Department for Education (DfE)

The Department for Education (DfE) is the UK government department responsible for education and children's services in England. It sets the national curriculum, oversees school funding, and implements policies related to education from early years to higher education. The DfE is currently newsworthy due to several ongoing issues. Firstly, there are calls for curriculum diversification, as highlighted by Bernardine Evaristo, to ensure inclusivity and representation. Secondly, the Labour party has announced plans to invest in creating special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) spaces within mainstream schools, a move that responds to the rising number of children facing social and mental health problems. Finally, scrutiny surrounds the DfE's spending on free schools, with data revealing significant investment in schools that subsequently failed or closed, raising questions about the effectiveness and financial prudence of the program. These issues underscore the DfE's central role in shaping the educational landscape and addressing critical challenges within the system.