Dates and deadlines
The following are known dates and deadlines for the spring and summer terms of the academic year 2024/25. This list is probably not exhaustive, since the current government is still relatively new and may bring in additional changes of which we are not yet aware.
RISE
January 2025. The government is set to launch its regional improvement teams, which are groups of civil servants and advisers known as regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) teams. The work of these teams will be closely linked to the outcomes of the new report cards, due to be launched by Ofsted in September 2025.
Academy conversion support grant
1 January 2025. This grant of up to £25,000 has ended. In the past it was provided to schools that were in the early stages of converting to academy status. However, it will still be paid to schools that have had compulsorily to become sponsored academies because of an Ofsted judgment.
Trust capacity fund
Until recently, MATs could apply for funding to help them develop their capacity and take on underperforming schools, particularly in education investment areas. However, the DfE has now decided not to award funding to any school that made a bid in window 4 last year and has no plans to introduce future rounds of the trust capacity fund.
Annual return
Academies are reminded that the deadline for their annual return (AR) is 28 January 2025.
Census data
From 31 January 2025, October census data will be used for the ITT performance profile publication.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)
This executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE) is set to close on 31 March 2025, bringing its current functions into the main DfE. Its schools financial support and oversight teams have already moved to the DfE regions group and other core functions will be moved into the DfE in March to become part of the operations and infrastructure group.
Breakfast clubs
From April 2025, free breakfast clubs are due to operate in 750 so-called ‘adopter’ primary schools.
Climate action plans
By September 2025, the government’s sustainability and climate change strategy for education requires all education settings to have a nominated sustainability lead and to have put in place a climate action plan.
Admissions timeline
- 31 January 2025 is the deadline for the completion of any consultation on proposed admission arrangements for the 2026/27 academic year.
- 28 February 2025 is the national closing date for academies and maintained schools to determine their admissions arrangements for September 2026.
- 28 February 2025 is the national closing date for academies and maintained schools to publish their appeals timetable for 2025 on their websites.
- May 2025 is the deadline for objections to a school’s admissions arrangements.
Secondary school places
Offers of school places will be sent on 1 March 2025. The offer must be accepted by the deadline given in the offer letter.
Primary school places
- The deadline for applying for a primary school place for September 2025 is 15 January 2025.
- Offers of school places will be sent on 16 April 2025. The offer must be accepted by the deadline given in the offer letter.
Primary statutory tests timetable
Reception baseline assessment
Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first six weeks after they enter reception.
Phonics screening (year 1)
The screening test will take place in the week beginning Monday 9 June 2025.
Optional key stage 1 tests
It is recommended that these be taken during May 2025.
Multiplication check (year 4)
This check must be administered to all eligible year 4 pupils within the two-week period from Monday 2 June 2025.
Key stage 2 SATs
These are timetabled from Monday 12 May to Thursday 15 May 2025.
External moderation of teacher assessment
Local authorities will inform schools if they are going to receive an external moderation visit on or after Friday 16 May 2025. The moderation visits will take place from Monday 2 June to Friday 27 June 2025.
School census dates
Spring term 2025
Census date: 16 January 2025.
Return date: 12 February 2025.
Summer term 2025
Census date: 15 May 2025.
Return date: 11 June 2025.
Early careers teachers
Participants who started their ECF based training on or before 31 December 2024 and who are expected to complete their training over two academic years, should remain on the default schedule this academic year as follows:
| Retention point 1 | Milestone date: 31 March 2025 | Payment date: 30 April 2025 |
| Retention point 2 | Milestone date: 31 July 2025 | Payment date: 31 August 2025 |
Current consultations
The following are current consultations – resultant legislation or changes may follow during the course of the next two terms.
- Consultation will begin in early 2025 on a new inspection framework for schools, early years and further education.
- The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations consultation closes on 23 January 2025.
Unknown outcomes
The following consultations were initiated in 2024 before the General Election but have not yet been followed up:
- Draft non-statutory guidance entitled ‘Gender questioning children’ (consultation closed in March 2024 and no government response yet).
- Revised RHSE guidance (consultation closed 11 July 2024 and government response will be published on GOV.UK in 2025).
Policy reviews
Schools are reminded to review the following statutory policies. Some require annual review, others less frequently.
Annually
- Admission arrangements.
- Teachers’ pay.
- Child protection policy and procedures.
- SEND.
- Health and safety policy.
Every three years
- Accessibility policy.
Every four years
- Public sector equality duty.
All other statutory policies are either live documents that have to be kept up-to-date at all times, or they are documents that the DfE recommends should be visited periodically.
Next academic year 2025/26
- Report cards in all areas of Ofsted inspections will be introduced from September 2025.
- From September 2025, changes to the EYFS framework, to strengthen safeguarding requirements, will come into force.
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