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LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEK THAT WAS Three of the week's headlines ... University staff union backs away from UK-wide strikes as support wanes Read more Rishi Sunak planning A-level reform to establish British Baccalaureate Read more Parents don't believe children must be in school every day anymore - report Read more Visit EdNews to filter all the education news by phase or topic Three pieces of policy news - by phase Follow this link to view the full version of Steve Besley's popular policy round-up - including an overview of all the important stories, his top headlines of the week, tweets and posts of note, the most memorable quotes, not-to-be-missed statistics and what to look out for next week. As your starter for ten, we've chosen three items from each phase below ... GENERAL Smart tech. The government announced the six regions across the UK, including Cambridgeshire, Tees Valley and Westminster, that will receive ‘smart infrastructure’ funding to test out new ways to enhance digital activity using for instance street lamps and bus stops. Economic Outlook. The OECD published its latest economic outlook pointing to inflation ‘proving more persistent than expected’ including for the UK, and with growth remaining low at 2.8% for advanced economies next year. Good Work. The CIPD published a Good Work manifesto for parties to consider ahead of the conference season, calling for a new workforce strategy based around three core themes of Skilled Work, Healthy Work and Fair Work, along with reform of the labour market enforcement system and better understanding of the transition to net zero. SCHOOLS School attendance. The consultancy Public First called for a review of the current approach to school attendance as it reported focus group evidence showing that parental attitudes to full-time attendance had shifted post-Covid with regulations and fines seen as disproportionate and full-time attendance no longer seen as essential, particularly among those facing daily cost-of-living issues. Workload taskforce. The government announced the membership of its new taskforce set up to help with advice on reducing working hours for teachers, promising a new toolkit and resources for later this month. Careers guidance. The Education Committee published the government’s response to its earlier report on careers guidance which included endorsing most of the Committee’s recommendation and proposing to publish a Strategic Action Plan for Careers next year along with the continued use of the Gatsby benchmarks and ultimate creation of a single career service. FE/SKILLS Staff pay. The AoC set out pay recommendations for this year encouraging colleges to use the additional money provided by government to generate a pay award for staff of 6.5% where ever possible. Skills vision. The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) set out its vision for a reformed and more sustainable skills system based around five priorities including the creation of a national training body, a simplified apprenticeship system and a review of functional skills. Education manifesto. The Baker Dearing Trust set out its proposals for transforming education in the form of a manifesto for politicians ahead of the general election with four priorities including, T levels complementing rather than replacing existing qualifications, focusing the pre-16 curriculum around employability, and establishing UTC provisions within schools. HE UCAS latest. UCAS reported on 2023 university applications one month on from results day, pointing to ‘a return to normal growth’ post-pandemic as the number of 18-year-olds accepted, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, fell along with the numbers of international students accepted. Feeling lonely. The government joined forces with leading bodies at the start of fresher’s week to launch a campaign aimed at combating loneliness among students, putting forward a list of ten tips that might help including joining in with what you enjoy and remembering that others may be feeling the same. Quality. The QAA launched its policy series looking into quality in the English HE system, outlining the characteristics of a high-level quality system and calling for better streamlining with other similar bodies, alignment with international best practice, and recognition of the importance of continuous improvement, among its recommendations. Access all issues of Steve Besley's Education Eye Latest research, reports and studies Social skills and the individual wage growth of less educated workers | IFS The value of a non-financial job quality measure in exploring graduate outcomes | HESA How to be a Marco Polo of education research, policy and practice | OECD Ethnicity and additional needs in the pandemic: Conclusions and implications for additional needs, ethnicity and attainment (part 4) | EPI Will universal primary free school meals help to reduce absence? | FFT Education Datalab A pressing need to align the business studies curriculum with current attitudes | BERA Teaching assistants taking second jobs, or leaving to work in better paid roles due to cost-of-living pressures | NFER Variation in pupil inclusion practices across schools: findings from the second wave of the DEEP survey | EPI Unveiling school effectiveness: Progress 8, parental choices and closing the achievement gap | IFS Search our education research section COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK Parliament and elsewhere Lib-Dem Party Annual Conference (Saturday 23 September – Tuesday 26 September). Events and CPD opportunities Monday 25 September: 5 Ways To Enhance Your School’s Curriculum Pathways | Teacher Toolkit (online event) Tuesday 26 September: Child Protection in Education 2023 - Manchester | Optimus Education (in-person event) Tuesday 26 September: ED&I Summit | AELP (in-person event) Tuesday 26 - Wednesday 27 September: Governors for Schools Conference 2023 | Governors for Schools (online event) Wednesday 27 September: Early Help: Policy, Practice and Supporting Wellbeing | CYP Now (in-person event) Thursday 28 September: ASCL Autumn Data Leader Conference 2023 - Manchester | ASCL (in-person event) Thursday 28 September: Identifying and Responding to Warning Signs of Child Sexual Exploitation | Inside Government (online event) Thursday 28 September: Putting healthy school meals back on the table | Nesta (online event) Thursday 28 September: Guidance and Strategies to Support Learners Using EAL | Bell Foundation (online event) Running an education-related event that you'd like to see included in our calendar? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with details and a link to the booking info. See all events Three interesting daily facts MONDAY 25 SEPTEMBER On this day in 1237 the Treaty of York was signed between King Henry III of England and King Alexander II of Scotland. On this day in 1992 NASA launched the Mars Observer, but almost a year later all communications with it were lost. On this day in 2005 the IRA officially disarmed, giving up its weapons in front of independent weapons inspectors. TUESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER On this day in 1888 poet TS Eliot was born in St Louis, Missouri. On this day in 1928 work began at Chicago’s Galvin Manufacturing Corporation which designed the first mass-produced car radios. On this day in 1960 Cuban leader Fidel Castro delivered a four hour and twenty-nine minute long speech at the United Nations. WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER On this day in 1066 William the Conqueror's troops set sail from Normandy to conquer England. On this day in 1822 French scholar Jean-François Champollion announced he had deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics using the Rosetta Stone. On this day in 1908 Henry Ford's first Ford Model T automobile left the Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan. THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER On this day in 1785 Napoléon Bonaparte, aged 16, graduated from the elite École Militaire in Paris. On this day in 1961 a coup in Damascus led to the dissolution of the United Arab Republic. On this day in 2018 an Arctic shipping lane opened due to ice melt allowing a cargo ship to successfully traverse the Russian Arctic. FRIDAY 29 SEPTEMBER On this day in 1829 the first units of the London Metropolitan Police appeared on the streets of the British capital. On this day in 1916 American oil tycoon John D Rockefeller became the world's first billionaire. On this day in 1954 the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) was established by twelve European governments. Awareness days from around the world SEPTEMBER IS UK: Oddfellows Friendship Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month / A Month of Movement, Urology Awareness Month, Vascular Disease Awareness Month, Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month, Organic September, World Alzheimer’s Month, Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Secondhand September, East and South East Asian Heritage Month, Bear Necessities Month, National Organic Month, Sleeptember. WORLDWIDE: Move More September, Sourdough September, World Fun Fair Month, Alopecia Areata Awareness Month, National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, National Pain Awareness Month, Prostate Health Month, Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Whole Grains Month, National Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month, National Blood Cancer Awareness Month, National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, National Recovery Month, National Disease Literacy Month, National Square Dance Month, Better Breakfast Month, Fall Hat Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, National Suicide Prevention Month, National Library Card Sign-up Month, National Americana Month, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, National Italian Cheese Month, Self-care Awareness Month, International Update Your Resume Month, Save Your Photos Month, National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Month, National Sewing Month, National Preparedness Month, National Mortgage Professional Month, National Rice Month, National Potato Month, National Piano Month, National Mushroom Month, National Courtesy Month, National Chicken Month, Self-improvement Month, National Little League Month, Baby Safety Month, Classical Music Month, National Guide Dog Month, Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month, Read A New Book Month, Sepsis Awareness Month, National Honey Month, Chiari Awareness Month, Happy Cat Month, Shake Month, Hunger Action Month. THIS WEEK IS UK: FSC Forest Week, Shetland Wool Week, Migraine Awareness Week, Fire Door Safety Week, Cycle To School Week. WORLDWIDE: International Week of Happiness at Work, Deaf Dog Awareness Week, International Week of the Deaf, National Inclusion Week. MONDAY 25 SEPTEMBER WORLDWIDE: Yom Kippur, International Ataxia Awareness Day, National Open The Magic Day, National Daughter’s Day, National Quesadilla Day, National Family Day, National Lobster Day, International Research Administrator Day, National Tune-up Day, National Comic Book Day, Math Storytelling Day, National One-Hit Wonder Day, World Dream Day, World Pharmacists Day, National Psychotherapy Day, National Cooking Day, Better Breakfast Day, Binge Day. TUESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER UK: European Day of Languages. WORLDWIDE: National Pancake Day, World Contraception Day, Mesothelioma Awareness Day, National Compliance Officer Day, National Situational Awareness Day, National Dumpling Day, National Johnny Appleseed Day, National Shamu The Whale Day, Lumberjack Day, Human Resource Professional Day, National Chimichanga Day. WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER WORLDWIDE: World Tourism Day, World Dense Breast Day, National Day Of Forgiveness, National Scarf Day, National Corned Beef Hash Day, National Crush A Can Day, National Chocolate Milk Day, National Women’s Health And Fitness Day, Ancestor Appreciation Day, World Tourism Day, Morning Show Hosts Day, National No Excuses Day. THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER WORLDWIDE: National Good Neighbor Day, World Rabies Day, World School Milk Day, National North Carolina Day, National Drink Beer Day, National Strawberry Cream Pie Day, World Maritime Day, Remember Me Thursday, International Poke Day. FRIDAY 29 SEPTEMBER UK: National Teaching Assistants Day, Thank you #Hiddenheroes Day, World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. WORLDWIDE: Sukkot, World Heart Day, International Day for Bids and Proposals, Urban National Wildlife Refuge Day, National VFW Day, National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDs Awareness Day, German Butterbrot Day, International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, National Coffee Day, International Happy Goose Day, National Starbucks Day, Ask a Stupid Question Day, Save the Koala Day, National Biscotti Day, Confucius Day, Mid-Autumn Festival. Share Tweet Forward Not already an EdCentral member? If you're interested in sharing ideas and collaborating with your peers we provide a safe secure environment where that can happen. You can register here If you would like to receive an email copy of this weekly round-up you can opt in here Steve Besley's education policy updates are also available via email. Head over to this page if you'd like to sign up