This week I report on a DfE webinar held on school funding including teachers’ pay, the DfE’s response to consultation on implementing the direct national funding formula and publication of the Government’s Education Committee report on the future of post-16 qualifications.

DfE hosts webinar on school funding including teachers’ pay
On Wednesday, the DfE hosted a webinar on the funding cycle for schools and teachers’ pay and said a 4% pay rise for teachers and leaders in 2023/24 will be affordable from within the existing schools budget. This was due to a £2 billion increase in funding that was promised during the Autumn Budget statement. Following the webinar, the DfE released a series of posts on social media and a blog regarding funding and pay.

DfE responds to consultation on implementing the direct national funding formula (NFF)
Between June and September last year, the DfE ran a consultation seeking views on its approach to implementing the direct NFF for schools. The DfE published its response to the consultation yesterday.

Publication of the Education Committee’s report on the future of post-16 qualifications
Today the Government’s Education Committee report on the future of post-16 qualifications was published. It warned that plans to withdraw older vocational courses (known collectively as applied general qualifications such as BTECs) before new T-levels were ready to relace them could mean young people missed out on suitable vocational courses after their GCSEs.

The report also raised concerns about insufficient T-level placements, regional differences in T-level awareness with big disparities between London and northern areas, accessibility for students with SEND or low academic attainment and the status of T-levels as a university qualification, with many courses being highly specialised.

The DfE said it welcomed the report and would consider its recommendations.