Top Education News Stories of 2024/25

As another academic year comes to a close, this blog takes a look back at the top education news stories since the term began in September. With it being the first school year under a new Labour government, the swathe of policy changes and reforms show a party clearly looking to not only make a statement, but herald genuine change in the sector too - to both delight and chagrin in almost equal measure.

The posts below are just a selection of the stories from the past year and are collated in no particular order.

1. Ofsted's Proposed Inspection Overhaul Faces Criticism

Ofsted's draft changes to its school inspection framework were met with criticism from educators and unions. The proposed reduction in evaluation areas and changes to grading terminology were seen as vague and potentially outdated, raising concerns about their effectiveness and impact on schools. [Link]

2. Over 50 Private Schools Close Following VAT Introduction

Since the introduction of a 20% VAT on private school fees in January 2025, more than 50 independent schools have closed or announced intentions to shut down. The policy aimed to generate revenue for state education but led to concerns about its impact on families and the private education sector. [Link]

3. £740 Million Investment to Create 10,000 SEND Places

The government announced a £740 million capital investment to create 10,000 new school places for children and young people with SEND, aiming to improve access to appropriate education. [Link]

4. £6.7 Billion Capital Investment in Education Announced

As well as the above, the October 2024 UK budget included a £6.7 billion capital investment in education, marking a 19% real-terms increase. The funding aims to rebuild over 500 schools and support other educational infrastructure projects. [Link]

5. Skills England Agency Established to Address Skills Shortages

In June 2025, the government established Skills England, an executive agency aimed at increasing flexibility within the skills training area and addressing skills shortages in regional economies. The agency will also focus on effectively utilizing the apprenticeships levy. [Link]

6. Debate Intensifies Over Future of EHCPs

Discussions continued regarding the future of EHCPs, with some officials suggesting a narrowing of their scope, while others advocate for their retention to ensure legal protections for SEND students. [Link]

7. Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill Advances

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced in November 2024, passed several readings in Parliament. The bill aims to enhance the welfare and education standards for children, including provisions for safeguarding, support for children in care, and regulation of school services. [Link]

8. University Tuition Fees Increase for First Time Since 2017

Starting from August 1, 2025, undergraduate tuition fees in England and Wales rose from £9,250 to £9,535 per year. This marked the first inflation-linked increase since 2017, with maintenance loans also adjusted accordingly. The move sparked debates about the affordability of higher education. [Link]

9. SEND Funding Deficits Reach £3.3 Billion

Local authorities are facing cumulative high-needs deficits of £3.3 billion, raising concerns about the sustainability of SEND provision and the potential for service cuts. [Link]

10. Best Start Family Hubs to Replace Sure Start

The government announced plans to establish up to 1,000 "Best Start" family hubs across England by 2028. These hubs aim to support families with children under five, building on the legacy of the Sure Start programme. The initiative includes a £500 million investment to expand services in deprived areas. [Link]

Labour's first year in government was certainly eventful, and arguably nowhere more so than the education sector. While big promises were made, the time will soon come to start actioning them, and as we've seen before, this can be where things become tricky. And with a SEND White Paper promised for the Autumn and Ofsted reform following not long after, academic year 25/26 is already promising to be another year full of change.

If you're already planning for the new year and want to better understand how to navigate the upcoming challenges, speak to PAG. From working out whether you're receiving your full SEND funding entitlements to planning for your growth, we can help. Simply use our Contact page to get in touch.