Bridget Phillipson used a GOV.UK‑published speech to Church of England school leaders on 22 January 2026 in Hackney to confirm a schools white paper is imminent. She set out an ambition for schools to act as “calm and hopeful anchors” and said the proposals will align with wider government work on child poverty, early years, children’s social care and post‑16 reform. (gov.uk)
The Secretary of State also confirmed the appointment of the Revd Canon Nigel Genders as Chief Schools Adjudicator, with Andy Wolfe to serve as interim chief executive of the National Society. The Church of England educates over one million pupils across more than 4,700 schools, and Genders is due to take up the adjudicator role in February 2026, according to Church of England statements and the speech transcript. (gov.uk)
Why this matters operationally: the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) determines admissions disputes and related cases. Provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill would extend local authority powers to direct academies to admit pupils and empower the adjudicator to set published admission numbers where objections are upheld, with changes to the statutory Admissions Code expected after Royal Assent. (gov.uk)
On policy direction, Phillipson emphasised high expectations alongside inclusion and a broader offer enriched by sport, culture, art and religious education. She highlighted groups too often left behind, including white working‑class pupils and children with SEND, and argued that schools should foster belonging as “communities of learning” for every child. (gov.uk)
The white paper will sit within a wider cross‑government programme. The UK Child Poverty Strategy, Our Children, Our Future, projects 550,000 fewer children in relative low income after housing costs by 2029/30 and income gains for 7.1 million children, providing the fiscal and social context ministers cite for school improvement. (gov.uk)
Early years policy is framed by Best Start in Life. The Department for Education confirmed plans for up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs across England and support for local ‘best start’ plans, with the Commons Library noting an ambition that 75% of five‑year‑olds achieve a good level of development by 2028. School leaders should expect closer alignment with local family services. (gov.uk)
At post‑16, the government’s white paper published on 20 October 2025 introduces the Growth and Skills Levy, expansion of Technical Excellence Colleges in priority sectors and the Lifelong Learning Entitlement from academic year 2026/27, enabling modular study at levels 4–6. It also confirms targeted support for learners with SEND in further education. (gov.uk)
For trusts and headteachers, the direction of travel is clearer: if the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill passes, admissions and place‑planning responsibilities will tighten. Measures trailed previously by the Department for Education-such as school report cards and new regional improvement teams-point to more transparent performance data and structured support‑and‑challenge. (parliament.uk)
Timing is now central to delivery. Phillipson’s 22 January remarks indicate the schools white paper remains close; Genders is expected to start as Chief Schools Adjudicator in February 2026; Best Start Family Hubs scale up through 2026; and the Lifelong Learning Entitlement begins in 2026/27. Schools should plan staff time for consultations and implementation guidance. (gov.uk)
The key issues to watch in the forthcoming white paper are the balance between high standards and inclusion, the interface with SEND reform in mainstream and specialist settings, and how admissions and place‑planning changes are operationalised via a revised Admissions Code after legislation. Expect staged implementation and further statutory guidance. (hansard.parliament.uk)