The Daily School Leaders Briefing

Green Plans Hit as Low-Carbon Fund Axed & Language Pilot Faces Funding Cut

Today's essential update for UK school leaders covers the government's decision to axe a key fund supporting schools' decarbonisation efforts, and news regarding the extension and funding of an important early language support pilot. Key Briefings Inside: 1. £80 Million Low-Carbon Skills Fund Axed, Jeopardising School Green Plans: We report on the government's quiet decision to ditch the Low-Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) this year. This fund has provided over £80 million since 2020, with nearly £20 million going directly to schools, to help them pay for expert advice needed to develop applications for the multi-billion-pound Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). Experts like academy funding consultant Tim Warneford warn this will leave cash-strapped schools unable to afford PSDS bids, potentially stalling decarbonisation progress and shifting upfront investment burdens onto institutions. Learn about concerns that schools might now create "poorly scoped" plans, leading to underperformance or cost overruns. This comes despite DfE targets for schools to implement climate action plans this year and aim for net zero by 2050. An energy department spokesperson stated LCSF funding was refocused due to "overlapping support". Analyse the significant impact on schools' ability to meet sustainability goals. Keywords: Low Carbon Skills Fund LCSF axed, school decarbonisation funding UK, Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme PSDS, climate action plans schools, DfE net zero target education, Tim Warneford school funding, school green initiatives, educational building emissions. 2. Early Language Support Pilot (ELSEC) Extended, But With Reduced Funding: Explore the 12-month extension of the Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) pilot programme, which aims to identify speech and language needs in children under 11. Understand its function: deploying specialist teams (SALTAs) into primary and early years settings to spot delays and train staff. The pilot has already supported over 20,000 pupils and 3,000 staff. Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell hailed ELSEC as paving the way for a "reformed SEND system" focused on early intervention. However, the funding for the extension period totals £3.4 million (with £2.2m from DfE), reduced from the previous £4.4 million annual joint DfE/NHS funding. Despite this, officials hope to reach an additional 20,000 children. Analyse what this means for schools involved and the broader SEND reform agenda. Keywords: Early Language Support Every Child ELSEC pilot, speech and language funding schools, SEND reform UK, early intervention education, Catherine McKinnell DfE, NHS England education funding, EHCP reform, developmental delays children.

The Daily School Leaders Briefing: 4% Teacher Pay Rise Announced & STRB Calls for System Reforms

Episode Description: Welcome to The Daily School Leaders Briefing for Thursday, May 22nd, 2025. Today's essential update for UK school leaders covers the government's announcement of the 2025-26 teacher pay award and significant wider recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) concerning teachers' terms and conditions. Key Briefings Inside: 1. 4% Teacher Pay Rise Confirmed for September 2025: We detail the Department for Education's announcement that all teachers in England will receive a 4 per cent pay rise effective from September 2025. Understand the new minimum starting salaries for teachers (£32,916 nationally, up to £40,317 in London) and the updated pay scales for Main, Upper, Leadership, and Headteacher ranges across England, including specific London bands. We also cover the 4% increase to Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments and the uplift for unqualified teacher pay scales. Analyse the immediate implications for school budget planning and financial management. Keywords: Teacher pay rise England 2025-26, 4 percent teacher salary increase, DfE teacher pay announcement, new teacher pay scales, M1 starting salary, Upper Pay Scale U1 U3, Leadership pay scale, Headteacher pay groups, TLR payments, unqualified teacher pay. 2. STRB Calls for Major Reforms: Flexible Working, Targeted Pay & STPCD Review: Explore the key recommendations from the STRB's 35th report, issued alongside its pay advice. Delve into the call for mandatory school policies to "fully embrace" flexible working, with suggestions for implementation and oversight. Understand the proposal for new work on targeting remuneration to address teacher shortages in specific subjects or areas. Learn about the STRB's view that the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) needs "significant review" and "modernisation". We also cover the STRB's cautious stance on pension "innovation" potentially reducing total remuneration and its view on multi-year pay settlements. Analyse the potential long-term impact of these recommendations on school HR policies, career structures, and employment practices. Keywords: STRB 35th report recommendations, mandatory flexible working schools, targeted teacher pay shortages, School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document STPCD review, multi-year teacher pay settlements, Teachers’ Pension Scheme TPS opt-out, teacher remuneration reform.

Schools Bill Amendments & CEO Exit

Welcome to The Daily School Leaders Briefing for Wednesday, May 21st, 2025. Today's essential update for UK school leaders covers significant proposed amendments to the government's Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently in the House of Lords, and news of a sudden leadership change at a major Multi-Academy Trust. Key Briefings Inside: 1. Peers Seek to Water Down Schools Bill Powers with 500+ Amendments: We delve into the committee stage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in the House of Lords, where around 500 amendments have been tabled. Explore key proposals from peers including Shadow Education Minister Baroness Barran's attempts to limit the Education Secretary's broad new "direction" powers over trusts, extend academy pay freedoms to maintained schools, and restart paused free school projects. Understand former academies minister Lord Agnew's push to exempt 'good' academies from the national curriculum and align maintained school financial accountability with academies. Other significant amendments cover extending profit caps to independent special schools, free school meal expansion, school phone bans, faith school admission caps, collective worship, and branded uniform limits. Note the large number of amendments concerning home education tabled by Lord Wei. Analyse the potential impact of these proposed changes on school governance, operations, and central oversight. Keywords: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, House of Lords amendments, Baroness Barran, Lord Agnew, Education Secretary direction powers, academy freedoms, free schools, independent special schools profit cap, maintained school accountability, faith school admissions, collective worship, school uniform policy, home education Lord Wei. 2. CEO of Large MAT GLF Schools Departs Suddenly After 18 Months: We report on the unexpected departure of Julian Drinkall as Chief Executive Officer of GLF Schools, one of England's largest MATs with 43 academies. Learn that he stepped down "effective immediately" by "mutual agreement" after less than 18 months in the role, with Chief Finance Officer James Nicholson appointed as interim CEO. Understand the context of Mr. Drinkall's tenure, during which GLF Schools undertook restructuring leading to £242,000 in redundancy payments in 2023-24 and a 4% reduction in staff numbers, alongside trialling a controversial mobile phone "blackout" app. Analyse the implications of this leadership change within a prominent MAT. Keywords: GLF Schools CEO departure, Julian Drinkall, James Nicholson interim CEO, Multi-Academy Trust leadership, MAT executive changes, academy trust restructuring, redundancy payments MATs, school mobile phone policy, Academies Enterprise Trust.

A Moderate Private School Exodus Post-VAT and Wi-Fi Fund Narrows to 'Stuck' Schools

Welcome to The Daily School Leaders Briefing. Today's essential update for UK school leaders covers the first significant data on how new taxes are affecting the independent school sector, and important changes to the eligibility criteria for government funding to boost school Wi-Fi connectivity. Key Briefings Inside: 1. Impact of VAT on Private Schools (ISC Census): We analyse the findings of the Independent Schools Council's (ISC) first annual census since Labour introduced VAT on private school fees and business rates. Discover the extent of pupil number changes, with a 2.4% drop (around 13,000 pupils) across participating ISC schools – significantly exceeding government estimates. Explore regional variations, with London least affected and the North/Midlands experiencing larger decreases. Understand how schools have adjusted fees, with an average 6.7% rise before VAT, then an average 5% cut, effectively passing on 14% VAT. Learn about the surprising increase in bursary provision, with schools providing over £1.1 billion in fee assistance. We also cover the contrasting views of the ISC's interim chair, Mark Taylor, citing a "triple whammy" on finances, and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who accused private schools of having "cried wolf". Keywords: ISC census 2025, private school VAT impact, independent school pupil numbers, business rates schools, school fees adjustment VAT, private school bursaries, Mark Taylor ISC, Bridget Phillipson private schools, Institute for Fiscal Studies fees. 2. School Wi-Fi Scheme ("Connect the Classroom") Eligibility Restricted to 'Stuck' Schools: Learn about the Department for Education's decision to limit the "Connect the Classroom" scheme, which provides grants for improving school Wi-Fi, exclusively to 'stuck' schools eligible for the new RISE (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence) support programme. Understand how this replaces the previous prioritisation of schools in Education Investment Areas (EIAs), a programme axed by the current government. We detail the £25 million funding available for 2025-26 and the government's rationale comparing it to the scheme's initial launch funding. Discover that around 400 'stuck' schools are set to benefit. We also touch on the discontinuation or review of other EIA-linked funding streams. Analyse the implications for schools previously in EIAs and the sharpened focus of this particular support on RISE schools. Keywords: Connect the Classroom scheme, school Wi-Fi funding UK, RISE schools support, DfE connectivity standards, Education Investment Areas EIA changes, school technology grants, Priority Education Investment Areas PEIA funding.

MAT Mergers Accelerate & Academy Reserves Under Scrutiny

Key Briefings: 1. MAT Mergers Continue to Reshape the Sector: We report on the ongoing trend of academy trust mergers, exemplified by the planned union of Compass Partnership of Schools and Eko Trust to form a new 25-school MAT. Explore the drivers behind this consolidation, including the pursuit of "resilience and strength", enhanced staff development opportunities, and long-term stability, often in response to stretched school budgets. Understand the government data showing a clear shift: the average trust size has increased from 3.1 schools in 2019 to 5.3 in 2024, while the number of single-academy trusts continues to fall. Analyse the implications of this growing scale for school governance, local identity, and the diversity of the educational landscape. Keywords: MAT mergers UK, academy trust growth, Compass Eko Trust merger, average MAT size, single-academy trust decline, school consolidation, drivers for academy mergers, resilience in education, school funding pressures. 2. DfE Scrutinises Academy Trusts "Stockpiling Cash" in Reserves: Delve into the government's concern over academy trusts holding substantial financial reserves, with 64 trusts contacted by the DfE last year over holdings exceeding 20% of their annual income – some reaching as high as 140%. Understand the justifications provided by trusts, such as funding capital projects or mitigating financial uncertainties. Hear expert opinions from Micon Metcalfe on effective resource spending and Andrew Pilmore on leaders being "caught in a trap of caution". Explore examples of trusts with large reserves, including Ashton West End Primary Academy and Brampton Manor, and how some, like Carlton Academy Trust, are investing reserves to fund central services. Compare this with reserve management in LA-maintained schools, including local "excessive" thresholds and potential clawback. Note that the DfE took no further action against the 64 trusts contacted. Analyse the critical balance for trust leaders between prudent financial management and ensuring funds benefit current pupils. Keywords: Academy trust reserves, DfE scrutiny school finances, high school reserves, National Audit Office NAO academies, Micon Metcalfe school finance, Andrew Pilmore financial caution, Kreston report academy investment, LA school reserves policy, Academy Trust Handbook reserves.