6 February, 2026

Top education news stories

Explore this week’s news roundup to uncover the key challenges and priorities for schools across the country.

6 min read

1. New research: Academy trust reserves to plummet despite strong performance last year

Trusts face a ‘bleak outlook’ with their budgets despite a strong financial performance last year, according to Kreston report, writes Tes.

Academy trust reserves are expected to plummet over the next two years, with finances looking “bleak” despite a buoyant 2024/25, according to the Kreston UK Academies Benchmark Report 2026.

37% of trusts reported in-year deficits in 2024/25, down from 60% in 2023/24 – the strongest performance in three years. And on average, most types of trust enjoyed a surplus in 2024/25 – the first time this has happened since 2021, representing an “impressive turnaround”, the report reveals.

But the sector’s underlying financial position is fragile, the report warns. Author Kevin Connor, head of academies at accountants Bishop Fleming, said: “Surpluses have been largely propped up by tighter budgeting and in-year funding that trusts were not expecting when they set their budgets, rather than by any easing of underlying financial pressures.

“Beneath the surface, challenges such as rising costs and continuing uncertainty are already weighing on confidence and limiting trusts’ ability to plan, invest and grow.”

“This bleak outlook is particularly stark in secondary single-academy trusts (SATs), where reserves are expected to fall 43% by 2026/27,” Kreston states. In large multi-academy trusts – those with 7,500 or more pupils – reserves are predicted to fall by 11 per cent on average by 2026/27.

Leora Cruddas, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, said: “Despite prudent financial management, trusts are increasingly worried about their reserve levels. Some will have little choice but to draw on them just to stand still as financial pressures increase. This is not a good position for the sector to be in, and it highlights the urgent need for a reassessment of how education is funded.”

Source: Academy trust reserves to plummet in next two years (Tes.com)

2. School phone ban backed by Lords in government defeat

The House of Lords votes in favour of a statutory ban on phones in schools, despite the government strengthening its guidance on this issue last month, writes Tes.

A ban on pupils using smartphones during the school day has been demanded by peers in a defeat for the government in the House of Lords.

The Conservative-led move, backed in the Lords by 178 votes to 140, comes after the upper chamber recently supported barring under-16s from social media.

The peers’ proposed change to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will now be considered by MPs, with the legislation to be ping-ponged between the Commons and Lords until agreement is reached.

The proposed prohibition of the use and possession of smartphones by pupils would cover all schools in England if it becomes law.

The provision would allow for some exemptions, including for sixth-form students, boarding schools outside of teaching hours and medical devices.

However, peers voted down a proposal to allow pupils with special educational needs or disabilities to use smartphones as assistive technology where it is necessary for learning.

Source: School phone ban backed by Lords in government defeat (Tes.com)

3. Ofsted plans closer monitoring of impact on heads’ wellbeing

Deal with headteachers will broaden new framework feedback and establish union-led ‘independent advisory group’ to scrutinise data, writes Schools Week.

Ofsted has agreed to gather more feedback from school leaders on inspections’ impact on their wellbeing, as part of a deal with heads that will see a new “independent advisory group” launched.

Unions have repeatedly warned Ofsted’s new education inspection framework (EIF), which assesses schools across more areas than before, means more pressure on leaders.

The National Association of Head Teachers had been mulling industrial action over Ofsted’s five-point grading scale, after its application for a judicial review was thrown out by the High Court last year. The EIF was launched in November.

The inspectorate will add further questions on wellbeing to its existing survey of leaders about the new framework. The questions are still being drawn up. The data, collected from a representative sample of schools, will then be scrutinised by an advisory group set up by the NAHT.

Ofsted and the DfE have agreed to be permanent members. Representatives are also expected from ASCL and the CST. The chair will be Sinéad McBrearty, chief executive of charity Education Support and author of an independent wellbeing assessment of Ofsted’s reform plans, issued last year.

They will review new data, “identify actions that could further support mental health and wellbeing before, during, and after inspection”, as well as consider support schools receive post-inspection through the government’s RISE school improvement programme, and how this affects leaders’ wellbeing, the NAHT said.

Source: Ofsted plans closer monitoring of impact on heads’ wellbeing (schoolsweek.co.uk)