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 ... Schools in England lack funds to tackle rise in bad behaviour since Covid Read more Warning as figures show rise in young people not in education, jobs or training Read more Universities which restrict access to exam scripts ’cause students harm’ 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: Online safety. The technology secretary listed five strategic priorities around online safety for the regulator (Ofcom) for the coming year and announced the launch of a new research study to examine the effects of social media use and smartphones on children. Children’s social care. The education secretary set out the government’s vision on enhanced social care and protection for children, listing ‘four key reform principles’ around supporting families, empowering family networks, ensuring high-quality placements and enabling multi-agency working, with a range of measures in each case, likely to be enshrined in the forthcoming Children’s Wellbeing Bill. More on children’s social care. The Children’s Commissioner highlighted many of the issues facing children caught up in the social care system pointing to poor provision, children’s rights being ignored and evidence of profiteering by some companies as she published her report into the workings of the system. SCHOOLS: Minister’s address. Catherine McKinnell, the Education Minister, addressed the Schools and Academies Conference where she ran through the government’s current ledger of activity and reviews and announced the launch of the new digital support service for schools: ‘Plan Technology for Your School.’ Exams 2025. Ofqual outlined the arrangements for next year’s exams and assessments, running through the roles of key bodies like awarding organisations, along with preparation for exams and details on marking and grading, results days and appeals. Teacher Wellbeing. Education Support published its latest annual Teacher Wellbeing Index, acknowledging some ‘slight’ improvements in workforce wellbeing but also pointing to ‘disturbingly high rates of stress, anxiety, and burnout continuing to affect education staff, exacerbated by pupil and parent behaviour,’ calling for improved support for staff along with a revised social contract with parents. FE/SKILLS: Skills mapping. The government confirmed further details on the consultation exercise being undertaken by Skills England on training priorities for the eight growth-driving sectors listed in the recent Industrial Strategy, adding a further two sectors in construction and health and social care. Skills debate. MPs discussed T levels, apprenticeships, L3 qualification reform, Skills England and a range of other training and skills matters in a Westminster Hall debate, with DfE Under-Secretary of State Janet Daby defending the government agenda and its plans for transforming the skills system and ensuring access to qualifications. Skills Commission. Make UK announced the launch of a new Industrial Strategy Skills Commission, co-chaired by former skills minister Rob Halfon and former Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson, which will work with an Advisory Board of leading figures to provide policy advice and skills solutions around engineering and manufacturing. HE: SHAPE cold spots. The British Academy launched a project to highlight the changing, and increasingly limited, provision for SHAPE subjects (social sciences, humanities and arts) in UK HE, using a set of interactive maps to show the so-called cold spots where access is limited. Student financial support. The JS Group which works with universities and students on student financial support, published its latest Annual Report highlighting the current financial pressures on students with hardship funding often directed towards daily living costs, calling for speedier and more flexible institutional hardship funds. Graduate returns. Universities UK examined the latest LEO (Longitudinal Education Outcomes) data, arguing that ‘a degree allows graduates from all regions to earn more,’ in some cases outperforming non-graduates by a third, ten years after graduation. Access all issues of Steve Besley's Education Eye Latest research, reports and studies Creating pathways to success for young people | OECD Older people and essential skills | Learning & Work Institute What do we know about teachers’ use of edtech? | EPI Unlocking potential: Digital skills training and social mobility | Learning & Work Institute Incentives to recruit and retain teachers in Wales | EPI Students’ attention span in classrooms | Teacher Toolkit Teacher Wellbeing Index | Education Support A decline in foreign students and higher costs create a perfect storm for Scottish universities | IFS Serious youth violence more far-reaching than many realise | Ofsted Non-Examinable Content: Student access to exam scripts | HEPI How to strengthen working memory | Teacher Toolkit Understanding the Challenges in Functional Skills Maths Qualifications (FSQs) | AELP New analysis reveals graduates in every region earn at least a third more | UUK Research shows how successful transition supports students into university | UPP Foundation Can machine learning using cross-government administrative and census data help us understand area-level under-registration for free school meals? | EPI Private schools lose GCSE results edge after socioeconomic adjusting | UCL Search our education research section COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK Parliament and elsewhere MPs debate a petition on ‘allowing students to be taken out of school for two weeks a year without penalty’ (Monday 25 November) CBI 2024 Annual Conference (Monday 25 November) Federation of Awarding Bodies Conference (Monday 25 – Tuesday 26 November) Westminster Hall debate on ‘Online safety for children and young people’ (Tuesday 26 November) Events and CPD opportunities Wednesday 27 November: Next steps for teacher recruitment and retention in England | Westminster Forum Projects (online event) Wednesday 27 - Friday 29 November: MATs Summit 2024 | Optimus Education (in-person event) Thursday 28 November: Next steps for developing green skills and employment opportunities in England | Westminster Forum Projects (online event) Thursday 28 November: Supporting pupils who struggle in the mathematics classroom | SecEd (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 NOVEMBER On this day in 1783 Britain evacuated New York City ending its military position in the United States. On this day in 1952 Agatha Christie’s 'The Mousetrap' opened at London’s West End. On this day in 2000 the United Nations General Assembly recognised the first International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.   TUESDAY 26 NOVEMBER On this day in 1778 British explorer Captain James Cook became the first European to visit Maui in the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii). On this day in 1864 Oxford mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his nom de plume Lewis Carroll, sent his handwritten manuscript called 'Alice’s Adventures Under Ground' to 12-year-old Alice Liddell as a Christmas present. On this day in 1983 a gang of six armed robbers broke into the Brink's-Mat warehouse at Heathrow Airport and stole £26 million worth of gold, diamonds and cash.   WEDNESDAY 27 NOVEMBER On this day in 1895 Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament which set aside the bulk of his estate as a fund to establish the Nobel Prize. On this day in 1942 Jimi Hendrix, one of the most innovative guitar players of the rock era, was born in Seattle, Washington. On this day in 2001 scientists using the Hubble space telescope detected the first planetary atmosphere outside the solar system on an exoplanet known as Osiris.   THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER On this day in 1520 Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan began crossing the Pacific Ocean in his historic journey to circumnavigate the globe. On this day in 1893 women voted in a national election for the first time in the New Zealand general election. On this day in 1975 East Timor declared its independence from Portugal.   FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER On this day in 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army moved into Manchester and occupied Carlisle. On this day in 1877 US inventor Thomas Edison demonstrated his hand-cranked phonograph for the first time. On this day in 1929 American explorer Richard Byrd became the first person to fly over the South Pole. Awareness days from around the world NOVEMBER IS UK: Mouth Cancer Action Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. WORLDWIDE: Adopt A Senior Pet Month, Adopt a Turkey Month, Aviation History Month, Banana Pudding Lovers Month, Bladder Health Month, COPD Awareness Month, Diabetic Eye Disease Month, Epilepsy Awareness Month, Erectile Dysfunction Awareness Month, Eye Donor Awareness Month, Family Stories Month, Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month, Historic Bridge Awareness Month, Inspirational Role Models Month, Long-term Care Awareness Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Manatee Awareness Month, Men’s Health Awareness Month (Movember), Military Family Month, Mouth Cancer Action Month, National Adoption Month, National Alzheimer's Disease Month, National Career Development Month, National Children’s Month, National Diabetes Month, National Entrepreneurship Month, National Family Caregivers Month, National Family Literacy Month, National Fondue Month, National Fun with Fondue Month, National Gratitude Month, National Healthy Skin Month, National Home Care and Hospice Month, National Impotency Month, National Inspirational Role Models Month, National Life Writing Month, National Marrow Awareness Month, National Medical Science Liaison (MSL), National Military Family Month, National Native American Heritage Month, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), National Peanut Butter Lovers Month, National Pepper Month, National Pet Cancer Awareness Month, National Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Month, National Pomegranate Month, National PPSI Aids Awareness Month, National Raisin Bread Month, National Repair Done Right Month, National Rice Awareness Month, National Roasting Month, National Scholarship Month, Native American Heritage Month, Noshavember, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Pet Cancer Awareness Month, Pet Diabetes Month, Prematurity Awareness Month, PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month, Spinach And Squash Month, Stomach Cancer Awareness Month, Sweet Potato Awareness Month, Veg Pledge, World Vegan Month, Worldwide Bereaved Siblings Month.   THIS WEEK IS WORLDWIDE: 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence, Better Conversations Week, Bible Week, Deal Week, Farm-City Week, Game and Puzzle Week, Tree Week.   MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER UK: White Ribbon Day. WORLDWIDE: Blasé Day, Brand Day, Gazpacho Soup Day, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Parfait Day, Play Day with Dad, Shopping Reminder Day, Statehood Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina.   TUESDAY 26 NOVEMBER WORLDWIDE: Cake Day, Coton de Tulear Day, Good Grief Day.   WEDNESDAY 27 NOVEMBER UK: Lancashire Day, Fuel Poverty Awareness Day. WORLDWIDE: Bavarian Cream Pie Day, Craft Jerky Day, DrinksGiving, Jukebox Day, Pins and Needles Day, Tie One On Day, Turtle Adoption Day.   THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER WORLDWIDE: Alan Day, Albanian Independence Day, Day of Mourning (Unthanksgiving Day), Family Health History Day, French Toast Day, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Red Planet Day, Thanksgiving Day, Turkey Free Thanksgiving.   FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER UK: National Illustration Day. WORLDWIDE: Albanian Liberation Day, Black Friday, Buy Nothing Day, Chadwick Boseman Day, Chocolates Day, Day of Listening, Electronic Greetings Day, Flossing Day, Fur-Free Friday, Illustration Day, International Jaguar Day, International Systems Engineer Day, Isdal Woman Day, Lemon Cream Pie Day, Maize Day, Native American Heritage Day, Sinkie Day, Square Dancing Day, Throw Out Your Leftovers Day, You’re Welcome Giving 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