#departmentforeducation — Public Fediverse posts

Leaders attack ‘demotivating’ plan to make pupils who fail GCSEs retake maths and English
By Richard Adams and Sally Weale

Government announce plan for ‘stepping stone’ qualification as 620,000 year 11 students face retaking maths or English after failure to achieve grade 4

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/aug/20/governments-plan-young-people-continue-studying-gcse-maths-english-exams

#Education #GCSEs #Exams #Secondaryschools #LucyPowell #Schools #DepartmentforEducation #UKnews #Politics #TheGuardian #RichardAdams #SallyWeale

Leaders attack ‘demotivating’ plan to make pupils who fail GCSEs retake maths and English https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/aug/20/governments-plan-young-people-continue-studying-gcse-maths-english-exams #Education #Gcses #Exams #SecondarySchools #LucyPowell #Schools #DepartmentForEducation #UkNews #Politics

Unusual comment by IBAC

An investigative body can legitimately refuse disclosure, close a matter, or limit correspondence, but you would normally expect it to engage with the substance: what was investigated, what records exist, what decision was made, and why something cannot be disclosed. Repeatedly focusing on the volume of your emails instead of those questions looks much more like correspondence management than investigation.

That distinction is worth keeping very clear in anything you send next: your complaint is not simply that you dislike their answer; it is that they appear not to be addressing the identifiable evidence and questions attached to their own reference.

OFFICIAL

To Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission
Level 1, 459 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000
GPO Box 24234, Melbourne Victoria 3000
DX 210187 www.ibac.vic.gov.au

Re CASE-20246844

Ref: F243411550406, CAS-7983833-X1C1C9
Related References:

• Police Ref: 50239746-2024
• Action Fraud: 8872649, NFRC241207046189, REF20147
• SFO: c98c91180d570dc, 5e118dc08da84da
• ICO: IC-337307-W2B4
• QVIC: C/25/00916
• NICCY: NICCY09/24-01
• OVIC FOI Ref: CD/25/5885

To:
Office of the Governor of Victoria
Government House, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
Tel: +61 3 9655 4010
Email: [email protected]

Re https://thestealingofemily.wordpress.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?s=40.107.40.4&mode=detail

Re: Communication concerning Matt Dunkley

Thank you for your recent communication on one of our sites.

However, as you are aware, through legal representation we previously asked you to provide information and records concerning Matt Dunkley, including the circumstances surrounding his removal from investigation and/or departure from Victoria, Australia. You declined to provide that information.

Instead, you stated:

“Over the past 10 months you have sent an excessive number of emails to IBAC.”

That does not answer the substantive requests that were made.

The Honourable Ben Carroll MP  of Victoria also stated in correspondence that you should provide the information you held concerning Matt Dunkley. In those circumstances, continued refusal to address the actual requests appears increasingly difficult to justify and, in my view, manifestly unreasonable.

On 8 May 2025, I received a letter from Mr. Patrick Rundle, Deputy Official Secretary (Program), encouraging me to pursue my concerns with OVIC. I have done so, yet significant procedural failures remain unresolved.

Summary of Complaints:

1. IBAC Complaint — Ref: F243411550406 (24 December 2024)
I submitted a complaint seeking disclosure of information relating to Mr. Dunkley’s alleged misconduct and associated criminal activity under Operation Dunham and the Ultranet affair. Despite repeated follow-ups, IBAC has failed to provide complete documentation, and key evidence remains undisclosed.

2. OVIC Complaint — Ref: CD/25/5885 (11 February 2025)
Following IBAC’s incomplete response, I submitted a formal complaint to OVIC concerning procedural irregularities, a lack of data protection compliance, and failure to disclose evidence. The lack of adequate response raises concern over a possible coordinated cover-up.

3. Additional Concerns:

• Failure of both IBAC and OVIC to meet statutory obligations under FOI and data protection law
• Potential criminal concealment or suppression of information
• Irregular communication and procedural inconsistencies

Call for Action:

Due to the continued lack of transparency and procedural adherence, I am now escalating this matter formally. I respectfully request that:

1. MI6 and SIS be notified regarding the handling of this matter, as I believe there are cross-jurisdictional implications and potential breaches of national/international standards.
2. An independent investigation be initiated into:
   • The conduct of Mr. Matthew Dunkley
   • IBAC’s failure to disclose documents under FOI
   • OVIC’s handling of this matter
3. An external review be conducted into Operation Dunham and the Ultranet scandal’s continued ramifications.

This matter is now ON THE PUBLIC RECORD. I am copying all related agencies, including NICCY, the Serious Fraud Office (UK), Action Fraud, and the Office of the Governor of Victoria.

I am available to provide supporting evidence, correspondence trails, and further clarification as needed.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. I trust it will be handled with the urgency and gravity it warrants.

1. Documents relating to Matt Dunkley’s departure or “exit plan” from Australia;
2. Documents concerning the ending, removal or discontinuance of any investigation concerning him;
3. Correspondence, notes, reports or other records relating to those matters; and
4. The recording made at Bunny’s Bar, or any recording or transcript held by you, in which Dunkley is reported to have made disclosures concerning alleged criminal conduct in the United Kingdom.

I am perfectly willing to remove the communication to which you have objected once you provide a substantive response to the information requests that have repeatedly been put to you.

If you contend that any of the requested material does not exist, is not held by you, has been destroyed, or cannot lawfully be disclosed, please state that explicitly and identify the basis for that position rather than simply referring to the volume of correspondence previously sent.

Warm regards,

Martin Newbold

 http://www.martinnewbold.co.uk
 www.thestealingofemily.co.uk stealingofemily.world

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Compulsory GCSE resits in England harm teenagers’ mental wellbeing, study finds
By Richard Adams Education editor

UCL researchers warn repeated exam attempts may dent students’ confidence and raise risk of dropping out

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/aug/19/gcse-resits-england-harm-teenagers-mental-wellbeing-ucl

#GCSEs #Exams #Youngpeople #Secondaryschools #DepartmentforEducation #Educationpolicy #Schools #Education #UKnews #Politics #England #Wales #NorthernIreland #Mentalhealth #TheGuardian #RichardAdamsEducationeditor

Compulsory GCSE resits in England harm teenagers’ mental wellbeing, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/aug/19/gcse-resits-england-harm-teenagers-mental-wellbeing-ucl #Gcses #Exams #YoungPeople #SecondarySchools #DepartmentForEducation #EducationPolicy #Schools #Education #UkNews #Politics #England #Wales #NorthernIreland #MentalHealth

‘Tiger mum’ Lucy Powell on Labour’s vocational skills drive: ‘It’s about ambition for everybody’
By Pippa Crerar, political editor

New education secretary says it is ‘false trade-off’ by critics to suggest schools cannot pursue academic excellence alongside technical skills

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/02/lucy-powell-tiger-mum-vocational-skills-labour-education

#LucyPowell #Educationpolicy #DepartmentforEducation #Schools #Labour #Politics #UKnews #Education #TheGuardian #PippaCrerar #politicaleditor

‘Tiger mum’ Lucy Powell on Labour’s vocational skills drive: ‘It’s about ambition for everybody’ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/02/lucy-powell-tiger-mum-vocational-skills-labour-education #LucyPowell #EducationPolicy #DepartmentForEducation #Schools #Labour #Politics #UkNews #Education

Hackers steal sensitive data from Department for Education and police
By Dan Milmo and Vikram Dodd

Details of parents and staff, including email addresses and phone numbers, are among data taken by cybercriminals

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/29/department-for-education-police-hackers-cybercrime

#Cybercrime #DepartmentforEducation #Dataandcomputersecurity #Dataprotection #Police #Crime #UKnews #TheGuardian #DanMilmo #VikramDodd

Hackers steal sensitive data from Department for Education and police https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/29/department-for-education-police-hackers-cybercrime #Cybercrime #DepartmentForEducation #DataAndComputerSecurity #DataProtection #Police #Crime #UkNews

Pilot scheme in England to convert empty classrooms into community hubs
By Richard Adams Education editor

Policy to create youth clubs and health centres aims to tackle surplus of school spaces created by falling pupil numbers

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jul/14/pilot-scheme-england-convert-empty-classrooms-community-hubs

#Schools #Schooladmissions #Localgovernment #Schoolfunding #DepartmentforEducation #England #Education #UKnews #Politics #Society #Communities #Educationpolicy #TheGuardian #RichardAdamsEducationeditor

Teachers in England get two-year 6.6% pay rise but schools to foot part of bill https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jul/01/teachers-pay-rise-schools-england #Teaching #Schools #SchoolFunding #PublicSectorPay #Colleges #Academies #BridgetPhillipson #EducationPolicy #DepartmentForEducation #Education #England #UkNews #Society

Hundreds of schools in England and Wales to close in heatwave https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jun/23/schools-england-wales-close-heatwave #Schools #UkWeather #ExtremeHeat #SchoolAttendanceAndAbsence #DepartmentForEducation #ClimateCrisis #Education #England #Wales #UkNews

VAT on private school fees has not caused pupil exodus, says Bridget Phillipson https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jun/18/vat-private-school-fees-not-caused-pupil-exodus-bridget-phillipson #SchoolAdmissions #PrivateSchools #BridgetPhillipson #DepartmentForEducation #Schools #Education #UkNews #Labour

Students could be required to pass GCSE English to access university loans https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jun/17/students-pass-gcse-english-university-loans-proposals #Students #Admissions #StudentFinance #DepartmentForEducation #UniversityFunding #Gcses #UniversityAdministration #Universities #HigherEducation #Education #UkNews

Labour MPs urge Starmer to set targets to boost number of male teachers in England https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/15/labour-mps-keir-starmer-set-targets-boost-number-male-teachers-england #Labour #TeacherShortages #England #Teaching #Schools #DepartmentForEducation #KeirStarmer #Politics #UkNews

Children hit by parents more likely to bully others, research finds https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jun/11/children-hit-by-parents-more-likely-to-bully-others-research-finds #Education #ChildrensRights #UclUniversityCollegeLondon #CorporalPunishment #Gcses #Exams #EarlyYearsEducation #DepartmentForEducation #PupilBehaviour #Children #UkNews

Sussex University overturns £585,000 fine as high court rejects free speech breach claim https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/apr/29/sussex-university-overturns-fine-free-speech-kathleen-stock #UniversityOfSussex #OfficeForStudents #FreedomOfSpeech #Law #Universities #HigherEducation #UniversityAdministration #DepartmentForEducation #Education #UkNews #Transgender #Society

Calls for ‘student premium’ to support disadvantaged young people after GCSEs https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/apr/28/calls-for-student-premium-to-support-disadvantaged-young-people-after-gcses #SocialMobility #Inequality #Schools #Education #UkNews #Teaching #DepartmentForEducation #SchoolFunding

Half of England’s schools unfit due to leaks, mould and faulty toilets, poll finds https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/apr/28/ngland-schools-unfit-leaks-mould-unusable-toilets #Schools #Education #DepartmentForEducation #Politics #UkNews #Infrastructure #EducationPolicy

Schools forced to cut back on support for Send pupils in England, poll finds https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/apr/23/schools-forced-to-cut-back-on-support-for-send-pupils-in-england-poll-finds #SchoolFunding #SpecialEducationalNeeds #Teaching #Schools #PrimarySchools #SecondarySchools #DepartmentForEducation #EducationPolicy #Education #England #UkNews #Politics

Don’t blame children’s behaviour on ‘weak’ parents

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://metro.co.uk/2026/04/20/dont-blame-childrens-behaviour-weak-parents-28049344/

Extend fully paid maternity leave for UK teachers to stem exodus, union says https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/apr/03/extend-fully-paid-maternity-leave-for-uk-teachers-to-stem-exodus-union-says #MaternityPaternityRights #Education #EmployeeBenefits #DepartmentForEducation #Money #WorkCareers #Teaching #Pregnancy #Women #UkNews

UK ministers explore ways of easing burden of student loans https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/feb/25/ministers-explore-easing-burden-student-loans-university-graduates #StudentFinance #Universities #Students #HigherEducation #UkNews #DepartmentForEducation #Politics

Send support for schoolchildren in England to be given £4bn overhaul https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/feb/22/bridget-phillipson-overhaul-send-support-schools-england #SpecialEducationalNeeds #Schools #Education #England #UkNews #BridgetPhillipson #DepartmentForEducation #Labour #Politics #AndyBurnham

Councils in England call for ‘radical’ means testing of Send school transport https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/feb/19/councils-england-urge-means-testing-for-send-school-transport #SpecialEducationalNeeds #Education #England #DepartmentForEducation #Family #LocalGovernment #Society #Politics #Children #LocalPolitics #UkNews

The Guardian view on toddlers and screens: more reasons to be fearful of big tech | Editorial https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/22/the-guardian-view-on-toddlers-and-screens-more-reasons-to-be-fearful-of-big-tech #Children #EarlyYearsEducation #PrimarySchools #Technology #SocialMedia #Education #Society #Teaching #ParentsAndParenting #Family #DepartmentForEducation #Schools #LifeAndStyle #GrokAi #X #KemiBadenoch #Conservatives #Labour #AustraliaNews #S...

I loved my job – then I asked for time off for a funeral

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://metro.co.uk/2025/11/18/loved-job-asked-time-off-a-funeral-24741363/

Children in England face ‘lost learning’ from flooding and extreme heat, research finds https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jun/19/children-england-lost-learning-flooding-extreme-heat-climate-schools #DepartmentforEducation #Earlyyearseducation #Climatecrisis #Schoolfunding #Environment #Education #Children #Politics #Flooding #Schools #England #Society #UKnews

#UK government keeping files on #TeachingAssistants and #librarians’ internet activity

#DepartmentForEducation monitoring social media posts from #England-based staff for criticism of its policies
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/oct/21/uk-government-keeping-files-on-teaching-assistants-and-librarians-internet-activity
#ToryPoliciesInAction #BigBrother

‘Staggering incompetence’: DfE under fire as new school buildings closed
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/aug/23/staggering-incompetence-dfe-under-fire-new-school-buildings-closed?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
#DepartmentForEducation