Department for Education Announces Sweeping Changes to Transform UK Education System in 2025

Digital Revolution and Educational Reform

The Department for Education is spearheading a digital revolution in education, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson setting out comprehensive plans to modernize the education system, support teachers, and deliver improved outcomes for students.

The transformation aims to break down barriers to opportunity by ensuring universal access to essential tools and support, while streamlining costly and time-consuming processes to maintain high educational standards.

Tackling Educational Inequality

A major initiative announced in February 2025 includes a £20 million investment in new regional improvement teams (RISE teams) to target underperforming schools. Each struggling school will be eligible for up to £100,000 in specialist support.

In higher education, the government has announced reduced tuition fees for classroom-based foundation years courses to £5,760 from the 2025-2026 academic year, aiming to deliver courses more efficiently and at lower costs to students.

Technology and Innovation

The DfE has secured commitments from leading global tech firms including Google, Microsoft, Adobe, and Amazon Web Services to make AI tools for education safer by design. These companies have helped develop expectations for AI tools in classroom use, including enhanced filtering of harmful content and child-centered design.

Research supports these technological initiatives, with the Education Endowment Foundation finding that effective digital technology can accelerate learning by 2 to 3 months. Additionally, over two-thirds of school leaders report improved pupil attainment through educational technology.

Looking Ahead

The government is calling on universities to significantly increase their efforts in boosting access for disadvantaged students and breaking down barriers to opportunity. The Department for Education is expected to announce additional reforms in the coming months to address these challenges.