Steve Besley's Education Eye: week ending 08 May 2026

What's happened this week?

Important stories across the board:

A shorter working week and many headlines focused on the local elections but plenty for education to consider as well.

The big news for many has been the start of this year’s exams season, which came with a reminder from the Chief Regulator.

 “Please leave your phone at home, or hand it in before you go into the exam hall. The rules are straightforward.”

In other news, a new Commission was launched to look into boys’ education, Pearson published its latest comprehensive ‘snapshot’ of schools and colleges, the Jobs Foundation published an interesting report on employer attitudes to skills while the Times Higher reported on university redundancies as UCL Policy Lab reflected on how best to carve out a more positive picture for HE.

Details below starting with schools.

Here Ofqual reported “overwhelming support” for proposals for formulae and equation sheets being provided for students taking GCSE maths, physics and combined science exams, for the lifetime of the current qualifications.

The decision had been expected but was well received all the same.

ASCL called it ‘a sensible decision,’ a verdict echoed by the AoC. “This is a sensible decision which values skill and understanding over memorising and recall,” they explained.

Elsewhere, the Education Endowment Fund (EEF) and Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) reported on their recent work on school absences and exclusion underlining the fact that there’s no one size fits all.

As the EEF explained, “an effective attendance strategy focuses on building an inclusive culture for all, with individualised and targeted support for those pupils who need it.”

But of course time and money help.

Talking of the EEF, former Schools Minister Nick Gibb took to the Telegraph to endorse the organisation’s recent research report highlighting a case for streaming in maths classes.

“At long last,” he wrote, “authoritative evidence has shown what many of us instinctively knew: streaming works.”

‘We was right all along,’ in other words.

And three other important updates this week.

The Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys announced a new high-powered Commission on boys’ education.

“The Commission will seek to understand the root causes of these disparities and develop actionable recommendations for government, policymakers, the education system, boys and their parents.”

The Centre for Social Justice published a report on inactivity levels among young people under the arresting headline ‘English children more likely to own a phone than be able to throw a ball.’

It called for a new School Activity Standard as well as what it described as ‘shuttle run’ style fitness assessments.

And Pearson published its latest School and College Reports, full of useful data and survey evidence and an excellent roadmap in both cases.

Many will find the ‘Spotlight on Challenges’ sections, one each for Schools and for Colleges, particularly illuminating.

 On to FE and more from Ofqual for the start of the exam season.

This time a report on proven cases of malpractice in vocational and technical qualifications which last year were broadly down on the previous year apart from in Functional Skills where 35+% of cases involved ‘a breach of exam rules or regulations.’

Mobile phones or ‘other communication devices’ remained the most common type of student malpractice generally.

Loss of marks or of certification opportunity was the most common penalty issued.

Elsewhere the 5% Club, the employers group that supports earn and learn opportunities, found members committed to recruiting and retaining staff but ‘cautious’ about the future as it published its latest skills survey of members.

There were mixed views about the impact of the latest skills reforms.

“Only a quarter of employers believe the latest changes to the skills system will make their organisation more confident to invest in skills in the year ahead, with the remainder saying they will make no difference – or are liable to hinder confidence.”

In HE, UCL Policy Lab reported on its conversations last year with university and political leaders about how, to use the current phrase, they could best change the narrative, connect better and present a more positive picture of the sector to public and politicians alike.

And the conclusion? “Universities would benefit from a more proactive approach to thinking about and delivering change and renewal.”

The report acknowledges that universities face three important political challenges at present. These include being able to show high grade delivery and serve working-class communities while operating in restrained financial circumstances.

But, as the report argues, universities have been central to public life and to communities for time immemorial and “now more than ever, they must step up to this role and play their part in meeting the challenges of today.”

The report came however in the same week that the Times Higher published the second part of its UK University Redundancy Survey, with things described by one recipient as ‘very depressing’ and ‘a terrible situation.’

Not a happy picture in the context of trying ‘to meet the challenges of today.’

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

The top headlines of the week:

• ’NAHT backs industrial action ballot over teacher pay’ (Monday)
• ‘Zero tolerance for inaction on campus antisemitism, says Starmer’ (Tuesday)
• ‘Rising online abuse from parents causing significant harm to teachers -union’ (Wednesday)
• ‘Ofsted confirms no major framework changes despite criticism’ (Thursday)
• ‘Schools face ‘impossible’ SEND support package plans, experts warn’ (Friday)

General:

• King’s Speech. The House of Commons Library Service looked into the likely legislative programme for the new session of parliament scheduled from mid-May onwards, noting that a number of Bills are likely to be carried over from the last session, including one on lowering the voting age for young people, while SEND reform is likely to be included for this session. 
• Outlook Survey. EY-Parthenon published its latest CEO Outlook Survey showing top bosses increasing spend on AI but finding regulation and skills gaps slowing progress as they look to prioritise profitability and resilience at a time of global tension.
• The cost of war. The IPPR think tank suggested that prolonged conflict in the Middle East could end up causing huge damage to the UK economy with inflation rising and growth falling, calling as a result for ‘a targeted package of support’ particularly around fuel and energy to be brought in.
• AI. Polling company Ipsos argued that ‘AI had now entered the mainstream,’ as it published survey evidence showing that 1in 3 now use it weekly, up from 1 in 10 in 2023, with usage rising fastest among 55+ yr olds, albeit with audiences still working out their ‘comfort levels.’

HE:

• Antisemitism. The Chief Exec of Universities UK spelt out what universities were doing to tackle antisemitism following a meeting of leading figures at Downing St this week, with guidance issued previously and training and a review of security arrangements now under way. 
• Positioning. UCL Policy Lab reported on its recent work on drawing out the value of universities to individuals, communities and policy makers, acknowledging that the sector faces a number of critical challenges but arguing that it needs to develop a more proactive approach to thinking about and delivering change.
• Graduate employment. The Institute of Student Employers (ISE) published its latest Student Development Survey indicating that while many employers expect AI to affect graduate and apprentice roles, it will be more a case of reshaping rather than replacing jobs, with new both generic and specific skills likely to be in demand.
• Quantum research gaps. UNESCO highlighted a stark North-South global divide when it comes to access to quantum research facilities, as it published a detailed assessment of its 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology showing investment concentrated in the Northern hemisphere and with over 150 countries yet to adopt ‘any form of national quantum strategy.’

Tweets and posts of note:

• “A third of senior leaders think the new-style Ofsted inspections are ‘much more stressful’ than previous versions, Teacher Tapp polling for Tes reveals” -@tes.
• “Deeply alarmed by reports that Labour MPs were being given pre-written feedback for the SEND consultation. Families deserve to have a real voice—not a managed one—at the heart of these decisions” -@munirawilson.
• “New study suggests rise in ADHD diagnosis world-wide due to (1) child-centered cultural perspectives and (2) narratives defining ADHD as a health condition impairing children’s well-being and development” -@DTWillingham.
• “The power of praise in a classroom cannot be underestimated. It doesn’t take much. Even at the end of a lesson simply saying ‘I thought you all did a great job today’ makes such a difference to the children” -@DeputyGrocott.
• “I'm a big advocate for the Oxford comma. I'm, also an advocate for, the, Shatner comma. You should, try it sometime. It really, makes your, sentences more, exciting!” -@millsalice144.
• “My son goes to the same uni I went to and I find it a bit emotional he drinks in pretty much exactly the same establishments I used to” -@legsidelizzy.
• “I’m not sure how it was made but at my primary school in the 1990s there were big jugs of custard prepared by the elderly village ladies that served as dinner ladies. The first question was always “would anyone like skin?” and we few, we happy few, were served first” -@des_mansfield.
• “When my son gave his graduation speech, he began reading from a prepared text. "I want to thank my mother & the wonderful influence she has had on my life. She is a shining example of parenthood." He paused, looked up & said, "Sorry, it's so hard to read my mum's handwriting” -@MissAlly_01.

A selection of quotes that merit attention:

• “Hybrid working is the most common and successfully managed form of flexibility” – the LGA reports on flexible working practices in local councils.
• “Younger people are embracing “financial nihilism” – a fatalistic belief that the system cannot work for them – channelling their risk appetite into crypto and gambling rather than productive investment” – the Jobs Foundation calls for more young people to be encouraged to invest in their futures.
• “The key question our conversations looked to address is why there is a disconnect between how university leaders see the purpose and value of universities and how politics and the public see them” – UCL Policy Lab reports on its conversations with university and political leaders about the future of the sector.
• “I will work with the Union of Jewish Students to promote their antisemitism training, and I will undertake it myself” – the Chief Exec of Universities UK commits to antisemitism training.
• “We don’t think that students should be penalised for not being able to recall a formula or equation in a stressful exam situation, even though they may have used it many times” – the AoC welcomes Ofqual’s announcement about maths and science GCSE students being provided with formulae and equation sheets in exams.
• “Being found with a smart device during an exam can have serious consequences, including loss of marks or disqualification from the subject. Do not become one of those statistics and risk your qualification and your future prospects. Keep your phone out of the exam hall” – the exams season kicks off with a warning from Ofqual.
• “We will look at‘ education’ in its widest sense. Not just exam success, though that matters, but how boys grow up with the confidence and tools to flourish as successful men, fathers, brothers, sons, friends and work colleagues” – Peter Hyman, the Chair of a new Commission on boys’ education.
• “The GDST approach reflects both the strengthened national position and our shared responsibility with GDST families to promote calm, focused learning environments, positive behaviour, and strong pupil wellbeing” – the Girls Day School Trust announces a ban on mobile phones in its schools.
• “Yet over half of primary school age pupils, or 2.1. million children, are insufficiently active – averaging less than 60 minutes of at least moderate physical activity a day. For disadvantaged children, this rises to 6 in 10” – the Centre for Social Justice report on growing inactivity levels among children.

Everything else you need to know ...

What to look out for in the next couple of weeks: