What do schools need to know this term?

New toolkits and guidance will help inspectors tailor their approach to the school’s phase and type, with more weight given to local context and individual circumstances.

Ofsted plans to introduce the new inspection framework on 1st November 2025. The consultation closed at the end of last month, but Ofsted has not yet published a response. This is causing concern among school leaders. Many hope the response will be available before the end of the summer term.

From autumn 2025, it’s proposed that Ofsted will no longer carry out ungraded inspections of state-funded schools. This means every school will know that its next routine Ofsted inspection will be a full, graded one.

Preparation is key ahead of inspection, and for many schools, that means building a strong and consistent staff team. Teaching Personnel supports schools by providing experienced

educators who understand what inspectors are looking for and are familiar with the evolving Ofsted framework demands.

This term marks the expansion of Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE), which will become the main intervention for schools needing significant improvement from September 2026.

When a school is selected for RISE support, an advisor visits the school to understand their situation. RISE advisers are education professionals with experience in school leadership and improvement. The programme selects advisers based on their track record of improving school outcomes. By April 2025, the Department had appointed 65 advisers to the programme. This marks a more than threefold increase from the original 20 at launch.

For targeted schools, it’s important to note that the Trust remains accountable for driving improvements. This shared responsibility enables school leaders to engage with RISE advisors with greater confidence, knowing the Trust is there to support the process.

Teaching Personnel can work with you to provide skilled professionals who support improvement planning and delivery. Get in touch with us today to find out more.

Pay and funding: Budget pressures mount

Schools are waiting for the government’s response to the School Teachers Review Body (STRB) teacher pay award recommendation. Six months ago the government proposed a 2.8% pay increase for 2025-26, yet the size of the uplift is still yet to be decided . This leaves schools with a budgeting headache. With school budgets already stretched, particularly in alternative provision (AP), the uncertainty around funding is challenging for those managing budgets.

Spending review: Looking ahead

 In the 2024 autumn budget, the Chancellor set out the outcome of Phase 1 of the Spending Review, which confirmed departmental budgets for 2024-25 and set budgets for 2025-26. Yet, with a more challenging economic outlook forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the second phase, expected on the 11th of June, could bring tighter constraints.

Whatever the outcome, Teaching Personnel is here to help schools stay responsive and well-prepared. Our consultants support informed, strategic staffing decisions and offer tools to help you plan and make the most of your budget. Get in touch to find out how we can support your school.