This week I report on the open letter from the new Education Secretary to the education workforce alongside an invitation to join her for a live online event next week, publication of the headline data from this year’s KS2 SATs and confirmation that Sir Kevan Collins has been appointed as a new non-executive DfE Board member.

Education Secretary addresses the education workforce
The new Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has published a letter addressing the education workforce to introduce herself and highlight that education will be at the heart of change under the new government. The letter also invites people to join her for a live online event on Tuesday 16 July at 4pm where she will share her vision for the sector and take questions from the participants. You can register to attend the online event using this link.

SATs 2023/24 headline facts and figures
The proportion of Y6 pupils reaching the expected standard in all three areas of reading, writing and maths has increased slightly but is still behind pre-Covid levels, according to the latest Government data. Overall, 61% of pupils taking this year’s KS2 SATs tests met the expected standard in all three areas, compared with 60% last year. This is still behind the pre-pandemic 2019 figure of 65%. Last year’s published figure was originally 59% before being revised earlier this year.

This year, the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading attainment was 74%, a slight increase from 73% last year. The proportion of pupils meeting the expected standard in writing was 72%, also up from 71% last year. the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in maths was 73% , which is unchanged from 2023. In grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS), 72% of pupils met the expected standard, also unchanged since 2023. In science, 81% of pupils met the expected standard, a slight increase from 80% last year.

DfE hires Sir Kevan Collins as schools standards adviser
On Wednesday the DfE announced that Sir Kevan has been appointed as a new non-executive board member on a three-year term to provide scrutiny and advice on the government’s delivery of high and rising standards in schools. Sir Kevan was the former education recovery commissioner appointed under Boris Johnson’s government in 2021 but resigned after his plans for a national recovery effort were not supported financially by ministers.

The DfE also revealed it is restructuring to place special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision (AP) within its schools group in a bid to ensure it can deliver improvements to inclusion in mainstream schools.