GENERAL NEWS NEWS...
Commercial Services Group acquires WF Education Group
Commercial Services Group (CSG) has acquired UK and France-based organisation WF Education Group and its subsidiary brands Maudesport, Timstar, Technology Supplies (TSL), and Gresswell. This strategic acquisition further broadens CSG’s extensive range of
education products and services, enhancing its ability to support educators at every stage of learning, from early years through to post-16 education and beyond.
The newly acquired brands will be integrated into CSG’s expansive portfolio, adding an additional 3,000 customers and 10,000 products to the existing 30,000 already offered through KCS, a well-established division of CSG.
Furthermore, CES, another CSG brand, provides a diverse range of educational resources to schools worldwide, while Landscapes for Learning remains a leader in delivering outdoor learning equipment for primary schools, nurseries, and daycare centres.
The acquisition of the WF Education Group brands enhances CSG’s position by expanding its portfolio with services that create dynamic library and learning spaces, alongside subject-specific, curriculum-focused products and resources in areas such as sport, science, libraries, and design and technology.
This will significantly increase CSG’s ability to meet the evolving needs of schools, as well as public and university libraries, both in the UK and internationally.
Matt Johnson, CEO of Commercial Services Group, said: “This acquisition marks a significant step in our journey towards becoming the leading provider of education products and services to schools. From HR and IT solutions to legal, payroll, and staff care, we are dedicated to offering comprehensive services that enable both children and educators to thrive. “
Search commences for UK’s first School Dog of the Year
The UK’s first-ever School Dog of the Year Award is now open for nominations with schools invited to recognise their canine companion’s extraordinary achievements.
Launched by the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG) and the National School Dog Alliance (NSDA), the award celebrates schools that have successfully integrated dogs into school life to enhance student well-being and educational outcomes. Schools from all educational stages - including early years, primary, secondary, all-age and special schools - are encouraged to nominate their school dog for the award, which will be presented at a special ceremony at the Palace of Westminster in summer 2025. The winning school will receive a trophy, together with a fantastic prize pack for their dog, including treats and a bespoke training package. Runners-up attending the awards ceremony will receive goodie bags for their school and their dog. This exciting initiative is supported by children’s charity Kidscape, which provides practical support and advice to challenge bullying in both schools and communities. It is sponsored by protein ball manufacturer ‘It’s The Dogs’.
Dr Helen Lewis, Chair of the NSDA, commented: “This new award shines a spotlight on the innovative and responsible ways schools are integrating dogs into their learning environments and celebrates best practices in utilising school dogs across the UK.”
Dr Marc Abraham OBE, vet and co-founder of APDAWG, added: “More and more schools are discovering the benefits a school dog can bring - whether in improving student well-being, fostering social and emotional development, or in strengthening human-animal relationships.
“By recognising schools that are leading the way in this area, we hope this new award will inspire others to take on a school dog and that the awards ceremony will be a joyful occasion during which we can all celebrate the value of dogs in education.”
Educators want better tech but are impeded by budget
Leaders in the British education sector are keen to invest in technology to develop their organisations but say that lack of available budget is holding them back.
The figures are revealed in the OneAdvanced Education Trends Report 2025, which polled 740 senior decision-makers in British education organisations on their priorities for the coming year. It found that leaders recognise the benefits that better systems integration would bring, but that two thirds (63%) do not have the budget to make technology investments that could benefit the future of the organisation.
The research also found that attracting and retaining talent remains the top priority for leaders in the sector. A third (30%) of education leaders said talent was the single most pressing issue they faced - significantly more than the 16% average for all UK organisation types.
Mark Dewell, Senior Vice President, Education, Government and 4
www.education-today.co.uk
Social Housing, OneAdvanced said: “Education providers are battling against a difficult backdrop of budget constraints, staff shortages, growing demand on services and an exodus of talent, yet still doing incredible work in their organisations. However, as time goes on it is becoming increasingly difficult to deliver quality education without the behind-the-scenes tools that make educators’ lives easier. “Staff turnover in the education sector remains alarmingly high, with unforgiving workloads, lack of support, and unproductive performance management all contributing factors. This is a key area where digital tools can step in to plug the gap and help keep teachers in the profession.
“It’s encouraging to see that so many leaders in education recognise the potential for technology to transform the sector - yet frustrating that budget affects such a huge number to the point where they cannot make the best choices for their organisation’s future.”
March 2025
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
