This week I highlight the DfE’s evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body proposing an unfunded pay increase for 2025/26, Ofsted’s review of AI use in schools and the DfE’s outcome of its call for evidence on children missing education.

Teachers’ pay award for 2025
The DfE has provided evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body about the teachers’ pay award for 2025/26 and also published a blog detailing how the evidence will affect schools. It is proposing an unfunded 2.8% increase, acknowledging that most schools would need to supplement the new funding they receive with efficiencies.

Ofsted to review AI use in schools
The DfE has asked Ofsted to carry out an independent review of AI use in schools. It will look at how AI supports teaching and administration, the benefits and challenges, how the use of AI is governed, and other issues. Ofsted will collect evidence in the Spring and aim to publish results by the Summer.

Response published for children missing education (CME)
The DfE has added the outcome of its call for evidence on ‘Improving support for children missing education’, which ran from May to July 2023. It sought views on how children missing education were identified and supported, the challenges in identifying and supporting those children, and how to address those challenges.