AI, Attendance, and Leadership Moves

Tuesday, 25 August 2026 — What’s shaping schools this week

Top Stories

AI

Microsoft flags urgent need for AI training in schools ↗

Microsoft’s 2026 AI report highlights a gap: schools are adopting AI tools but teachers lack the training to use them effectively. The key takeaway? Technology alone won’t improve learning without skilled staff guiding its use.

Source: Open Data Science
Wellbeing

New evidence links social media bullying to school absence ↗

Recent studies from the Anti-Bullying Alliance and Tes show a clear connection between online bullying and increased school absence. What this means for schools is an urgent need to address digital wellbeing as part of attendance strategies.

Source: Tes / Anti-Bullying Alliance
Leadership

ISC Census reveals big drop in independent school pupils ↗

The latest Independent Schools Council census reports a significant fall in pupil numbers. For school leaders, this raises questions about recruitment, retention and adapting to changing demand.

Source: Independent School Management
Wellbeing

£25m boost to tackle isolation for young people leaving care ↗

The government is rolling out a £25 million fund to support young people leaving care, ensuring they have networks around them as they transition to adulthood. This is a reminder that wellbeing support is critical in education and beyond.

Source: FE News
Al's Take
AI keeps pushing into classrooms but the key is training staff properly, not just buying tech. Attendance and wellbeing research reminds us that social factors really hit learning. And leadership is in flux with some big roles up for grabs. All practical stuff schools need to watch.

Number of the Day

5626
That’s how many new education jobs were listed on the platform this week – plenty of opportunities for leaders and teachers looking for a change. (Al’s Edu Intel Platform Stats)

Jobs Spotlight

Head of School - Foundation Learning ↗
Harrow College · Harrow, Greater London · £53,656 - £60,082 per annum
Regional Director for School Improvement ↗
Youth Engagement Schools Trust · Tyne and Wear · £95,734 - £110,891
Careers & Enrichment Leader ↗
Oasis Academy Hadley · Enfield, Greater London · Support Staff Scale Outer London – Point 20-26
Electrical Installation Course Leader and Lecturer ↗
Newbury College · Newbury, Berkshire · £30,160 - £39,034

Browse all live education jobs →
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Worth a Read

Young people, learning, and generative AI: A rapid literature review ↗

by Dr Matthew Hill

This is a helpful summary of the latest research on AI’s impact in education. It’s always worth a read to understand the nuances and avoid hype.

Coming Up

ESTA International Conference ↗ — 26-30 Aug 2026, Unknown
MATPN South West 2026 ↗ — September 2026, United Kingdom
Learning Impact Europe 2026 ↗ — 15-17 Sep 2026, Europe

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