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LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEK THAT WAS Three of the week's headlines ... Northern Ireland: Improved pay offer for further education lecturers Read more English schools could lose £1bn by 2030 as pupil numbers fall Read more Children living near Sure Start centres did better at GCSEs, study suggests 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: Cyber security. The government published details from its latest cyber security breaches survey showing colleges and HE institutions, along with some schools, all reporting significant numbers of breaches or attacks over the past year with phishing and impersonation attacks being the most prevalent but with most educational institutions now having set cyber security policies in place. Cost of living. The Financial Conduct Authority published its latest survey report on the impact of the cost of living on UK adults, with evidence collated over the past winter showing that while things have improved for some they are still worse historically for many, with some demographics including carers, renters, those unable to work and those living in deprived areas noticeably struggling. Sure Start. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IfS) reported on the impact of Sure Start centres which ran for the last decade of the previous Labour government, finding positive benefits especially for children from low-income families and non-white backgrounds, in some cases increasing with age, suggesting that investment in early years can generate positive educational and welfare benefits. SCHOOLS: Falling rolls. The Education Policy Institute examined the impact of projected falling rolls in state schools in England in a new report, suggesting that this could have a knock-on effect on school funding which could fall by £1bn by 2029/30. Regulatory burden. Ofqual published its latest annual report on managing regulatory burdens, outlining related activity over the past year such as removing regulatory frameworks introduced under Covid and removing duplicate and burdensome activity in the exam system, as well as planned improvements this year including in-data cataloguing and awarding body recognition. Special needs. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey highlighted significant regional variations in support for children with special needs and disabilities, promising that a Lib Dem manifesto would include additional funds and a dedicated special needs champion to help ensure uniform provision. FE/SKILLS: System reform. The Association of Colleges (AoC) reiterated its call for a more efficient, fair and effective tertiary system, calling in a new report for the creation of a new national body to set overall strategy, greater clarity on the role and purpose of different providers, and a more responsive qualification system with a role for colleges. Levy impact. The Consultancy, London Economics, highlighted its research into the apprenticeship levy which was used to inform the AoC reform paper and which showed a marked decline in the number of apprenticeship starts over the past decade with young people and those on lower-level programmes affected the most. Apprenticeship accountability. The government updated its apprenticeship training provider accountability framework, keeping the indicators but making some changes to the thresholds including relacing the contentious 250 apprentice threshold with a percentage of total figure. HE: Tuition fees. The HE Policy Institute (HEPI) published an important collection of essays on the challenges and options for reforming the undergraduate tuition fee system, with a graduate levy emerging as the most popular option. Quality Code. The QAA launched consultation on an updated Quality Code which following recent feedback and development now proposes 12 Principles, grouped in three areas with a set of Key Practices, Advice and Guidance in each case. International students. The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) published a briefing paper setting out five principles governments could adopt to help make things more positive for international students, including building a stronger evidence base of migration data, adopting more welcoming language and supporting employability opportunities. Access all issues of Steve Besley's Education Eye Latest research, reports and studies State of education: buildings | NEU The relationship between study techniques and exam scores | Teacher Toolkit The short- and medium-term impacts of Sure Start on educational outcomes | IFS Investigating the impact of the Apprenticeship Levy on training outcomes | London Economics 100% opportunity: the case for a tertiary education system | AoC New report outlines double disadvantage barring fair access to top universities | Speakers for Schools School funding model: Effect of falling school rolls | EPI How should undergraduate degrees be funded? A collection of essays | HEPI mA*ths Online Programme: Evaluation report | FFT Education Datalab The Access Project: Evaluation reports | FFT Education Datalab How should undergraduate fees be funded? Analysis of policy proposals for HEPI | London Economics Health education: Access for all | Lifelong Education Institute Search our education research section COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK Parliament and elsewhere MPs return (Monday 15 April). Westminster Hall debate on ‘Digital skills and careers’ (Tuesday 16 April). Primary school offer day (Tuesday 16 April). APPG on The Future of Work seminar on ‘What can be done to solve the UK’s productivity puzzle’ (Wednesday 17 April). OECD webinar on ‘AI and cheating education: How can we safeguard the integrity of exams?’ (Wednesday 17 April). Events and CPD opportunities Monday 15 April: Next steps for initial teacher training in England | Westminster Forum Projects (online event) Tuesday 16 April: First steps in finance: Integrating personal finance into the primary school curriculum | Social Market Foundation (in-person event) Tuesday 16 - Thursday 18 April: Digital Universities UK | THE (in-person event) Wednesday 17 April: National Career Guidance Show - London | Optimus Education (in-person event) Wednesday 17 April: Graduate Employability Conference 2024 | Government Events (online event) Wednesday 17 April: MAT Regional Network: South East | Optimus Education (in-person event) Thursday 18 April: Higher Education Marketing Conference 2024 | Government Events (online event) Thursday 18 April: GCSE English: Mastery, A Key to Success | Skills and Education Group (online event) Thursday 18 April: Student Engagement Conference 2024: fostering a holistic approach to success | Advance HE (in-person event) Thursday 18 April: Identifying and supporting pupils with speech, language and communication needs in your school | SecEd (online event) Saturday 20 April: researchED Cambridge | researchED (in-person 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 15 APRIL On this day in 1755 Samuel Johnson's 'A Dictionary of the English Language' was published in London. On this day in 1912 RMS Titanic sank in the early morning hours four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. On this day in 1955 Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's fast-food restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.   TUESDAY 16 APRIL On this day in 1705 Queen Anne knighted Isaac Newton at Trinity College, Cambridge. On this day in 1943 Swiss scientist Dr Albert Hofmann discovered the psychedelic effects of LSD. On this day in 1972 Apollo 16 departed from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the fifth of six US lunar landing missions.   WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL On this day in 1387 Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' characters began their pilgrimage to Canterbury according to scholars. On this day in 1790 American statesman, printer, scientist, and writer Benjamin Franklin died in Philadelphia aged 84. On this day in 1875 modern snooker was invented by Sir Neville Chamberlain in Jabalpur, India.   THURSDAY 18 APRIL On this day in 1506 the cornerstone of the current St Peter's Basilica was laid in the Vatican by Pope Julius II. On this day in 1809 the first run of the 2,000 guineas horse race took place at Newmarket, England. On this day in 2014 Mt Everest saw its single deadliest day when sixteen Nepali mountaineering guides were killed by an avalanche.   FRIDAY 19 APRIL On this day in 1770 British explorer Captain James Cook first sighted Australia. On this day in 1824 Lord Byron died in Greece where he had travelled to support the Greek struggle for independence from Turkey. On this day in 1987 the first instalment of The Simpsons was aired in the form of one-minute shorts on the Tracey Ullman Show. Awareness days from around the world APRIL IS UK: Stress Awareness Month, Active for April, National Pet Month. WORLDWIDE: Jazz Appreciation Month, Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, Move More Month, IBS Awareness Month, Parkinson’s Awareness Month, International Cesarean Awareness Month, National Pickleball Month, Limb Loss And Limb Difference Awareness Month, National Afternoon Tea Month, Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month, National Brunch Month, National Tar Syndrome Awareness Month, Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, National Financial Literacy Month, National Alcohol Awareness Month, English Language Month, National Month Of Hope, National Volunteer Month, Distracted Driving Awareness Month, National Landscape Architecture Month, Scottish-American Heritage Month, Canine Fitness Month, Occupational Therapy Month, National Internship Awareness Month, Month Of The Military Child, National Donate Life Awareness Month, National Fair Housing Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, National Cannabis Awareness Month, National Safe Digging Month, National Welding Month, National Pecan Month, National Poetry Month, Straw Hat Month, National Soy Foods Month, National Soft Pretzel Month, National Humor Month, National Garden Month, National Fresh Celery Month, National Decorating Month, National Couple Appreciation Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Records And Information Management Month, National Lawn And Garden Month, Keep America Beautiful Month, International Guitar Month, National Autism Awareness Month, FOP Awareness Month.   THIS WEEK IS UK: Parkinson’s Awareness Week, National Feet Week, Discover National Parks Fortnight. WORLDWIDE: National Coin Week, Neurodiagnostic Week, Animal Cruelty / Human Violence Awareness Week, National Week of Conversation, International Dark Sky Week.   MONDAY 15 APRIL WORLDWIDE: International Microvolunteering Day, National Laundry Day, Purple Up! Day, National Glazed Spiral Ham Day, National Titanic Remembrance Day, National Rubber Eraser Day, National Take A Wild Guess Day, National Tax Day, World Art Day, National Anime Day, National ASL Day, National That Sucks! Day.   TUESDAY 16 APRIL WORLDWIDE: World Voice Day, National Bean Counter Day, National Orchid Day, National Healthcare Decisions Day, National Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day, National Eggs Benedict Day, Selena Day, National Librarian Day, Save The Elephant Day, Day of Mushrooms.   WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL UK: National Early Years Teacher Day. WORLDWIDE: World Haemophilia Day, National Banana Day, National Crawfish Day, National Cheeseball Day, National Haiku Poetry Day, National Ellis Island Family History Day, International Bat Appreciation Day, National Kickball Day, Nothing Like A Dame Day, Blah Blah Blah Day, National Ford Mustang Day, Malbec Day.   THURSDAY 18 APRIL WORLDWIDE: National Exercise Day, Get To Know Your Customers Day, National Animal Crackers Day, National High Five Day, National Poem In Your Pocket Day, National Columnists' Day, National Velociraptor Awareness Day, International Amateur Radio Day, International Day for Monuments and Sites, College Student Grief Awareness Day, National Auctioneers Day, Pet Owners Independence Day, World Heritage Day, National Lineman Appreciation Day, National Piñata Day.   FRIDAY 19 APRIL UK: Pyjamas For PanCan Day. WORLDWIDE: National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day, National North Dakota Day, National Amaretto Day, National Garlic Day, National Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day, National Hanging Out Day, John Parker Day, Education and Sharing Day, Humorous Day, World Jackal Day, Poetry And The Creative Mind Day, Bicycle Day, National Rice Ball Day. 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