A look back at the last week in education, a peek at what's coming up, plus lots of other interesting stuff to help with lesson planning  ...

LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEK THAT WAS Three of the week's headlines ... Exodus of new mums fuels teacher shortage in schools   Read more St Andrews rector dismissed from governing body over Israel genocide accusation Read more Universities in England face fines if they fail to protect students from harassment 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: Chancellor’s Statement. The Chancellor set out what she described as ‘a £22bn hole in the public finances’ in a Statement to MPs arguing that this had been inherited from the previous government, outlining a number of efficiency measures from social care to education to dept efficiencies to help remedy this but leaving further details to an October Budget and multi-year Spending Review. Treasury audit. The Treasury published its audit of existing public spending commitments, in many cases unfunded, to accompany the Chancellor’s Statement, running through the immediate savings that the government was intending to make before setting out the arrangements for the Budget, the Spending Review and future fiscal framework. Economic picture. The Bank of England announced a finely poised cut in the Bank Rate as it pointed to a projected slight increase in inflation in the second half of the year along with weak growth and a rise in unemployment. SCHOOLS: Teachers’ pay. The government confirmed that it would meet this year’s pay award for teachers in full as well as accept other recommendations to improve conditions for teachers including removing the PRP requirement. Pay Body report. The School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) published its full report outlining many of the issues around teacher recruitment and retention, working conditions and comparative earnings potential, concluding by recommending among other things an across the board 5.5% pay increase, the creation of a long-term workforce plan and the opportunity for more flexible working patterns. VAT consultation. The government published draft legislation and a Technical Consultation on the application of 20% VAT on boarding and private school fees which are intended to become applicable on fees paid from 29 July 2024 and which the government is urging such schools not to pass on in full. FE/SKILLS: Top apprenticeship employers. The government published the latest annual listing of top apprenticeship employers with Army once again heading the list, followed by BT, the Royal Navy and Royal Airforce. Annual report. The ESFA published its annual report and accounts for 2023/24 which, following a year of transition, saw it refocused around delivering funding certainty, quality support, and assurance with a claimed high success rate in each. Skills matters. Personnel Today reflected on some of the many skills priorities facing the new skills body, Skills England, highlighting both immediate needs around local skills and skills gaps as well as future skills planning, non-levy training and partnership working. HE: University challenge. King’s College Policy Institute published the results of its latest major survey into the attitudes towards university among graduates, parents and the public, reflecting a range of views about the cost, benefit and value of the university experience with graduates broadly positive about the whole thing, parents slightly more mixed and often favouring vocational qualifications, and the public concerned about the cost and build up of debt. Student protection. The OfS followed up its consultation last year on harassment and sexual misconduct in English HE by confirming that it intended to go ahead with a new condition of registration ensuring that by August 2025 institutions have appropriate training and processes in place for such matters including the scrapping of the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs.)        Student loans. The Student Loans Co confirmed that an interest rate cap of 8% would be applied to all Plan 2, Plan 5 and Post Grad student loans this August. Access all issues of Steve Besley's Education Eye Latest research, reports and studies Artificial intelligence: Will robots replace teachers? | Teacher Toolkit Cultivating green futures: Helping students understand and progress towards green jobs | OECD New insight report: Leading strategic change in higher education in challenging times | Advance HE Early home visiting delivery model and maternal and child mental health at primary school age | IFS Aligned ambitions? How to tell (and why it is important to know) if students’ occupational and education plans are aligned | OECD Unblocking the pipeline: Supporting the retention, progression and promotion of Black early-career academics | HEPI Factors influencing the impact of math interventions in K-12 education | BEIB Starting early with reading and writing: SRCD Plus shows impacts with 1st and 2nd graders | BEIB School dropout interventions: Assessing what works | BEIB What is a tutorial? Exposing the hidden curriculum of higher education | BERA Search our education research section COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK Parliament and elsewhere MPs’ summer break (Tuesday 30 July – Monday 2 September). Events and CPD opportunities Wednesday 07 August: Best Practice in Social Sciences Teaching Workshop | University of Glasgow Thursday 08 August: How is AI changing our Language Education? | Confucius Institute 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 05 AUGUST On this day in 1305 Scottish resistance leader William Wallace was captured near Glasgow and transported to London for trial and execution. On this day in 1926 Harry Houdini stayed in a coffin underwater for 90 minutes before escaping. On this day in 1962 actress Marilyn Monroe was found dead at her home in Los Angeles.   TUESDAY 06 AUGUST On this day in 1661 the Treaty of The Hague was signed whereby the Dutch Republic sold New Holland (Brazil) to Portugal for 63 tonnes of gold. On this day in 1890 at Auburn Prison in New York, murderer William Kemmler became the first person to be executed by electric chair. On this day in 1926 Gertrude Ederle, an American Olympic swimmer, swam across the English Channel in 14 hours and 34 minutes.   WEDNESDAY 07 AUGUST On this day in 1606 the first performance of Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth was performed at Hampton Court Palace for King James I. On this day in 1959 the first US satellite Explorer 6 was launched to photograph the Earth. On this day in 1974 French high-wire artist Philippe Petit walked a tightrope between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.   THURSDAY 08 AUGUST On this day in 1786 the US Congress unanimously chose the dollar as the monetary unit for the United States of America On this day in 1908 the Wright brothers publicly demonstrated their flying machine for the first time. On this day in 1975 the term 'global warming' appeared for the first time in print in the journal ‘Science’.   FRIDAY 09 AUGUST On this day in 1483 the first mass in the Sistine Chapel was celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption. On this day in 1898 Rudolf Diesel of Germany patented his internal combustion engine later known as the diesel engine. On this day in 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Nagasaki. Awareness days from around the world AUGUST IS UK: National Road Victim Month. WORLDWIDE: Psoriasis Awareness/Psoriasis Action Month, National Immunization Awareness Month, National Fishing Month, National Dog Month, National Hair Loss Awareness Month, National Wellness Month, Medic Alert Awareness Month, Children's Eye Health And Safety Month, National Brownies At Brunch Month, Black Business Month, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month, Motorsports Awareness Month, International Peace Month, Get Ready For Kindergarten Month, National Panini Month, National Goat Cheese Month, National Sandwich Month, Happiness Happens Month, National Back To School Month, National Crayon Collection Month, National Golf Month, National Eye Exam Month, National Catfish Month, National Water Quality Month, Romance Awareness Month, Family Fun Month, Beautiful in Your Skin Month, National Breastfeeding Month, National Cheerleading Safety Month, Child Support Awareness Month, National Inventors Month, National Anti-Frizz Month.   THIS WEEK IS UK: National Marine Week. WORLDWIDE: World Breastfeeding Week, National Minority Donor Awareness Week, National Cleanse Your Skin Week, National Exercise With Your Child Week, International Assistance Dog Week, Stop On Red Week, Satchmo Summerfest, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Simplify Your Life Week, International Clown Week.   MONDAY 05 AUGUST UK: National Dash Cam Day. WORLDWIDE: National Oyster Day, National Work Like A Dog Day, National Underwear Day, Picnic Day NT, Natal Day, Alberta Heritage Day, British Columbia Day, National Couscous Day, Terry Fox Day, New Brunswick Day, Start-Up Day Across America, National Work Like A Dog Day, Blogger Day, National Underwear Day, International Traffic Light Day.   TUESDAY 06 AUGUST WORLDWIDE: National Night Out, National Social Engineering Day, National Wiggle Your Toes Day, International Scuba Day, Farmworker Appreciation Day, Balloons to Heaven Day, National Root Beer Float Day, Cycle to Work Day, National Fresh Breath Day, International Sailor Moon Day.   WEDNESDAY 07 AUGUST UK: Playday, National Opportunity Day. WORLDWIDE: Aged Care Employee Day, Purple Heart Day, National Raspberries n’ Cream Day, National Sea Serpent Day, National Lighthouse Day, Regatta Day, Professional Speakers Day, National Psychiatric Technician Appreciation Day, Professional Engineers Day, Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day.   THURSDAY 08 AUGUST WORLDWIDE: International Cat Day, National CBD Day, National Whataburger Day, Scottish Wildcat Day, National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbors’ Porch Day, National Happiness Happens Day, Odie Day, National Pickleball Day, Top 8 Challenge Day, Dying to Know Day, National Dollar Day, National Frozen Custard Day, Global Sleep Under the Stars Night, National Mochi Day.   FRIDAY 09 AUGUST WORLDWIDE: National Women’s Day, National Coworking Day, Betty Boop Day, National Book Lovers Day, Melon Day, Hold Hands Day, National Rice Pudding Day, National Billiards & Pool Day, National Passion Fruit Day, National Veep Day. 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