FM & MAINTENANCE MONTH: Managing statutory obligations across primary and secondary school estates
For primary and secondary school estates leaders, compliance is a frontline governance priority. Increased regulatory scrutiny, heightened safeguarding expectations and ageing buildings have combined to make statutory maintenance one of the most complex areas of school facilities management in 2026. From fire safety and water hygiene to asbestos management and electrical testing, the compliance landscape […]
Report highlights inequality in school food education despite strong public backing
A new national polling report has revealed widespread public support for food education in England’s schools, but warns that provision remains fragmented and unequal, with significant implications for delivery and facilities planning. The report, Hungry for Change, published by The School of Artisan Food’s Best Food Forward programme with research from Public First, surveyed more […]
Experts convene in Manchester to discuss SEND crisis through connected data
On the day the government published its Every child achieving and thriving white paper on reforms to the schools and SEND systems in England, policymakers, researchers, clinicians and frontline practitioners gathered in Manchester to demonstrate how connected data can turn that ambition into reality. The Child of the North Data Showcase, held at the Whitworth […]
Education Forum: Helping you plan for the future
Following the recent announcement of a £4 billion funding package for the education sector, covering inclusion, infrastructure, SEND support, and long-term planning, many schools, colleges and trusts are reviewing how best to invest and plan ahead. The Education Forum is designed to support exactly that – and is completely free to attend for procurement professionals. We’re excited to welcome […]
CREATING SPACE MONTH: Leveraging partnerships and community use models to maximise school space
School estates leaders attending the Education Forum are under pressure to make every square metre work harder. Rising pupil numbers in some areas, tightening budgets and increasing expectations around community engagement are forcing a rethink of how campus space is used. More schools are exploring shared estates models, such as partnering with health providers, local […]
Outcomes First Group launches new SEND progress framework ahead of Schools White Paper
Specialist education provider Outcomes First Group (OFG) has launched a new framework designed to improve how progress for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is measured and supported. The initiative, known as Progress X, aims to address longstanding concerns around SEND assessment: an area recently highlighted by the Department for Education (DfE) as […]
Guidance on Gen AI use in schools
By Alex Dave, Safeguarding Education Officer, LGfL-The National Grid for Learning Generative AI isn’t coming to schools; it’s already here, and we must respond. Plenty of children are already exploring tools, many teachers are dabbling, and the Department for Education has produced guidance on using them in schools. However, talk of AI is frequently generating these 2 polar responses […]
Brexit could lead to struggle in recruiting international students…
If the UK does decide to leave the EU after a vote is cast in the EU referendum on June 23, a report from the international student recruitment company, Hobsons, has declared that UK universities could find it difficult to attract international students. Almost half (47 per cent) of the 1,763 students who expressed their […]
Guest Blog, Jim Bowes: Embracing digital developments in higher education…
Jim Bowes is the CEO and co-founder of Manifesto – the award winning digital agency specialising in Agile consultancy, technology, content and strategic user experience design, and set up the London-based business in 2011. Digital disruption is rapidly changing the services that organisations offer and the ways in which individuals access information. The impact that […]
Parents’ obsession with smart phones affecting child conversation skills, research claims…
With substantial claims made by a number education professionals that technology can prove beneficial to a child’s learning, new research from the advice and information service for head teachers, The Key, has declared that parents’ continued use of smart phones is increasingly affecting young children’s social skills; making them unprepared for the commencement of primary […]