Steve Besley's Education Eye: week ending 05 September 2025

What's happened this week?

Important stories across the board:

A new education year and plenty to talk about.

The TES described it as ‘a critical term for Labour and for education’, with Ofsted developments, SEND reforms, a seemingly now less high profile curriculum review, a post-16 white paper, HE options and a Child Poverty Strategy all waiting in the wings. And hovering over it all, a November Budget. 

More on all this in a minute.

In other news this week, a new ‘striking’ report found that for many pupils daily school attendance is no longer a given; the Education and Training Foundation and Greenwich University agreed to work together on professional development; the government committed to tightening rules around international students and their families who outstay their visas; and the Chancellor announced a very late autumn Budget date – ‘Going long’ as The Times described it.

But back to the main theme of the week – the start of a new education year.

‘School’s back, gloom’s back’. So ran the headline in the newsfeed Politico this week.

The message was aimed at politicians rather than education, but media headlines have painted a pretty gloomy context for education as well.

‘A new school year but the same old problems persist for Britain’s schools,’ ran a headline in The Guardian this week. It pointed to concerns about pupil behaviour, attainment gaps, SEND provision, and teacher recruitment. Nothing particularly new perhaps, but hardly bigging up a joyful return for pupils and teachers alike.

The Education Secretary did her bit at the start of the week, issuing a rallying call for tackling school attendance and behaviour and promising, among other things, new Attendance and Behaviour Hubs and a calmer learning environment all round.

"As the new term kicks off, we need schools and parents to double down on the energy, the drive and the relentlessness that's already boosted the life chances of millions of children, to do the same for millions more".

Her announcement was made as the consultancy Public First and Impetus published a “sobering” report, suggesting that for some pupils, school has become transactional, with attendance often linked to other distractions, such as time spent online.

The report called, among other things, for a rethink on sanctions, more time for support and enrichment activities, and clear norms around social media use.

As it concluded, 'when schools feel exhausting, disempowering or irrelevant, it is not surprising that some pupils choose not to attend every day'.

It was a point made by ASCL, which this week published what it called ‘a roadmap for a sustainable education system’. In effect setting out what schools and colleges should be responsible for and what other bodies, let alone wider society, should take responsibility for. 

It’s an important question at a time when wider social needs become more apparent, collaborative working is valued yet borderlines are unclear and resources are stretched.

What else has been happening across education this week?

In schools, the government heralded the expansion of its free childcare programme – “It was never going to be easy, but against all odds we’ve delivered through our Plan for Change”. 

But it came against a backcloth of financial worries and concerns from the sector about costs and recruitment.

According to the NFER, which reported on some recent research, 'the early years workforce faces both quantity and quality challenges'.

Leading organisations and providers got together to sign an open letter calling on the government to come up with ‘immediate investment’, but they may have to wait in a long queue.

For the moment, the Education Committee has announced an Inquiry into how it’s all going. “This inquiry will take stock of the recent changes and the outcomes for young children and families, as well as the implications for the wide range of settings delivering early education and childcare.”

Talking of open letters, campaigners, including the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, called on the government to take action this week at the start of a new school year and formally ban smartphones in schools.

“We know it can work – schools that can afford this approach are reporting improvements in both staff and student wellbeing”.

The government said it continues to look at the situation, preferring to let headteachers decide.

It is however moving to ban the sale of high-caffeine drinks to under-16s arguing that such drinks contribute not only to obesity, but also to poor concentration and performance in schools.

According to the Department for Health, ”around 100,000 children consume at least one high caffeine energy drink every day”, and “by preventing shops from selling these drinks to kids, we’re helping build the foundations for healthier and happier generations to come”.

Consultation on the proposals closes on 26 November.

Elsewhere, the Tony Blair Institute tackled digital proficiency among young people, arguing that “England’s education system is not preparing pupils for a future shaped by artificial intelligence”.

In favoured format, it set out four pillars for building digital proficiency in schools – ranging from embedding it in the core curriculum, to introducing a new AI leadership role in schools – to working more closely with families on digi support.

In other news, the Child Poverty Action Group pointed to survey evidence suggesting that many poorer secondary school pupils were being ‘bounced out’ of certain subject choices because of the additional expense of things like field trips in geography. “Cut off from opportunities, just as the foundations of their futures are being laid", they explained.

The government reduced the target for some Teach First schemes, confirmed that the September 2025 version of the statutory guidance for keeping children safe in education was now formally in place, and spelt out how the recent Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act will affect education settings when it comes into force in two years.

Martyn’s Law, as it’s known after one of the victims of the 2017 Manchester bombing, makes individuals working in premises and events responsible for minimising terrorist attacks, as appropriate.

In FE, the University of Greenwich and the Education and Training Foundation announced a new strategic partnership to tackle some of the professional challenges facing FE in England.

“Together, we aim to strengthen the professional status of the sector, enhance the learner experience, and shape the future of further education as a cornerstone of social and economic progress”.

And the Manufacturing Commission and cross-party think tank Policy Connect launched a new Inquiry into the role that manufacturing SMEs could play in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan as part of the Industrial Strategy.

“Small and Medium-sized Enterprises make up the vast majority of the UK’s 250,000 active manufacturing businesses, and these firms will be crucial to the success of the wider Industrial Strategy”.

In HE, the government raised further alarm bells in the sector by including international students in its latest announcement on asylum seekers this week.

It claimed that many were ‘outstaying their visas’, and as such would be contacted at the end of their course and likely told to leave.

The Times Higher reported that the Home Office is currently contacting over 130,000 students and their families who are nearing the end of their courses, warning them 'that they will be removed if they remain unlawfully after their visas expire'.

"We obviously will do our bit to support genuine refugees”, the Home Secretary told the BBC, “but if nothing has changed in their country, people should not be claiming asylum at the end of a student course".

The announcement came the day before a parliamentary committee called for a stronger regional base for international students to help support local skills and expertise.

And in other news, Universities UK’s Taskforce and JISC examined the potential for more efficient models of shared services as the sector continues to face financial pressures.

In a report that offered 'an important reminder that collaboration in UK higher education is not just a strategic choice, but a necessity', they called for a central catalogue of all HE shared services and ‘a shared services first mindset’ as a way of pooling risk and ‘benefiting from efficiencies of scale’.

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

The top headlines of the week:

• ‘Pupils in England from low-income families ‘bounced out of costlier GCSEs’ (Monday).
• ‘Teaching ‘an unattractive outlier’ due to lack of remote working’ (Tuesday).
• ‘Crackdown on international students could hurt struggling UK cities, think tank warns’ (Wednesday).
• ‘Failing universities risk having their tuition fees cut’ (Thursday).
• ‘Ofsted plans more ‘shadow’ inspections to test grade consistency’ (Friday).

General:

• Autumn Budget. The Chancellor confirmed a late autumn Budget date of 26 November as she acknowledged that long-term reforms were needed ‘to unlock growth and ensure it works for working people’.
• Childcare. T
  he government highlighted the launch of its planned 30 hours of free childcare a week for eligible families, suggesting that the benefits to families and the economy will be ‘widespread’ but against a backcloth of concerns from the sector about providers struggling to survive.
• Business confidence. The Institute of Directors (IoD) reported a slight uptick in business confidence among business leaders as it published its latest monthly survey but with taxes and economic conditions generally remaining as ongoing concerns.
• Global challenges. UNICEF outlined a series of cost-cutting measures it was having to make as a result of global funding cuts but reiterated its determination to deliver on five Impact Results by 2029, including lifting 100m children out of poverty and enabling 350m children globally to gain future skills as part of its latest Strategic Plan. 

HE:

• Visa limits. The government indicated that as part of its latest ‘crackdown’ on asylum seekers it was looking to contact international students and potentially deport them if they outstayed their visas. 
• More on international students. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Students called for international education strategies to have a regional flavour and align to local skill needs, and for the Graduate Route to remain at two years, as it published its report into the regional impact and future of international students.
• Local universities. The Centre for Cities think tank highlighted the key role that universities play in local communities as innovators, high-skilled employers and essential catalysts for regeneration, arguing that any diminution of their role would end up hindering government growth ambitions.
• President’s address. The President of Universities UK (UUK) set out the case for sustainable funding, the importance of graduate level skills to the economy and the key role universities play in research and in communities as he addressed members at UUK’s annual conference.
• REF pause.The science minister announced a pause to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) for three months to allow for some of the more contentious aspects to be reviewed and ensure alignment with government policies.
• Shared services. Universities UK’s Taskforce reported on potential future models for shared services as it published a new report highlighting the benefits of more efficient and cost-saving collaborative approaches at a time of financial stringency. 
• Provider Panel. The OfS invited senior leaders from both registered and unregistered HE institutions in England to join its new Provider Panel which will start work in January 2026 and aim to become ‘a critical friend’ to the regulator.
• New Horizons. The government announced a new campaign starting in Germany and Spain, highlighting the benefits of working with UK researchers and businesses so that they become the partners of choice under the Horizon Europe scheme. 

Tweets and posts of note:

• “Deployed my one simple trick for not having to find my lanyard, laptop and planner: simply not unpacking my bag in July. The bag did gain a spider, mind”| | @MBDscience
• “Need to look busy? Carry a stack of random books through the corridor at speed. No one will stop you” | @secretHT1
• “Best advice if you’re starting a new school in September…. Check the dress code for INSET day. Kind regards, ‘Suit-boy” | @ScottPughsley
• “Hats off to the brave teacher who dares the impossible: 30 sheets through a guillotine rated for 6. Will it glide, or will it grind?” | @Headteacherchat
• “Behaviour crisis ‘means every pupil loses 45 days of learning a year’ | @tombennett71
• “Governments are looking to ban social media for children but can't get enough of AI – a technology parents are far less equipped to deal with” | newscientist

A selection of quotes that merit attention:

• “Britain’s economy isn’t broken. But I know it’s not working well enough for working people” – the Chancellor acknowledges the challenges as she announces the date of the next Budget.
• “The Chancellor has officially fired the starting pistol on the countdown to one of the toughest second Budgets in living memory” – the Resolution Foundation sets the scene for the forthcoming Budget.
• “It’s a landmark moment for working families across the country, and a clear sign that our Plan for Change is not just words, it’s action” – the PM on the launch of the 30 hours of free childcare.
• “Without immediate investment, this policy risks being an expansion in name only, with the reality being a system that is short on staff, short on places, and short on expertise” – childcare providers see things differently.
• “If you do not meet the criteria, you will not receive support. If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you” – the reported message to international students who outstay their visa.
• “There’s something about people wanting a place to go and study. It’s social solidarity, a ritual” – the new Chair of the OfS on the importance of university libraries.
• “Don’t expect a grandiose new vision for HE to emerge this year” – Wonkhe reflects on the policy agenda for HE in the coming months. 
• “This marks an exciting time in further education with two institutions committed to enhancing the future of education for students, educators, and communities they serve” – the ETF and Greenwich University agree to work together on shared professionalism.
• "Every day of school missed is a day stolen from a child's future” – the Education Secretary bangs the drum for full attendance at the start of a new term.
• “For many pupils, daily attendance is no longer a given. Instead, it is a decision made each morning, weighed against tiredness, wellbeing, friendships, family pressures and the pull of the online world” – Public First and Impetus report on a survey on school attendance.
• “Most schools are relying on children to resist a temptation even adults struggle with. It’s not fair, and it’s not working” – campaigners call for an outright ban on smartphones in schools.
• “How can we expect children to do well at school if they have the equivalent of four cans of cola in their system on a daily basis?” – the government seeks to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16-year-olds.
• “Having an honest, ego-free zone in which to discuss education during a very strange and challenging period has been just brilliant” – Caroline Derbyshire, former Chair of the Headteachers’ Roundtable, offers her perspective on retiring from the role.
• “We have grown both as an association (most notably in the international membership and our domestic pupil numbers) and in the size of the Head Office team” – the HMC’s Simon Hyde adopts the nomenclature of Chief Executive.

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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.