institutions in England by 2030, focusing on essential technology infrastructure, digital security, and leadership. The standards include broadband internet, wireless networks, network switches, digital leadership and governance, filtering and monitoring, and cybersecurity. Currently, only 16% of school IT leaders report meeting these standards. The consultation seeks feedback from educators on their readiness to meet these standards and the support they require. Additionally, the government is investing £45 million to improve school infrastructure, including £25 million for wireless network upgrades and £20 million to complete fibre upgrades for 833 schools. This investment aims to enhance connectivity and ensure that no student is left behind in the digital age.

Read more details here.

New Ofsted ratings implemented in Autumn 2025:

From Autumn 2025, Ofsted will roll out a new inspection ratings system aimed at providing a more nuanced and supportive evaluation of schools and educational settings in England. The updated framework will move beyond the current four-grade scale, offering a more detailed assessment of school performance, including aspects such as inclusion, mental health support, and outcomes for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The changes are designed to reduce pressure on schools, improve transparency for parents, and better reflect the diverse challenges and successes across the education sector. This shift comes in response to long-standing calls from educators and unions for a fairer, more constructive inspection process.

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£740 million allocated for 10,000 new places for pupils with SEND:

The UK government has committed £740 million to create 10,000 new school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), marking a significant investment in inclusive education. The funding will be used to build new special schools, expand existing facilities, and improve accessibility and support services in mainstream schools. This initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to meet growing demand for specialist provision and to ensure that every child can access high-quality education tailored to their individual needs. The investment also includes improvements in staff training and infrastructure to better support pupils with complex needs, helping to reduce long travel times and keep children closer to home.

Read more details here.

4000 additional school-based nursery places announced from September:

The UK government has confirmed the creation of 4,000 new school-based nursery places, set to open in primary schools across England by September 2025. This initiative is part of a broader plan to establish 4,000 school-based nurseries, with the first 300 funded through a £37 million investment. These nurseries aim to provide high-quality early education, particularly in areas with limited access to childcare, such as parts of the North and Midlands. The expansion is expected to save parents up to £7,500 annually through the rollout of 30 hours of government-funded childcare and free breakfast clubs in schools. The government has more than doubled its investment in this phase to ensure that thousands more children can benefit from early education starting this September. 

Read more details here.

Consultation on Franchising in Higher Education:

In early 2025, the UK Department for Education launched a consultation to reform franchising in higher education, aiming to improve oversight, protect public funds, and uphold educational standards. This follows alarming reports from the National Audit Office and Office for Students linking a significant portion of student loan fraud and misconduct, such as falsified exams and poor attendance tracking, to franchised providers. The proposed reforms would require large, franchised institutions (with 300+ students) to register with the Office for Students, subjecting them to stricter monitoring and accountability measures, while exempting further education colleges already under DfE regulation. The consultation closed in April 2024, with government responses expected by summer 2025 and potential implementation as early as spring 2026.

Read more details here.

Government response and decisions following consultation on refining UK subsidy control regime

On the 7th April 2025, the Department for Business and Trade published its response to a November 2024 consultation on proposed refinements to the UK subsidy control regime. Key changes include raising the mandatory referral threshold for Subsidies or Schemes of Particular Interest from £10 million to £25 million, introducing new Streamlined Routes for arts, culture, and community regeneration, and amending database regulations to reduce duplication. Legislative changes will be accompanied by updates to statutory guidance, with further improvements considered based on stakeholder feedback.

The response can be accessed here.