Every mainstream state school in England will receive individual attendance targets and increased monitoring as official data shows persistent absence rates remain double pre-pandemic levels.
Despite widespread speculation and predictions of a mass exodus, newly published admissions data for England shows no significant influx of pupils into state schools following the introduction of 20% VAT on private school fees. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated the data proves critics wrong, emphasizing a rebalancing towards state schools.
England's state schools saw a drop of over 1,900 teachers this year, marking the second consecutive annual decline. The Department for Education claims progress on a pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers, but union leaders and researchers point to record low new entrants and question the figures.
