Steve Besley's Education Eye: week ending 17 January 2025

What's happened this week?

Important stories across the board:

Some important pointers for education this week.

They can be seen in the government’s new ‘ambitious’ plan for AI, the Education Secretary’s appearance before the Education Committee, the latest damning report on the SEND system, and, perhaps, in the return of the HE Freedom of Speech Act.

Each is listed below but first a few words on the government’s plans for AI which were announced by the PM at the start of the week.

They follow the Action Plan commissioned by the Science Secretary Peter Kyle last year and led by the tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, who now has the perhaps unenviable task of helping deliver the 50 recommendations listed in the Plan.

In a phrase considered awkward enough by many in the media to have actually been written by AI, the Plan “mainlines AI into the veins of this enterprising nation.” That’s at least how an accompanying press release described it.

The whole thing certainly rattles with ambition as the PM explained in his launch speech listing lots of ways in which AI can make our lives better. “It has the potential to speed up planning consultations to get Britain building, help drive down admin for teachers so they can get on with teaching our children, and feed AI through cameras to spot potholes and help improve roads.” Many would say AI to those.

These and other benefits are variously reflected in the so-called ‘3 pillars’ that form the basis of the Plan and include laying the foundations for AI to flourish in the UK, boosting adoption across public and private sectors and keeping us ahead of the pack.

These all come with promises of funding, notably from some big tech companies, new support structures including new AI Growth Zones and a brand-new supercomputer, and long-term commitment in the form of a new digital centre of government and new expert team.

AS the PM said, “I want people to look back on this generation and be proud of what we started today. That we grasped the nettle of AI, that we ran with it and made it work for working people.”

Concerns have been raised about a lack of funding, capacity and regulation but the government claimed that £14bn of global investment had been pledged ‘in just 48 hours since the Plan was unveiled’ and overall, the Plan has been well received.

Writing in The Times, William Hague said, “Matt Clifford’s AI proposals would transform Britain but they will require money, hard choices and a determined PM.” The Institute for the Future of Work, which has been doing a lot in this area, said ‘it was encouraged by the government’s ambition.’ The Russell Group welcomed a focus on “building the UK’s compute capacity,” the NFER said ‘AI in the classroom is an exciting development’ and the Ada Lovelace Institute welcomed the Plan but said it was important that public confidence in AI was maintained.

The Society of Editors was more guarded, urging the government not to undermine the creative industries “by the unauthorised scrapping of their content by generative AI tools.” While the Guardian simply concluded “Computers can’t cure all of Britain’s problems.”

Either way, there’s a lot in it of interest to education.

Some, as ministers pointed out, lies in the potential benefits for teachers, cutting back on admin and helping with teaching resources, with a little pot of £1m promised to help developers create AI tools for this.

And more widely in the Plan’s call for ‘expanded education pathways into AI,’ increased numbers of AI graduates, the adoption of AI Sector Champions, and using the skills system generally to help prepare for AI. “Skills England will help ensure that British people are prepared for jobs in the AI-powered industries of tomorrow.”

Some of this will happen more quickly than others. But Pearson’s announcement of its latest partnership with Microsoft and Dr Sam Parrett’s ‘our time has truly come,’ post about the importance of AI in skills training, both this week, suggest much of the education system is up and ready for it.

Elsewhere in Westminster this week, the Public Accounts Committee took evidence on improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged children and later in the week published a damning report on the SEND system.

The Education Secretary had her first outing before the Education Committee where she confirmed that the dept was reviewing the national funding formula. Also that they were looking far and wide for inspiration for reforming the SEND system, that the introduction of VAT on private school fees would ensure opportunities were available to all and that academies would still be able to retain many freedoms.

MPs also debated a petition about enabling parents/guardians to have access to their children’s mobile phones.

A petition brought by a bereaved parent with the government saying they were working to implement the Online Safety Act as quickly as possible but acknowledging there was more to do. “The challenge of keeping our children safe in a fast-moving world is one that we all—Government, social media platforms, parents and society at large—share.”

In schools, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission announced that over the coming months they would carry out visits to check out local arrangements for SEND children not in school.

As Ofsted explained, “It’s vital that the most vulnerable children are not out of sight and that they continue to receive the support they need, even when they are not at school.”

The announcement came as the Public Accounts Committee became the latest voice to highlight concerns about the SEND system.

In its Report published this week, the Committee described the system as “inconsistent, inequitable and not delivering in line with expectations,” suggesting it was at ‘crisis point.’ 

Among its recommendations was a call to get a better handle on why demand has risen so dramatically and to set out a vision of what a more inclusive system should look like.

As ASCL commented, “it’s hard to find a more damning report.”

In FE, the Association of Apprentices found that the majority (70+%) of apprentices were pretty happy with their programmes, as it published the results of its ‘Big’ survey conducted among some 2000+ apprentices last autumn.

Challenges cited included “work life balance, time management, and administrative responsibilities” but in summary, “the survey highlights that apprentices highly value the practical elements of their programmes, such as gaining work experience and hands-on training, which they link to personal growth, career advancement, and enhanced employability.”

The AoC set out in a blog some of the many challenges around reform of the current GCSE English and maths resit model which, as last week’s results for the November resits showed, continue to prove difficult.

As the piece suggests, the options include either an alternative form of GCSE or a different approach, such as theory + applied, altogether. It’s an ongoing story.

City and Guilds announced a new milestone in digital certification with over a million digital credentials now issued. According to the CEO, “It represents one million opportunities for individuals to showcase their skills in a secure, verifiable way that meets the demands of our increasingly digital workplace.”

In HE, the government confirmed it was reinstating the HE Freedom of Speech Act following a review over the past six months which has seen some of the more contentious aspects, such as the duties on student unions, removed..

As the Education Secretary explained, “the decisions we are making about the Act demonstrate that we were right to pause commencement and to review its impact before making decisions on its future.” The Russell Group said it supported the revisions. A policy paper from government will follow.

The Times Higher highlighted tightening cash flows in many universities as it reported on results from its survey into sector finances so far.

“Of the 113 accounts released so far, three-quarters generated less cash from their operations than they did in 2022-23. And 87 per cent produced less than they did in 2021-22.” AS one commented, ‘its been a tough year all round.’

And NEON, the National Education Opportunities Network, reported on what it called “a worrying slowdown in progress” in terms of widening access to HE for young people from low-income backgrounds. Some regions like London are doing well but the gap regionally is widening. The report called for more coordinated support for outreach initiatives.

Links to most of these stories below starting with the week’s headlines.

General:

• PM’s AI speech. Sir Keir Starmer challenged the country to be ‘an AI maker rather than an AI taker,’ as he set out the government’s response to the commissioned Action Plan for AI, pledging to use AI to help transform the lives of people through reformed public services with increased business investment, dedicated AI Growth Zones, and the creation of a brand-new supercomputer. 
• AI Opportunities Action Plan. The government published its response to its commissioned Action Plan on AI led by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford last year, formally accepting all 50 recommendations and setting out a range of measures around skills, infrastructure, regulation and energy to help deliver on the Plan.
• Technology and work. The Institute for the Future of Work highlighted the growing impact of technology on work and work places in a new report pointing to a growing sense of inevitability felt by many with some acknowledgement of potential benefits but equally a number of concerns and a feeling of powerlessness.
• Cyber-attacks. The government set out plans to counter cyber-attacks including notably ransomware activity by proposing mandatory reporting on ransomware incidents along with ‘a targeted ban on ransomware payments.’
• Cybersecurity. The World Economic Forum (WEF) reported on global security in its 2025 Outlook report, using evidence gathered last autumn from across 57 countries to highlight ‘a more complex cyberspace’ with supply chain vulnerabilities emerging as the top risk and with a growing gulf in cyber resilience evident between richer and poorer nations.
• Global Risks. The WEF also published its Global Risks 2025 Report ahead of this week’s gathering of global leaders at Davos, with ‘state-based armed conflict’ emerging as the top immediate risk for this year, mis and disinformation the top short-term risk and environmental concerns the top longer-term risk.
• Business Outlook. The Institute of Directors (IoD) published its Business Outlook for the year ahead pointing to a long list of challenges identified by business members for 2025 including Trump’s re-election, geopolitical tensions, global economic challenges, climate change, AI advancements and organisational culture.

HE:

• Freedom of Speech. The government confirmed that it was bringing back the HE Freedom of Speech Act which it had paused for review on taking up office last year but which it was now re-establishing with ‘strengthened duties on providers to take steps to secure freedom of speech and establish a code of practice.’
• Cash flows. The Times Higher reported on its survey of university cash flows showing a notable drop and tightening of budgets from responses received so far with ‘almost a third of the sector reporting underlying deficits after adjustment.’
• Regional access. The National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) pointed in a new report to ‘a worrying stagnation in HE participation by free school meal pupils,’ albeit with significant regional differences, calling among other things for more investment and support for Uni Connect and other local measures.
• Taster courses. The BBC reported that the University of Chichester was looking to run short 5–10-week cheap courses on topics such as Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe and Brexit Before, During and After for groups of older and younger learners to give them a taste of university life.
• Oxbridge rejects. Commentator Bethany Elliott wrote about Oxbridge rejects ahead of the latest round of letters from the two institutions in an article in The New Statesman, looking at how some had fared, the impact of such rejection and the need to keep things in perspective.

Tweets and posts of note:

• “Is it just me, or is there an unwritten rule in the school car park! Even when the car park is empty - we still go to 'our spot' -@Headteacherchat.
• “How scary is it going to another school on a course?? First you’ve got the car park, then you’ve got finding your way in, then you’ve got actually walking in!! Terrifying” -@UhmitsMissB.
• “I hate when people say we have to give "real-life examples" in our teaching. Science isn't magic, it is all real-life. The word you're looking for is "familiar" -@MBDscience.
• “Should we view teachers who sit down to teach with a critical lens…. no. This is frankly silly” -@Strickomaster.
• “I’ve started a new school this term - They hardly touch a PowerPoint! Third year teaching and I’ve always had to use one for every lesson. Have to admit it’s thrown me a bit, but I think it might make me a better teacher” -@srpovey.
• “The seven-year-old has walked out of her pals party with more gifts than what we gave as a present. Parents! Can we agree that party bags need to be sweets, chocolates and small annoying plastic instruments. An air up bottle does not belong in a party bag” -@LeeBraganza.

A selection of quotes that merit attention:

• “Put simply, our message to those at the frontier of AI capabilities is this: we want to be the best state partner for you anywhere in the world” – the PM goes big as he launches the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan.
• “AI is the best chance to revolutionise public services - but Britain has fallen well behind” - former HE minister David Willetts is less sanguine about the government’s AI Plan
• “While digital tools have improved efficiency, flexibility and collaboration across distances, their impact on work intensity, work-life balance, and job security varies significantly” – the Institute for the Future of Work looks into the growing impact of technology on work.
• “The notion that the state knows better than business what sort of training and apprenticeship schemes should be offered has been discredited” – a freelance journalist takes the apprenticeship levy to task.
• “‘I think we have become very, very focused on mental health and with people self-diagnosing. We're spending vastly more on mental health now than we did a few years ago. And it’s hard to see what the objective reasons for that are’ – Tony Blair raises questions about mental health.
• “Much hinges on the dreaded interview, an experience marked by brainteasers so impenetrable that one published collection was titled “Tell Me About a Banana” – an article in The New Statesman considers the famed Oxbridge interview system.
• “This is an emergency that has been allowed to run and run. This report must serve as a line in the sand for government" – the Public Accounts Committee reports on the SEND system.
• “It is Rome’s approach to Carthage – “a salting of the earth”. And it’s the poorest kids who will suffer most” – Michael Gove on the government’s Schools and Wellbeing Bill.
• “I just don't believe in what is a very, very constrained fiscal environment that we can continue to provide tax breaks in that way” – the Education Secretary defends the VAT addition on private schools fees
• “It is very difficult to get a handle on vast swathes of the humanities if you don’t have some knowledge of Latin” – supporters of Latin call for funding cuts to the subject to be delayed.
• “A fiver for a coffee might sound steep, but don’t just grumble about the cafe you’re buying from. A blend of a changing climate and government decisions have got us here” – a coffee shop owner on the inevitable drift towards the £5 takeaway cup of coffee.
• “As I accept this award, I think of the many individuals who work tirelessly in challenging circumstances to improve children's lives around the world” – David Beckham is awarded the 2025 Crystal Award as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and global advocate for children’s rights at this year’s Davos gathering.

• The hotel of Mum and Dad. Some interesting research this week from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IfS) on how many young people are ‘co-residing’ with their parents. Apparently it’s more common for young men, certain ethnic groups, those living in London and those on the lowest incomes. Some of that at least is self-explanatory but the IfS reckon the number ‘has risen by a third over the last 20 years.’ The price of housing and general cost-of-living are likely factors especially as co-residers could save anything between £500+ and £1,000+ a month. But who does the washing-up? A link to the research is here. 
  
  
• Jobs on the Rise. There’s a lot about jobs of the future at the moment. It may be because of the the buzz around AI or it may just be that time of year. Last week the World Economic Forum published its Jobs of the Future report while this week, LinkedIn has published its own list of future jobs, based, it says, on the ‘millions of jobs started by LinkedIn members over the last three years to calculate a growth rate for each job title.’ It comes up with 25 “fastest growing jobs in the UK.” At the top, unsurprisingly, is ‘AI Intelligence Engineer’ followed in order by ‘Home Health Aide,’ ‘Aircraft Mechanic,’ ‘Data Governance Manager,’ and ‘Environmental Officer.’ ‘Professor/lecturer’ comes in at number 19. A link to the full list is here.
  

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Steve Besley

Disclaimer: Education Eye is intended to help colleagues keep up to date with national developments in the education sector. Information is correct at the time of writing and is offered in good faith. No liability is accepted by Steve Besley or EdCentral for decisions made on the basis of any information provided.