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LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEK THAT WAS
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The main stories from the papers
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The latest announcements and policy news
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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, and all the not-to-be-missed statistics.
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GENERAL:
AI Growth Zones. The government invited local authorities, particularly those in deindustrialised areas, to submit bids to become an AI Growth Zone, in the hope that these would attract jobs, investment and opportunities and be at the forefront of change generally.
4-Day Working Week. Labour MP Peter Dowd tabled an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill for the government to set up a Working Time Council to consider recommendations on transitioning to a 4-day working week.
Education spending. The consultancy Public First reported on its latest survey among UK adults about what should be the top priorities for education funding in the government’s forthcoming Spending Review with apprenticeships, adult training and skills, and childcare and early years emerging as the top three. Economic Outlook. The NIESR published its thoughts on the economic outlook for the UK this year suggesting a flat first half of the year but an improving second half, with growth picking up and inflation falling but things remaining difficult for poorer households.
EU AI fund. Ursula von der Leyen, EU President, announced at this week’s Paris AI Conference a major ‘InvestAI’ initiative designed to mobilise €200 billion for investment in AI, including a new European fund of €20 billion for four future AI gigafactories across the EU.
Jobs on wheels. The government launched its mobile job centre scheme, a Jobs on Wheels service which will see ‘experienced work coaches’ go out and about to places such as football clubs, retail car parks and mosques offering advice and support to encourage people back into work.
Jobs. KPMG and REC UK pointed to ‘a further deterioration in the health of the UK jobs market’ with its latest commissioned survey showing a fall in both temp and permanent placings with the higher cost of hiring following the government’s NIC increase seen as a big factor.
Nursery costs. The National Day Nurseries Association revealed that more than three-quarters of nurseries expect to make a loss or break even this year with over 90% having to increase charges for parents, pointing the finger firmly at increased NIC costs as it published the results of a survey among members. SCHOOLS:
Countering conspiracy theories. Public First reported on its work with the Pears Foundation into online influencers and the extent to which young people become vulnerable to misinformation and conspiracy theories, calling in a Commission report for this to be tackled through training, support and collaboration in schools and across communities.
Internet safety. BBC Teach published commissioned research ahead of this year’s Safer Internet Day showing rising concern among teachers about the impact of social media platforms not just on young people but on primary age children as well, with 80% of primary teachers aware of at least one safeguarding incident linked to online safety in the past year.
Curriculum response. Pearson highlighted some key recommendations from its response to the Curriculum and Assessment review pointing among other things to the need for reform of GCSE English, an end to the resits policy, simplification of the L2 landscape, clarity around L3 pathways and better use of technology in assessment.
Identifying SEND. The Education Policy Institute called for earlier assessments, better information sharing and formal training as it published its conclusive Nuffield report into SEND issues, highlighting mixed local and institutional practices particularly in less academized parts of the country.
Exclusions and suspensions. FFT Education Datalab took an early look at unofficial data on exclusions and suspensions for last term, showing ahead of official reports that trends continued to remain high particularly for disadvantaged pupils although the rate of increase appeared to be slowing.
FE/SKILLS:
Apprenticeships. The education secretary confirmed some flexibilities for apprenticeships including reducing the minimum duration for some schemes to 8 months and giving employers the right to decide on English and maths requirements for adult 19+ apprentices, as she welcomed this year’s National Apprenticeship Week.
CIPD on apprenticeships. The CIPD used National Apprenticeship Week to call for an Apprenticeship Guarantee for 18–24-year-olds, a £3,000 hiring incentive for SMEs, funding for work experience for schools and ‘rapid progress’ on the Growth and Skills Levy,’ as it submitted its thoughts on skills to the government’s Spending Review.
Skills England. The education secretary announced the names of the leadership team that will head up Skills England, with former Cisco boss Phil Smith confirmed as Chair and Sir David Bell as Vice-Chair.
SME skills. The government published the ‘2025 skills horizon’ report from SMEs, with responses from 1,500 SME leaders indicating a positive outlook for the year ahead with many looking to continue growth trends albeit with running costs, staffing challenges and finding staff with ‘the right skills’ among the top concerns.
T level student destinations. The Gatsby Foundation published further details on destinations from the second cohort of T level students, those who got their results in the summer of 2023, showing that of the 1,212 students in question, nearly a half progressed to HE, a quarter to employment and the rest to an apprenticeship or elsewhere.
FE and skills across the UK. Edge updated its useful ‘Short Guide to FE and skills across the four countries of the UK’ picking up on Labour’s (new) skills agenda and adding in developments where possible. HE:
Spending Review submission (1) Universities UK set out a range of measures around growth, opportunity and funding as it submitted its proposals to the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, calling when it came to funding for the reinstatement of maintenance grants, an annual inflation-linked index for tuition fees and investment in collaborative research and mobility.
Spending Review submission (2) University Alliance set out its proposals for the Spending Review prioritising supporting economic growth, skilling the NHS and extending opportunities and in terms of funding calling for inflation-linked tuition fees and uprated maintenance entitlements and parental income thresholds.
Spending Review submission (3) GuildHE submitted its proposals to the Spending Review highlighting how its work can contribute to the government’s key missions and calling in particular for reinstating maintenance grants, setting up a regional growth fund and improving HE data systems.
Made in Manchester. The consultancy, London Economics, published a report on the economic impact of the University of Manchester focusing on the 2022/23 academic year and showing its impact on the UK economy that year totalled £7.3bn as it supported over 30,000 UKFTE jobs, generated 343 start-ups and generated £5.95 in productivity benefits for every £1 invested in research.
Learning for university. The HE Policy Institute (HEPI) called for a number of changes to the school curriculum, particularly around the need for a more balanced curriculum for 16–18-year-olds and for preparation for life as it published the results of a curriculum survey, intended to inform the current curriculum review.
Framework for Leadership. AdvanceHE published a new leadership resource in the shape of a ‘Framework for Leading in HE,’ designed around ‘three sets of attributes of successful leadership practice’ that can support leaders in HE at different levels as they contend with an increasing set of challenges.
Healthcare apprenticeships. University Alliance and the University of Derby reported on the extent of barriers around healthcare apprenticeships, calling in a new report timed for National Apprenticeship Week for retaining L7 apprenticeships for ‘skills and roles in demand.’
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Research, reports and studies published this week
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COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK
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Important reports, deadlines and government events
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Half term recess (Friday 14 February – Sunday 23 February)
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Conferences and CPD opportunities
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MONDAY 17 FEBRUARY
On this day in 1996 chess champion Garry Kasparov defeated Deep Blue, IBM’s chess-playing computer, in the final game of a six-game match, winning the match 4-2.
TUESDAY 18 FEBRUARY
On this day in 1885 author Mark Twain published his famous novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the United States.
WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY
On this day in 1473 the father of modern astronomy, Nicolaus Copernicus, was born in Torun, a city in north-central Poland.
THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY
On this day in 1962 John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft.
FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY
On this day in 1173 Pope Alexander III canonised Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, as a saint.
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