Blog

No one doubts the importance of reading in unlocking learning. But will the government’s recently announced ‘ambition’ for 90% of children to reach the expected standard in the phonics check and its planned Year 8 mandatory reading test have the desired impact? ASCL’s Deputy Director of Policy, Tom Middlehurst reflects.

Over 20% of pupils are now officially recorded as having a first language other than English. As the government prepares for 2026 as the ‘Year of Reading’ there is a risk this could exclude multilingual learners. In their guest blog, EAL Inclusive highlights the latest research and practical tips to value linguistic diversity in your setting.

With the Esports World Cup recently concluding with a record prize pool, the first Esports Nations Cup coming in 2026, and inaugural Olympic Esports Games following in 2027, competitive video gaming is more prominent than ever. In this guest blog, the British Esports Federation explains how it works and runs through the opportunities and benefits for schools.
 

The Prime Minister announced a bold ambition this week, where schools will play a greater role in ensuring every pupil has a clear post-16 destination. But while the ambition is laudable, it must be matched with infrastructure, funding and collaborative frameworks, writes ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist Claire Green.