England's final provisional attendance picture for 2025/26 weakened slightly, while new admissions data showed fewer successful appeals.
Leaders also received research on disadvantaged post-16 pathways, local exam data, a pension consultation and SEND vaccination guidance for schools.
Technical education remained reported policy, not a settled curriculum. This briefing covers Sunday 2 August to Saturday 8 August 2026 for school leaders in England.
It separates requirements from proposals, research and reporting.
This England briefing isn't legal, clinical or financial advice. Publication dates and status were checked on 9 August 2026. Local facts, applicable guidance and professional judgement still need to be applied.
Quick scan: seven developments
| Date | Development and status | School response |
|---|---|---|
| 6 August | Full-year attendance estimates remained provisional and showed a small decline | Review patterns and support, without assigning causes from aggregate data |
| 6 August | Primary and secondary admission appeal success rates reached series lows | Audit communications, capacity evidence and transition planning |
| 6 August | DfE published experimental research on disadvantaged post-16 pathways | Strengthen transition support, but do not label or predict pupils |
| 7 August | Ofqual added local authority exam analysis for 2019 to 2025 | Use it as context and resist treating it as a verdict on a school or cohort |
| 7 August | Teachers' Pension Scheme amendments opened for consultation | Scenario-plan and respond, but do not change deductions |
| 7 August | UKHSA issued SEND vaccination access guidance | Plan reasonable adjustments with the vaccination team |
| 3 and 7 August | Technical routes remained a reported proposal for 2028 | Prepare questions; wait before redesigning the key stage 4 offer |
Attendance slipped and gaps remained stark
The update
On 6 August, DfE published its final provisional attendance estimate for 2025/26. Overall attendance was 93.07%, down 0.06 percentage points on 2024/25. Persistent absence rose to 19.05%.
Absence was 13.19% in special schools, 8.57% in secondary schools and 5.31% in primary schools. It was 10.87% for pupils eligible for free school meals, compared with 5.26% for other pupils.
Pupils with an EHC plan had 13.64% absence. The rate was 10.07% for SEN support and 5.80% for pupils with no identified SEN. These national associations don't explain any individual pupil.
The statistics are early estimates and may be revised. DfE also proposed less frequent reporting after spring 2026/27 and invited methodology feedback by 28 August 2026.
Why it matters and what leaders should do
The small headline change should not obscure wide phase, disadvantage and SEND gaps. Review school and cohort patterns, then test possible barriers with pupils, families, staff and local evidence before deciding support.
Check whether planned September attendance work has named owners, review dates and links to safeguarding and SEND. Do not turn a national comparison or attendance threshold into an automatic escalation.
How Student Radar may help
Student Radar's available Attendance Analytics and Attendance Playbooks can support school-scoped review of trends and staff-owned actions.
The workflow organises evidence and follow-up. It does not determine why a pupil is absent, select an intervention or replace safeguarding, SEND and attendance professionals.
Sources: DfE's 2025/26 attendance release and statistics collection, published 6 August; Schools Week context, 6 August.
Admission appeal success rates reached series lows
The update
DfE's 6 August release recorded 7,600 primary admission appeals heard in 2026, equal to 1.0% of admissions. About 1,100 succeeded, a 15.0% success rate and the lowest in the series from 2016.
Secondary schools heard 27,100 appeals, equal to 3.6% of admissions. About 5,300 succeeded, a 19.5% success rate, also the lowest since the series began.
Why it matters and what leaders should do
National appeal rates can signal pressure, but they do not explain an individual decision or a local fall. Review admission and appeal communications for accuracy, accessibility and a clear evidence trail.
Connect place-planning conversations to transition capacity, especially where late placements affect SEND preparation. Keep the panel's independent role and the admissions authority's duties clear.
Source: DfE's admission appeals in England 2026, published 6 August. The release covers state-funded primary and secondary schools in England.
Post-16 research showed persistent disadvantage without determining individual destiny
The research
On 6 August, DfE published experimental analysis using Longitudinal Education Outcomes data. One cohort was aged 15 in 2012/13 and followed to age 25 in 2023/24, so this is historic association, not a live forecast.
By 25, 22% of learners ever eligible for free school meals had a level 6 qualification or above, against 42% of others. The equivalent figures were 15% for learners with SEN and 42% without.
The report also studied three cohorts aged 16 from 2015/16 to 2017/18. It defined a NEET spell as six consecutive months without an observed education or employment spell in an academic year.
Why it matters and what leaders should do
The findings strengthen the case for durable transition records, destination checks and support that survives a change of setting. They do not justify a pupil-level risk score or a prediction of later education or earnings.
Review whether year 11 and post-16 handovers include strengths, aspirations, agreed adjustments, current support and an identified follow-up. Record missing destination evidence. Don't treat that missing evidence as a negative outcome.
Sources: DfE's research landing page and full research report, published 6 August.
Ofqual added local exam-result context before results days
The release
Ofqual launched local authority exam data on 7 August. Its analytics service now shows 2019 to 2025 results and subject uptake by district, county, unitary authority and region.
Ofqual said 2026 data would appear from 9:30am on A level results day, 13 August, and GCSE results day, 20 August. Its totals can differ slightly from JCQ data because the collection timing differs.
Why it matters and what leaders should do
Local comparison can help leaders and governors ask better questions. It is not a direct measure of school effectiveness and does not account for every difference in cohort, entry pattern or context.
Agree who will access the data and how it will be described. Keep embargoed pupil results secure, separate early Ofqual context from later DfE accountability data and avoid instant causal claims.
Source: Ofqual's local authority exam data announcement, published 7 August.
Teachers' pension changes are a consultation, not a payroll instruction
The consultation
DfE opened a consultation on proposed Teachers' Pension Scheme regulation changes on 7 August. It applies to England and Wales and closes at 11:59pm on 30 October 2026.
Proposals include adjusting member contribution rates after the latest scheme valuation, clarifying provisions and aligning regulations with DfE policy. No proposed amendment is yet in force.
Why it matters and what leaders should do
Contribution changes can affect payroll, staff communication and household take-home pay. School business and HR teams should read the draft with their trust, payroll provider and pension adviser.
Model possible operational effects and decide whether to respond. Do not alter deductions or tell staff that a proposal is final before regulations and implementation dates are confirmed.
Source: DfE's Teachers' Pension Scheme regulations consultation, opened 7 August.
New SEND vaccination guidance focuses on access and adjustments
The guidance
UKHSA published guidance on 7 August for specialist settings and SENCos in mainstream schools. It covers access to school-aged vaccination programmes for children and young people with SEND.
The guidance describes child-centred planning with school-aged immunisation services. Examples include quiet spaces, more time, a parent present, flexible settings and more than one attempt.
Why it matters and what leaders should do
Meet the immunisation team before autumn delivery. Invite families to share adjustment needs, prepare an appropriate space and agree accessible communication and a safe route for relevant information.
Schools enable access; clinicians decide medical suitability and parents or eligible young people provide consent. Check data sharing with the service and your data protection lead against current guidance.
Sources: UKHSA's guidance for specialist providers and SENCos and school immunisation guidance.
Technical routes remain reported policy; it is not a settled curriculum
The reported position
Schools Week reported on 3 August that DfE did not plan to reopen the previous curriculum and assessment review. A draft curriculum was expected in September 2026, with final publication in spring 2027.
On 7 August, the publication reported debate around proposed technical pathways for ages 14 to 16 from September 2028. Details on funding, accountability and the final qualification offer remain unsettled.
Why it matters and what leaders should do
Schools need lead time for staffing, facilities and partnerships, but a reported direction is not final guidance. Do not redraw the key stage 4 offer or steer pupils into pathways before detail and consultation arrive.
Inventory existing technical provision, access barriers and workforce capacity. Ask how any route would widen genuine choice, fit accountability measures and avoid narrowing options for pupils who are disadvantaged or have SEND.
Sources: Schools Week reporting on the curriculum review timetable, 3 August, and technical education proposals, 7 August.
Week ahead: what to watch and prepare
- Brief results-day teams for A level results on 13 August and GCSE results on 20 August.
- Agree how Ofqual local context will be separated from pupil results and later DfE data.
- Ask the immunisation service what SEND adjustments and information it needs for autumn.
- Review attendance support ownership before the new term and record unresolved barriers.
- Send attendance publication-frequency feedback by 28 August if the proposal affects your work.
- Route the pension consultation to HR, payroll and governance; responses close 30 October.
- Watch for the draft curriculum in September before making technical-route commitments.
For attendance preparation, revisit the summer attendance and safeguarding plan guide. For transition evidence, use the pupil voice before transition guide.