Today's essential update for UK school leaders covers the government's decision to axe a key fund supporting schools' decarbonisation efforts, and news regarding the extension and funding of an important early language support pilot.

Key Briefings Inside:

1. £80 Million Low-Carbon Skills Fund Axed, Jeopardising School Green Plans: We report on the government's quiet decision to ditch the Low-Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) this year. This fund has provided over £80 million since 2020, with nearly £20 million going directly to schools, to help them pay for expert advice needed to develop applications for the multi-billion-pound Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). Experts like academy funding consultant Tim Warneford warn this will leave cash-strapped schools unable to afford PSDS bids, potentially stalling decarbonisation progress and shifting upfront investment burdens onto institutions. Learn about concerns that schools might now create "poorly scoped" plans, leading to underperformance or cost overruns. This comes despite DfE targets for schools to implement climate action plans this year and aim for net zero by 2050. An energy department spokesperson stated LCSF funding was refocused due to "overlapping support". Analyse the significant impact on schools' ability to meet sustainability goals.

   Keywords: Low Carbon Skills Fund LCSF axed, school decarbonisation funding UK, Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme PSDS, climate action plans schools, DfE net zero target education, Tim Warneford school funding, school green initiatives, educational building emissions.

   
   

2. Early Language Support Pilot (ELSEC) Extended, But With Reduced Funding: Explore the 12-month extension of the Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) pilot programme, which aims to identify speech and language needs in children under 11. Understand its function: deploying specialist teams (SALTAs) into primary and early years settings to spot delays and train staff. The pilot has already supported over 20,000 pupils and 3,000 staff. Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell hailed ELSEC as paving the way for a "reformed SEND system" focused on early intervention. However, the funding for the extension period totals £3.4 million (with £2.2m from DfE), reduced from the previous £4.4 million annual joint DfE/NHS funding. Despite this, officials hope to reach an additional 20,000 children. Analyse what this means for schools involved and the broader SEND reform agenda.

   Keywords: Early Language Support Every Child ELSEC pilot, speech and language funding schools, SEND reform UK, early intervention education, Catherine McKinnell DfE, NHS England education funding, EHCP reform, developmental delays children.

Episode Description:

Welcome to The Daily School Leaders Briefing for Thursday, May 22nd, 2025. Today's essential update for UK school leaders covers the government's announcement of the 2025-26 teacher pay award and significant wider recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) concerning teachers' terms and conditions.

Key Briefings Inside:

1. 4% Teacher Pay Rise Confirmed for September 2025: We detail the Department for Education's announcement that all teachers in England will receive a 4 per cent pay rise effective from September 2025. Understand the new minimum starting salaries for teachers (£32,916 nationally, up to £40,317 in London) and the updated pay scales for Main, Upper, Leadership, and Headteacher ranges across England, including specific London bands. We also cover the 4% increase to Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payments and the uplift for unqualified teacher pay scales. Analyse the immediate implications for school budget planning and financial management.

   Keywords: Teacher pay rise England 2025-26, 4 percent teacher salary increase, DfE teacher pay announcement, new teacher pay scales, M1 starting salary, Upper Pay Scale U1 U3, Leadership pay scale, Headteacher pay groups, TLR payments, unqualified teacher pay.

   
   

2. STRB Calls for Major Reforms: Flexible Working, Targeted Pay & STPCD Review: Explore the key recommendations from the STRB's 35th report, issued alongside its pay advice. Delve into the call for mandatory school policies to "fully embrace" flexible working, with suggestions for implementation and oversight. Understand the proposal for new work on targeting remuneration to address teacher shortages in specific subjects or areas. Learn about the STRB's view that the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) needs "significant review" and "modernisation". We also cover the STRB's cautious stance on pension "innovation" potentially reducing total remuneration and its view on multi-year pay settlements. Analyse the potential long-term impact of these recommendations on school HR policies, career structures, and employment practices.

   Keywords: STRB 35th report recommendations, mandatory flexible working schools, targeted teacher pay shortages, School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document STPCD review, multi-year teacher pay settlements, Teachers’ Pension Scheme TPS opt-out, teacher remuneration reform.

Welcome to The Daily School Leaders Briefing for Wednesday, May 21st, 2025. Today's essential update for UK school leaders covers significant proposed amendments to the government's Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently in the House of Lords, and news of a sudden leadership change at a major Multi-Academy Trust.

Key Briefings Inside:

1. Peers Seek to Water Down Schools Bill Powers with 500+ Amendments: We delve into the committee stage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in the House of Lords, where around 500 amendments have been tabled. Explore key proposals from peers including Shadow Education Minister Baroness Barran's attempts to limit the Education Secretary's broad new "direction" powers over trusts, extend academy pay freedoms to maintained schools, and restart paused free school projects. Understand former academies minister Lord Agnew's push to exempt 'good' academies from the national curriculum and align maintained school financial accountability with academies. Other significant amendments cover extending profit caps to independent special schools, free school meal expansion, school phone bans, faith school admission caps, collective worship, and branded uniform limits. Note the large number of amendments concerning home education tabled by Lord Wei. Analyse the potential impact of these proposed changes on school governance, operations, and central oversight.

   Keywords: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, House of Lords amendments, Baroness Barran, Lord Agnew, Education Secretary direction powers, academy freedoms, free schools, independent special schools profit cap, maintained school accountability, faith school admissions, collective worship, school uniform policy, home education Lord Wei.

2. CEO of Large MAT GLF Schools Departs Suddenly After 18 Months: We report on the unexpected departure of Julian Drinkall as Chief Executive Officer of GLF Schools, one of England's largest MATs with 43 academies. Learn that he stepped down "effective immediately" by "mutual agreement" after less than 18 months in the role, with Chief Finance Officer James Nicholson appointed as interim CEO. Understand the context of Mr. Drinkall's tenure, during which GLF Schools undertook restructuring leading to £242,000 in redundancy payments in 2023-24 and a 4% reduction in staff numbers, alongside trialling a controversial mobile phone "blackout" app. Analyse the implications of this leadership change within a prominent MAT.

   Keywords: GLF Schools CEO departure, Julian Drinkall, James Nicholson interim CEO, Multi-Academy Trust leadership, MAT executive changes, academy trust restructuring, redundancy payments MATs, school mobile phone policy, Academies Enterprise Trust.