Tag: Department for Education

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 20 April 2025.

First 750 breakfast clubs to rollout from Tuesday, delivering on government’s manifesto commitment and promise to put more money in working people’s pockets.

Tens of thousands of working parents will, from Tuesday, be supported with more flexibility and choice from the rollout of free breakfast clubs across England, as the government delivers on its promise of 30 minutes of free childcare every day.

As children return from the Easter holidays, the first 750 schools across the country are set to begin offering free breakfast clubs. This will help parents get up to 95 hours back a year – giving them more support at a crucial time in the morning as they balance busy lives of work and childcare.

New government data shows that over half of parents would use this time to juggle parenting with working, training or studying.

The free breakfast clubs will save parents up to £450 a year and come alongside a raft of measures from government to provide parents with greater choice and help with the cost of living, such as a cap on school uniform costs and expanding free childcare for under-fives to 30 hours per week.

It comes as major employers like British Airways, Accenture and Rigby Group back the clubs to support parents to work more flexibly.

The rollout delivers on the government’s manifesto promise to ensure state schools offer free breakfast clubs to all pupils, while supporting its Plan for Change milestone to ensure tens of thousands more children start school ready to learn.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

Free breakfast clubs are at the heart of our Plan for Change, making working parents’ lives easier and more affordable, while breaking down barriers to opportunity for every child.

From Tyneside to Truro, England is one of the first countries in Europe to open universal free breakfast clubs, saving parents up to £450 per year and making sure every child starts school ready to learn.

This government is delivering on our promises to working parents, rolling out free breakfast clubs, school-based nurseries, and giving every child across the country the best start in life.

Across the country, school leaders have seen breakfast clubs drive improvements in attendance, attainment and behaviour.

This government is going further and faster, using the 750 free breakfast clubs as a key tool to tackle barriers to learning in schools, with 500,000 primary school pupils missing at least one day of school every fortnight last year, 1 in every 3 pupils not ready to start school at age 5 and 1 in every 50 pupils suspended at least once.

Sean Doyle, Chairman and Chief Executive, British Airways said:

We welcome the Government’s new free Breakfast Club initiative and any effort to support children’s health and learning, while providing more flexibility for working parents and reducing their childcare costs.

Shaheen Sayed, Head of Accenture in the UK, Ireland and Africa, said:

As a major employer in the UK flexibility is a priority, and we understand the importance of creating an environment where everyone can achieve a healthy work-life balance.

We welcome the government’s roll out of 750 new free breakfast clubs across the country as a targeted investment in the future of the workforce and a major step to reducing pressures on working families.

Breakfast clubs not only improve educational outcomes for children but also enable greater workforce participation, allowing working parents and carers to achieve their professional and personal aspirations.

Steve Rigby Co-CEO, Rigby Group said:

As the West Midlands’ largest philanthropic family working with disadvantaged children, we wholeheartedly support the government’s rollout of breakfast clubs.

Breakfast clubs provide support to parents, improve attendance and provide an important start to young people in the start of their school day.

St Benedict’s Primary School, which currently offers breakfast club provision, is going to be one of the early adopter schools to expand the benefits of the club.

Emma Nott, Head Teacher at St Benedict’s Primary School said:

For us, the funding will help us to offer breakfast clubs for free – which is crucial to encourage take up and for more children to reap the benefits.

Our fantastic staff truly believe in this policy, and we are already seeing children’s attendance increase as a result of the club.

It also gives pupils time to adjust between home and school life, especially on a Monday morning, prioritising this for 30 minutes makes a whole world of difference.

Too many children’s life chances have been scarred by poverty, with a third of children leaving primary school without fundamental reading, writing and maths skills, this increases to over half for disadvantaged pupils.

This government has set out a clear commitment to break down barriers to opportunity for every child, with breakfast clubs proven to boost children’s reading, writing and maths by an average of two months.

Craig Jones, Director of the Junior Adventures Group and the PVI Network:

We can see the positive impact enriching breakfast clubs can have on children and families lives, providing a positive, active start to the day and supporting families with work-life balance.

As PVI providers we are excited about the launch of the early adopter scheme and are fully supportive of providing valuable feedback and innovative delivery models during this ‘test & learn’ phase of the free breakfast club offer.

Free breakfast clubs in the early adopter schools will shape the future of the national breakfast club policy, contributing directly to its implementation. Further details on the national roll out of the breakfast clubs programme will follow in due course.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 2 April 2025.

300 new school-based nurseries approved in first round of funding, delivering on manifesto pledge with massive boost to early education.

Families across the country are set to benefit from thousands of new nursery places from September, as the government delivers the change that people voted for by confirming the first wave of 300 school-based nurseries.

The measures will help parents get to work, increasing access to childcare when they need it, and supports the government’s promise to put more cash in their pockets. The rollout of 30 government-funded hours of childcare will save parents up to £7,500 on average, while £450 per year will be saved through free breakfast clubs in schools.

Funding for the programme has been more than doubled to £37 million — marking an important milestone in the expanded childcare rollout. Alongside introducing universal free breakfast clubs in all primary schools, the government’s plans will ensure children of all ages start the day ready to learn.

The new or expanded nurseries will ensure children can access high-quality early education and get the best start in life as part of the government’s Plan for Change, delivering on its manifesto pledge for thousands of school-based nurseries across the country by the end of this Parliament.

The first 300 school-based nurseries will be located in towns and cities across the country, from Exeter to North Tyneside. Overall, they will offer an average of 20 places per site and up to 6,000 new places in total, with up to 4,000 set to be available by the end of September.

School-based nurseries are already making a difference in communities across the country. The majority of new nurseries opening as part of this phase are in the North or Midlands, including around one in ten in the North East – increasing access to childcare in cold spots and supporting the communities that need it most.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

Delivering on our promise of a better early years system is my top priority, which is why we’ve more than doubled our investment in this first phase so thousands more children can benefit from a high-quality early education from this September.

We said we’d act, and now we have. But this is just the beginning – we’ve set a hugely important milestone to get tens of thousands more children every year school-ready by age 5 as part of our Plan for Change.

We’re raising the bar for early years, delivering on our manifesto commitments and building a system that gives every child the best start in life.

This comes as new research released last month shows that early education is vital for children’s development and school readiness, particularly for those who may need extra support.

School-based early education tends to be more inclusive – with a higher proportion of children with special educational needs than other settings.

And in areas where deprivation is higher, having early years provision embedded within a primary school helps children settle into learning in a familiar and trusted environment.

According to the IFS, teachers report that this continuity supports children’s development, strengthens relationships with families, and leads to smoother transitions into Reception — helping to close development gaps before they widen.

Alex Armstrong, Headteacher at Bloemfontein Primary School who will be using their allocated funding to open a new baby room on site said:

We wanted to address the shortage of nursery places in our local area and to provide the community with high-quality early education for our youngest learners. This funding will enable us to transform unused school space into an engaging and vibrant environment, offering year-round childcare for children from birth to five.

There are so many benefits to school-based nursery provision, including continuity for children and their families and the opportunity to develop expert-led learning which will provide our children with strong foundations for lifelong success.

Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind said:

Parents often struggle with finding good quality childcare, and many will welcome this investment, especially as parents with more than one child may be saved from the mad dash from nursery to school in the morning and afternoon.

With more reach into the lives of parents and schools than any other charity, we know that childcare is a major headache for parents with young children, from the exorbitant cost, to finding a reliable local place for their children.

Some of the best performing schools are now expanding into early years to deliver an excellent education, and the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant will enable even more schools to help the children in their care to be school ready before moving from nursery to reception, giving them the best start in life.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

There should be no higher priority for government than investment in the early years. The evidence is clear that high quality early education can make a lasting difference to children’s lives, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

It is therefore extremely positive to see the first wave of new and expanded school-based nurseries being announced today. Schools play a vital role in the early years ecosystem, and this should help strengthen that further.

Felicity Gillespie, Director of early years charity Kindred Squared:

Quality early education has a disproportionately positive effect on disadvantaged children.

Forty percent of the attainment gap we see in children aged sixteen is already evident at five years old, but children who attend high-quality settings for two to three years can be almost eight months ahead of children who do not attend nursery.

So, this welcome investment by the Government in children’s futures is to be celebrated.

As part of wider work to break down barriers to opportunity for every family, from this week providers are due to benefit from the largest ever uplift to the Early Years Pupil Premium, helping ensure the most disadvantaged children are accessing the high-quality early years education they need. This is part of an over £2 billion extra investment going into the sector next year, bringing total investment to over £8 billion.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 27 February 2025.

Professor Edward Peck CBE named as preferred candidate to be the next Chair of the Office for Students by Education Secretary.

The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has named Professor Edward William Peck CBE as her preferred candidate to be the next Chair of the Office for Students.

Professor Peck will now go on to attend a pre-appointment hearing before the Education Select Committee on 4 March.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It is responsible for ensure that every student has a fulfilling university experience that enriches their lives and careers. Following last year’s election one of its top priorities has been monitoring the financial sustainability of the sector.

Professor Peck has been selected following a rigorous assessment process conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. He currently serves as Chair of the HE Mental Health Implementation Taskforce and is the DfE’s Student Support Champion, and will stand down as Vice Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University this summer.

If appointed Professor Peck will take over from Sir David Behan, who was appointed interim chair last year following Lord Wharton of Yarm’s resignation. Sir David’s independent review, Fit for the Future, was published in July and is informing the OfS’s priorities on financial sustainability and quality.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

Professor Peck has played a key role in supporting students and has a wealth of experience that will be instrumental in guiding the OfS forward. I look forward to finalising his appointment.

He will play a vital part in supporting higher education providers’ financial sustainability and breaking down barriers to opportunity. Through our Plan for Change we want to ensure students from all backgrounds are at the heart of the higher education system, and receive a high quality education that will help them drive growth as we fix the foundations of our economy.

I would like to thank Sir David for his independent review and the work he has done as interim chair which will inform the strategic direction of the OfS as it implements his core recommendations.

The Chair leads the OfS at board level, working with Ministers and the Chief Executive to provide clear leadership and priorities for the next phase of the OfS’ critical work.

Since 2014 Professor Peck has served as Vice Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, and currently holds roles as a trustee of UCAS, Chair of the HE Mental Health Implementation Taskforce and the DfE’s first Student Support Champion. Following his appointment he will stand down from these roles.

He has also served on the Independent Advisory Panel for Post-18 Education and Funding (the Augar Review), and from 2008-2014 was Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Birmingham.

Following his pre-appointment hearing, the Education Select Committee will publish their recommendations, which the Education Secretary will consider before deciding whether to finalise the appointment.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 23 February 2025.

First 750 schools to offer clubs from April, delivering on government’s Plan for Change.

Families and children in every corner of England will soon benefit from free, daily breakfast clubs as the government is set to confirm the first 750 schools to offer the scheme, putting up to £450 a year back in parents’ pockets.

From as soon as April, chosen schools across all 9 regions will kick-off the historic programme, with an early adopter phase set to inform the government’s landmark national roll out which will give all parents access to the scheme.

Delivering on promises made to working parents in the government’s manifesto, all primary aged children in early adopter schools will be able to access a free breakfast and at least 30 minutes of free childcare, every day, helping to support parents getting into work by dropping their children off half an hour earlier.

Schools are encouraged to offer healthy, varied and nutritious breakfasts, with examples from wheat bisks and porridge to fresh fruit and yoghurt. The early adopter schools also provide the perfect setting to host activities including arts and crafts, educational puzzles, reading and more.

Universal free breakfast clubs are central to the government’s Plan for Change, removing barriers to opportunity by making sure every child starts the school day ready to learn – with research showing the clubs can have a lasting impact on children’s behaviour, attendance and attainment.

Making sure no child starts school hungry, the scheme also has an important role to play in the government’s commitment to remove the stain of child poverty, as out of the 180,000 children who will benefit in the early adopter schools, around 67,000 attend schools in deprived areas.

The clubs come alongside a raft of measures designed to cut the cost of living for families, including the commitment to significantly cut uniform costs through a cap on branded items and complement government-funded childcare.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:

Free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of our Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success for families all over the country.

Breakfast clubs can have a transformative impact on the lives of children, feeding hungry tummies and fuelling hungry minds, so every child begins the day ready to learn.

Alongside our plans to roll out school-based nurseries and get thousands more children school-ready, this government is delivering the reforms needed to give every child, wherever they grow up, the best start in life.

Schools were chosen from across England to ensure the scheme tests and learns from a variety of locations, including those that do not currently run a breakfast club, and all will receive funding to cover food and staffing costs.

Government research shows most parents (87%) think breakfast clubs are a good chance for children to socialise, and two thirds (66%) recognise the value of clubs providing educational activities.

Breakfast clubs have been shown to boost children’s reading, writing, and maths by an average of 2 months.

Too many children’s life chances are being scarred by rising poverty, with 1 in 4 in absolute poverty as of 2023. The government is determined to change that, with the breakfast club rollout being driven alongside wider work of the Child Poverty Taskforce, which is set to deliver an ambitious strategy to increase household income, bring down essential costs, and tackle the challenges felt by those living in poverty.

Jackie Fitton, Headteacher at Kearsley West Primary School said:

We are delighted to be one of the early adopter schools. For our school, the funding provided will be a real-life saver, ensuring we can provide a healthy breakfast and supportive start to the day for our pupils.

Breakfast clubs have already made a massive difference to pupils’ wellbeing, providing them with time to settle in, socialise with friends and get ready to learn.

Sir David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action said:

Family Action welcomes the government’s announcement of the 750 schools who have been selected to take part in the Early Adopters Scheme. These schools will have a vital test and learn role which will undoubtedly inform the national rollout of the government’s exciting universal breakfast policy.

We know that an effective breakfast provision delivered in a supportive and enriching environment can make the world of difference to a child. We look forward to sharing our long experience of delivering breakfast provision ourselves with early adopter schools.

Early adopter schools will shape the future of the national breakfast club policy, contributing directly to its implementation. Further details on the national roll out of the breakfast clubs programme will follow in due course.  The wider paid-for wraparound childcare offer – for all primary children to be able to access childcare between 8am and 6pm – continues to roll out across the country.

Notes to editors

1. Number of eligible pupils attending early adopter schools in the bottom third most deprived LSOAs in England using IDACI English indices of deprivation 2019 at 19 February 2025.
2. An Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) impact evaluation of the Magic Breakfast programme found that offering pupils in primary schools a free, universal, before-school breakfast club which includes a breakfast can boost their reading, writing, and maths attainment by an average of 2 months’ additional progress in Key Stage 1.
3. Guidance on the early adopter scheme is available on GOV.UK.
4. More information on the 750 confirmed schools will soon be available on GOV.UK
5. For more information on parents for local breakfast club provision can be found on the Education Blog.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 21 February 2025.

Parents are set to save money on childcare thanks to new protections from additional charges on top of the government’s funded childcare offer, increasing access to high-quality early education and putting cash back into working families’ pockets.

To ensure no family is priced out of the support they need, the government has published updated guidance today that puts transparency at the heart of how the funded hours should be delivered, supporting local authorities to ensure providers make all additional charges – whether for nappies, wipes or lunch – clear and upfront to parents, and setting out that these charges must not be included as a condition for parents accessing their hours.

Giving every child the best start in life is central to the government’s mission to break the unfair link between background and success, and its Plan for Change to get tens of thousands more children a year school-ready by aged five.

As part of this, the government is committed to delivering on the promises made to working parents, so they can save up to £7,500 on average from using the full 30 hours a week of government funded childcare support, compared to paying for it themselves.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

Giving every child the best start in life is my top priority, and integral to our mission to ensure tens of thousands more children are school ready every year.

That’s why despite the inherited challenges we face, we are pressing ahead with the investment and leadership needed to support families and make sure that every child, regardless of background, can access the high-quality early education they deserve.

Today marks an important step towards an early years system that is accessible for parents, sustainable for providers, and better serves children’s development.

This comes as the government has announced a targeted approach to its next tranche of early years funding to support the sector to deliver the new places needed for parents of children from nine months old looking to take up the entitlements for the first time.

Despite having to take tough decisions to fix the foundations of the economy, the government is increasing investment in early years to over £8 billion next year.

This includes a dedicated £75 million expansion grant, which will be targeted to providers supporting delivery of the expanded 30 hours of government-funded childcare in September, helping parents with children from nine months back into work and boosting household finances.

This means that private and voluntary providers, including childminders, are expected to see significant impact from a share of an average of around £500,000 in local areas. Funding allocations will vary between local authorities, reflecting local circumstances, with some of the largest areas seeing up to £2.1 million.

£75m is equivalent, on average, to an additional £80 per two-year old, and £110 per child under-two, though final amounts of funding reaching providers will depend on local circumstances.

The government also continues to make quick progress towards its Plan for Change milestone, with thousands of early years educators continuing to benefit from support networks and early maths training this year.

The Stronger Practice Hubs programme, which supports early years settings to deliver high-quality education by sharing knowledge and evidence-based approaches via 18 regional Hubs, has been funded for a further year.

On top of this, as part of wider work to deliver on the government’s commitment to boost early maths support for children, the Maths Champions programme delivery also launches this month – with up to 800 early years settings to benefit from the training this year.

Delivered in partnership with the National Day Nurseries Association and Education Endowment Foundation, an evaluation of the programme showed children in settings receiving the Maths Champions programme can make an average of three months’ additional progress in maths compared to their peers.

Educators in this year’s first cohort of 156 settings will take up the training this month, with spaces still available for sign-ups from March to June.

These programmes form part of wider vital work to drive high and rising standards across early education, offering improved early learning support and the training that educators need to prepare children for school.

The government will continue to work closely with parents and providers to deliver its ambitious reforms so that tens of thousands more children have the invaluable skills needed from communication and maths to personal, physical and social development to have the best possible life chances.

Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said:

We welcome the clarification in this update, which is something we have been calling for to address the high level of variation in childcare costs to parents. Our research shows that additional charges can be a major barrier to families – particularly disadvantaged families – taking up their funded early education entitlements.

Supporting childcare providers through these changes will be essential, to ensure the sector remains stable, but this updated guidance is an important step towards a transparent system that allows parents to make informed choices about their childcare options and enables all children to access their entitlements, particularly those who stand to benefit the most from high quality early education.

Emily Yeomans, Co-CEO of The Education Endowment Foundation, said:

Our independent evaluations of the Maths Champions programme have consistently shown its potential in establishing solid foundations in maths for young children. Crucially, this potential is even greater for children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

A strong grounding in early maths is so important for setting up children for later success, acting as a fundamental enabler of later opportunity. So I’m delighted that we’re able to offer hundreds of early years settings access to the programme this year so that many more children can benefit.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 18 February 2025.

Shorter and flexible apprenticeships and new English and maths requirements to boost skills and support employers .

Up to 10,000 more apprentices will be able to qualify per year as the government cuts red tape to boost economic growth by giving employers more flexibility over maths and English requirements.

Rules slowing down the training of workers in key industries like construction will also be changed as the government reveals plans to turbocharge growth industries with reduced bureaucracy for apprenticeships and new leadership also appointed for Skills England.

Leading employers have been calling for these changes. Businesses will now be able to decide whether adult learners over the age of 19 when they start their apprenticeship course will need to complete a level 2 English and maths qualification (equivalent to GCSE) in order to pass it. This means more learners can qualify in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, social care and construction, helping to drive growth and meet government targets in key areas such as housebuilding.

This could mean as many as 10,000 more apprentices per year will be able to complete their apprenticeship, unlocking opportunity in communities all over the country and breaking the link between background and success. It does not mean that apprentices won’t be assessed on core English and maths skills relevant to their occupation, but it does mean that apprentices will be able to focus more on their paid work.

The minimum duration of an apprenticeship will be reduced to 8 months, down from the current minimum of 12 months.

Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson said:

Growing the economy and opportunity for all are fundamental missions of our Plan for Change, and we are determined to support apprentices throughout this National Apprenticeship Week and beyond.

Businesses have been calling out for change to the apprenticeship system and these reforms show that we are listening. Our new offer of shorter apprenticeships and less red tape strikes the right balance between speed and quality, helping achieve our number one mission to grow the economy.

Skills England will be a major driver in addressing the skills gaps needed to support employers up and down the country and I look forward to working with the new leadership.

Craig Beaumont, Executive Director, Federation of Small Businesses, said:

It’s encouraging to see government shorten the length of apprenticeships, and give employers the right to decide whether Level 2 English and maths is needed. These flexibilities should help SME employers fill skills gaps faster.

These announcements come as the Education Secretary kicked off National Apprenticeship Week yesterday, which celebrates the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses, and the wider economy.

The plans also follow the Prime Minister’s announcement in September, when he pledged to reform the new growth and skills offer to ensure young people are better supported.

Three trailblazer apprenticeships in key shortage occupations will look to pioneer the new shorter apprenticeship approach, with apprentices in green energy, healthcare and film and TV production set to be able to take on these new courses.

Changes to the minimum length of an apprenticeship will be introduced from August 2025 subject to the legislative timetable, with changes to English and maths requirements coming into effect immediately. This will be hugely beneficial to employers in sectors like construction, which have an urgent need for qualified workers, helping to meet the government’s mission to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament.

The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has also announced that Phil Smith CBE will chair Skills England, the new nationwide body for skills, with Sir David Bell serving as Vice Chair. Tessa Griffiths and Sarah Maclean will jointly serve as CEO, while Gemma Marsh will serve as Deputy CEO.

Phil Smith is the former chair and CEO of international tech and telecoms giant Cisco. He brings extensive industry experience in digital, tech and innovation leadership and his appointment signals the seriousness of the government’s plan for growth, unlocked via a national vision for skills.

Sir David Bell has 4 decades of experience in the education and skills sector and is currently Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland .

Phil Smith CBE said:

I know from my time in industry how valuable direct engagement from employers can be in shaping government policy.

We need a dynamic skills system that can drive economic growth, and I’m excited to be involved in shaping Skills England as part of that.

Sir David Bell said:

I look forward to working with Phil Smith, other colleagues in Skills England, and the Department for Education to help deliver economic growth and meet the nation’s skills needs.

I know from my experience in public policy and higher education that providing the skilled workforce which Britain requires depends on industry, government and education organisations working together. I am very confident therefore that Skills England will provide the strategic oversight to make that happen.

Skills England will bring together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions of England. More than 700 stakeholders have already been engaged through roundtables, webinars and engagement events.

It will work with employers; national, regional and local government; providers; and unions to identify skills shortages and provide strong strategic direction for the skills system.

One of Skills England’s first orders of business will be to identify which apprenticeships would be best served by the shorter duration approach. Skills England will prioritise key shortage occupations as per the industrial strategy, helping to boost growth under our Plan for Change.

Euan Blair MBE, founder and CEO, Multiverse, said:

This important announcement will do so much to widen and expand access to apprenticeships and should be welcomed as a move to put our skills system at the heart of the growth mission. For years, this requirement has created an artificial barrier between apprenticeships and those who could benefit from them, including young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and older workers whose roles are at risk of job displacement, while often diluting the quality and purpose of an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are about giving as many people as possible the ability to improve their career prospects and contribute meaningfully to their employers. This move helps to underline that focus.

Sharon Blyfield, Head of Early Careers, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, said:

At Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, we believe that the inclusion of functional skills as an exit for apprenticeships have often hindered many people from reaching their full potential. The announced changes will help make apprenticeships a more viable option to more people, not only new recruits but also for our current employees who missed out on these skills during their school years. These changes will enable them to successfully complete their apprenticeships without added barriers, which is brilliant news.

Alex Hall-Chen, Principal Policy Advisor, Sustainability, Skills and Employment, said:

Apprenticeships are a vital tool in tackling the UK’s persistent skills shortages, and this announcement is a welcome step in removing unnecessary barriers to increasing apprenticeship numbers.

Research with IoD members clearly showed that giving employers flexibility when it comes to English and maths qualifications for adult apprentices has the potential to unlock more apprenticeship opportunities.

Employers are well placed to judge whether English and maths qualifications are the most appropriate route to evidence or develop the literacy and numeracy skills needed for success in the given career path.

Chris Bailey, Early Careers Manager, Starbucks UK, said:

Starbucks UK welcomes the announcement around relaxing the requirements of functional skills for learners over the age of 19 . Removing this significant barrier will support our commitment to enrolling more apprentices, particularly those who may have previously faced challenges with functional skills assessments. By embracing this change, we can empower more of our partners to gain valuable recognised qualifications, develop their skills, and progress within Starbucks and their careers.

Lisa Pinfield, Group Director of Performance and Development, Capita, said:

Making functional skills requirements more flexible for apprenticeships will open doors for more adult learners, especially those from diverse backgrounds. By removing unnecessary barriers, employers can welcome a wider pool of talented apprentices who bring valuable skills and experience. This change will help businesses grow, support social mobility, and give more people the chance to succeed through apprenticeships.

Jo Rackham, Executive Director of People, the John Lewis Partnership, said:

Apprenticeships help us build and retain the skills we need to deliver brilliant service to our customers and power our growth. They’ve helped 5,000 employees – or, as we’re called, partners – progress in their careers since 2017.

We welcome the relaxation in functional skills requirements. It’s an important step towards the reform needed to help more people access apprenticeships. Gaining GCSE maths and English qualifications can be a significant barrier to starting or completing one and we believe it will help more disadvantaged people, including those who leave the care system or those with learning disabilities, make a career for themselves.

Matthew Percival, Future of Work and Skills Director, CBI, said:

Apprenticeships have an important role to play in building the skills for growth. Greater flexibility on minimum length and on English and maths requirements will help businesses to offer more workers the opportunity to add to their skills.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 14 February 2025.

New research shows apprenticeships contribute £25bn to England’s economy, with reforms announced during National Apprenticeship Week set to boost growth.

Apprentices in England will drive £25bn of economic growth over their lifetime, new figures have revealed.

This is almost double the £14bn contribution found the last time this was assessed in 2018, demonstrating apprentices’ importance to the government’s mission to grow the economy under the Plan for Change.

These figures are for apprentices who were participating in an apprenticeship at levels 2 to 5 in the 2021-22 academic year, representing the immense value of apprentices to economic growth.

The research comes as the government reaffirms its commitment to apprenticeships as the golden thread through all six missions under the Plan for Change, and follows recently published data revealing apprenticeship starts rose by 1.3% and achievements rose by 1.1% in the first quarter following last year’s general election.

New apprenticeships announced today include wind turbine technician and heat network maintenance technician, which are key sectors that will support the government’s clean energy mission. The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will today be visiting Hinkley Point C and Bridgwater and Taunton College in Somerset to meet apprentices working on this critically important piece of national clean energy infrastructure.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:

We need to take skills seriously as a country again, and the measures we’ve taken this week to slash red tape and boost the number of apprentices, show how we will deliver on this and break down the barriers to opportunity for our young people.

Apprenticeships are key to delivering our number one mission of growth and on the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, as evidenced today by their increasing value to the economy which will continue to rise thanks to our reforms.

As National Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, it’s vital therefore that schools, colleges and businesses continue to champion apprenticeships, and this government will back them all the way.

These conclude a series of sweeping reforms announced during National Apprenticeship Week, after the Education Secretary revealed a boost in flexibility for employers around English and Maths requirements that will lead to an extra 10,000 apprentices qualified each year in key sectors including construction, healthcare and clean energy.

A cut in the minimum duration of apprenticeships from 12 to eight months will help get boots on the ground quicker if workers have prior experience, while simpler End Point Assessments and a reformed payment system will free up time for providers and employers to focus on apprentices’ career and skills development.

The visit comes after the Prime Minister recently announced reforms to planning rules which will clear a path for new nuclear power stations, creating thousands of new highly skilled jobs while delivering clean, secure and more affordable energy for working people.

HMRC have also promoted tips to help apprentices ensure they are getting paid fairly, and government Ministers including the Chancellor Rachel Reeves have been visiting employers throughout National Apprenticeship Week to understand better how apprenticeships can deliver the Plan for Change.

Minister for Industry Sarah Jones said:

The shift to home-grown, clean energy is creating thousands of apprentices with world-class experience.

Hinkley Point C alone has provided 1,500 new apprenticeships – helping to make the UK a clean energy superpower, give us energy security and protect billpayers.

New and updated apprenticeships for police constables, teaching assistants, healthcare support workers, dental hygienists and civil engineers will further support the government’s Plan for Change. A total of 660 occupations are now available.

Today, the government also launches a new “one stop shop” app that is set to revolutionise how apprentices access training and support.

The Your Apprenticeship app, designed by the DfE with extensive input from apprentices, provides easier access to essential tools, resources, and support to help apprentices to thrive in their qualification.

They will be able to track their apprenticeship through the app, ensuring they have learnt all the necessary knowledge and skills and they need to progress into skilled work and help drive Britain’s economic growth.

The Your Apprenticeship app is available to be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple app store now.

Anyone considering an apprenticeship is encouraged to go to www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk to discover what apprenticeships are available in their local area.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 13 February 2025.

Reforms to apprenticeship training provider payment system and End Point Assessments will cut bureaucracy and enable focus on high quality training.

The government is slashing more red tape to ensure businesses and apprenticeship training providers are able to focus even more of their time on apprentices, the Skills Minister announced today, unlocking opportunity and driving growth under the government’s Plan for Change.

Reforms to the payment system have long been called for by training providers. They will cut red tape by stopping the need for providers to log the same data multiple times, saving valuable time currently wasted on duplicating records, ensuring consistency across systems.

The move comes during National Apprenticeship Week and will mean training providers can focus on what matters most – breaking down barriers to opportunity through helping apprentices to develop their skills to enter well-paid careers and drive economic growth in key sectors.

Today the government also announced changes to End Point Assessments (EPAs), making the system simpler and more flexible while ensuring apprentices prove their competence for skilled work.

Where appropriate, apprentices will be assessed on some things during their apprenticeship rather than all at the end, and training providers may be able to deliver elements of the assessment, rather than having to rely on external assessors.

The government is also ensuring apprentices don’t have to be re-tested on the same skills they have already demonstrated, such as by taking a mandatory industry exam, to avoid wasting apprentices’ time.

This will deliver more timely assessments while retaining rigour, and ensure that apprentices are assessed on what matters most to employers, removing unnecessary burdens to career opportunities and getting skilled workers into key industries to support growth.

Skills Minister, Baroness Jacqui Smith, said:

Employers and providers are burdened with needless red tape which makes it harder to train and recruit apprentices.

We have heard time and again from training providers, apprentices and employers that this needs to change, and we are determined to deliver this so they can focus on what they do best – creating jobs and driving growth.

Businesses should rest assured this National Apprenticeship Week that this government is determined to work with them to make apprenticeships work better, helping to grow the economy.

Mike Blakeley, Executive Director of Partnerships & Apprenticeships at Exeter College, said:

Employer voice is very important to us here at Exeter College, and being invited to contribute to shaping some of these changes has allowed us to share concepts and ideas to make the learner and employer journey easier to navigate.

We thank DfE for not only listening but actioning a range of simplifications to the system that will ease the burden on employers and providers alike. These measures will be welcomed across the sector and will be a significant boost to an already brilliant National Apprenticeship Week.

Rob Nitsch, CEO of the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB), said:

Seven years into apprenticeship standards, it is right and natural that we should be stepping back to see how end-point assessment can be optimised for the benefit of apprentices, employers and those involved in delivery.

The Federation welcomes the principles-based methodology that the Department has proposed and the inclusive approach that has been adopted; FAB and its members are pleased to have contributed to the refinement of the principles already and look forward to working with DfE and other stakeholders to take them forward to the next stage and moving to implement the Review at pace.

This builds on reforms announced earlier in National Apprenticeship Week by the DfE. These included shorter apprenticeships with the minimum time for completion reduced to eight months, and making English and Maths requirements for completing an apprenticeship more flexible to boost recruitment in sectors like construction and healthcare.

Existing assessment plans will be rewritten on a standard-by-standard basis to reflect these changes, with the first plans being revised from April 2025.

New assessment principles for apprenticeships will be published this week, and will be available here.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 5 February 2025.

Thousands of pupils across England are set to benefit from a £2 million investment to drive high and rising standards in reading and writing, building on the Education Secretary’s plan for a new era of school standards.

In her speech to the Centre of Social Justice (3 February 2025), the Education Secretary outlined how the success of phonics delivered for millions of children but now was the time to build on this work with a new focus on reading and writing.

A third of children leave primary school without fundamental reading, writing and maths skills, this increases to over half for disadvantaged pupils.

There also continues to be a decline in children and young people reading for pleasure with the number of children aged 8 to 18 who enjoy reading in their spare time reduced by a third since 2019. Reading for pleasure has been associated not only with increases in reading attainment but also with writing ability, text comprehension, grammar and breadth of vocabulary.

Building on the success of phonics, teachers will receive additional training to help children progress from the early stages of phonics in reception and year 1 through to reading fluently by the time they leave primary school. This will be delivered through the English Hubs programme, a school-to-school improvement programme to drive up standards.

In secondary school, teachers will be offered new training and resources this year to help them support readers at all levels, and next year the department will commission further training that will be focused specifically on struggling readers in secondary school who are at risk of falling behind.

As part of the £2 million investment, £1 million will be available for secondary schools with the greatest need to apply for, to support them to purchase reading programmes and other resources to support struggling readers.

A strong foundation in reading and writing is crucial for children to achieve and thrive, enabling them to not only benefit from the rest of the curriculum, but also help them develop a love for reading from an early stage.

As part of the government’s drive to improve reading and writing, the department will also publish a writing framework in the summer, that will be a first step to support schools in delivering high quality writing provision across England ensuring all pupils have a strong foundation in writing.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

This government will build on the successes of recent decades, raising the bar when it comes to standards and delivering on our Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success.

Reading and writing are the cornerstones of learning. They hold the keys to the rest of the curriculum, with pupils who struggle to read so often struggling across the board.

So while progress has been made – in particular when it comes to phonics – now is the time to take that work to another level.

That means continuing to drive up quality of teaching, giving our brilliant teachers the tools and resources they need, and extending further support directly to the children and young people who need it most – because no child should leave school without a strong grasp of the basics.

The curriculum review, launched in July, will make sure all pupils benefit from a curriculum that delivers excellent foundations in reading, writing and maths to ensure they can develop the skills needed to succeed in work and life.

The government has also committed to spearheading real-world primary maths teaching through evidence based programmes to ensure every child is given the foundations to develop lifelong numeracy skills.

These reforms follow plans set out by the Education Secretary this week reaffirming her commitment to high and rising standards in schools with an excellent teacher in every classroom, a high-quality curriculum for every school and a core offer of excellence for every parent so that every child can achieve and thrive.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 3 February 2025.

Education Secretary sets out plan for a new era of school standards.

Stronger accountability, increased intervention in stuck schools and faster school improvement are at the heart of this government’s plan to give every child the best start in life, the Education Secretary has said today (3 February 2025).

Speaking at the Centre for Social Justice, Bridget Phillipson laid out plans for a new era of school standards building on the reforms of successive governments and delivering on the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change – breaking the link between background and success.

This includes an excellent teacher for every classroom, a high-quality curriculum for every school and a core offer of excellence for every parent so that every child can achieve and thrive.

The Secretary of State announced new plans to tackle forgotten schools as part of proposals for a significantly strengthened school accountability system that works for parents.

There are more than 600 ‘stuck’ schools in England that have received consecutive poor Ofsted judgements, and which are attended by more than 300,000 children. Those attending these schools leave primary school with results 14 percentage points worse on average and secondary school with results a grade per subject worse on average.

Plans unveiled by the Education Secretary today provide for a stronger, faster system, spearheaded by an initial £20 million investment in new regional improvement teams, known as RISE teams which will prioritise these stuck schools. They will draw up bespoke improvement plans with those schools, with government making up to £100,000 available initially to each school for specialist support. This compares to a £6,000 grant that was available previously for similar schools.

In her speech, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

Stuck schools are the new front in the fight against low expectations.

I will not accept a system that is content for some to sink, even while others soar.

The opportunity to succeed must be the right of every child.

We simply can’t allow stuck schools to disappear off the radar.

The reforms announced today continue the strong accountability already within the education system since the growth of inspection in the 1990s that has improved school standards.

The government will continue to use structural intervention – converting to an academy, or moving to a new, strong trust – where Ofsted identifies the most serious concern or does not identify rapid improvement. It has also proposed closer monitoring of schools with the most serious problems to track progress.

The government expects the number of schools that receive mandatory intervention – including structural and from RISE teams – to be around double than before, securing swift improvement for children and driving high and rising standards in every part of the country.

Leora Cruddas, Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trust, said:

There is a lot to be proud of about our school system in England. We are a good school system on a journey to great.

This is because we have built on the evidence of what works – thirty years of curriculum development, teacher development, accountability, structural reform, and innovation. But the school system does not work for all children: the gap between economically disadvantaged pupils and their peers has widened; the system does not serve children with SEND well; and not enough of our children feel like they belong in our schools. Some of our schools are not on a secure improvement trajectory.

If we are to build a great school system, then we must design it so that all our children achieve and thrive. We are committed to working with government to design a system that is built on excellence, equity, and inclusion.

Sir Hamid Patel, Chief Executive of Star Academies, said:

The government is right to focus on strong and supportive accountability to deliver high standards and expectations. While we take pride in the significant strengths, achievements, and international reputation of our school system, the entrenched disadvantage gap is a national crisis that requires urgent and persistent action from us all.

The introduction of RISE teams to support the work of our outstanding school trusts, along with additional funding for tailored school improvement and enhanced monitoring of schools facing serious performance challenges, will contribute to an aspirational system that benefits all children and families.

Jon Coles, Chief Executive of United Learning, said:

Turning around schools which are not doing a good enough job for children is a critical priority for our school system. It is therefore good to see the government’s determination to ensure rapid improvement in a larger number of struggling schools while continuing with structural intervention in the weakest schools by using all the resources and capacity available.

Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind said:

Parents will welcome efforts to make sure that there are high standards in every classroom.

Schools will be at the centre of significant social change during the decade ahead and we will need a robust, responsive system that not only recognises when schools are excelling but steps in with meaningful support when they struggle.

When we engage with parents about school inspections, their message is clear: they want a framework that is firm yet fair, one that places the success and well-being of every child at its core and acknowledges the essential role of parents in making this vision a reality.

Dr Vanessa Ogden, Chief Executive Mulberry Schools, said:

We see an ambitious plan announced today that invests in the quality assurance, leadership and resources to build on existing success and improve standards for all. Those schools that need it will get the expert challenge and support required to achieve turnaround. Those that already hold this knowledge can help. Working together in this way, we can ensure that every child gets the great school they deserve – and we can reach higher and further than ever in education, for a thriving economy, regional prosperity and fulfilled secure lives.

Tom Campbell, Chief Executive Office, E-Act, said:

I welcome the government investment in support for schools who have been left to struggle in recent years.  The RISE teams and their focus on support rather than intervention makes high quality school improvement available to all schools, irrespective of which trust or LA they are in or which geographical region they are based.

While RISE teams will immediately prioritise stuck schools, the proposals also set out that they will engage with schools that have concerning levels of pupil attainment, including large year-on-year declines.

The teams will also work across all schools providing a universal service, signposting to best practice and bringing schools together to share their knowledge and innovation.

The measures today come as Ofsted has unveiled the new report cards which they propose will evaluate schools across 9 separate areas.  They also set out proposals for evaluating areas from ‘exemplary’ to ‘causing concern’, holding schools to a higher standard and providing far greater information for parents.

School report cards will start to be introduced from this autumn.