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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: Spring statement entrée. The Chancellor announced a growth taster ahead of her spring statement in the shape of a 4-year £600m funding package to help train up 60,000+ skilled construction workers, many through Bootcamps and colleges, to help deliver the government’s building plans.
Spring Statement Report. The Treasury published its full Report accompanying the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, setting out the government’s stated ambitions around defence, public service reform and growth, along with the policy decisions and costings in each case.
The big picture. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published its traditional summary report on the UK economy and the fiscal outlook used to inform the Treasury in its deliberations, showing a halving in projected growth for this year before improvements later, a ‘peaking’ in inflation and unemployment for 2025/26, and a projected lowering in productivity, leading to a likely budget headroom of £9.9bn by 2029/30, the same as previously.
IfS view. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IfS) published its detailed day after analysis of the Spring Statement concluding that the Chancellor had been (over) focused on her fiscal rules, had actually announced little that was new, and with ‘little headroom and an uncertain environment,’ was likely to face a difficult Spending Review.
Resolution Foundation view. The Resolution Foundation published its assessment of the Spring Statement arguing that the Chancellor was right to take action but wrong ‘to concentrate the pain so heavily on a relatively small number of disability claimants.’
Spending Review submission. The TUC underlined its support for government plans to grow the economy and make work pay as it published its submission to the Spending Review, calling in particular for strengthening the quality of public services and investing in industries of the future.
Living in poverty. The government published latest figures for Households Below Average Income (HBAI) showing a fall in real household incomes over the last year with an increase in the percentage of children in ‘food insecure households’ and 8.1% people in working households living in relative poverty.
Living standards. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation highlighted the extent and impact of the current ‘crisis in living standards’ with average household disposable incomes still below those of 5 years ago, calling for an immediate plan for tackle hardship and a longer-term plan for an Essentials Guarantee in Universal Credit.
Children’s voices. The children’s commissioner welcomed the first anniversary of the publication of the results from her Big Ask survey which brought together many of the key issues concerning children and which have since been put forward in various quarters, promising to continue the work with a Childhood Festival next week.
LA survey. The Local Government Association (LGA) reported that three-quarters of English local authorities could struggle to set a balanced budget this year and could find it even harder next year with social care a continuing concern, as they published the results of their latest survey of chief finance officers. SCHOOLS: Ofsted consultation. ASCL said it couldn’t support Ofsted’s proposals for reforming inspections in their current reform and called for a delay in implementing any changes, citing in particular proposed changes to the grading scale as it issued its response to Ofsted’s inspection consultation.
Inspection report cards. Ofsted reported on commissioned research undertaken by YouGov into parental views on the new inspection report cards, showing that 67% of those surveyed preferred them to the current system.
SEND support. The government announced further support for SEND provision, pledging £740m to provide new school places either in mainstream schooling or in specialist provision for children with SEND.
SEND provision. FFT Education Datalab highlighted the recent growth in the number of pupils with Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans and outlined areas around the country where provision was limited.
School buildings. ASCL called on the government to restore funding for classroom and other repairs as it published the results of a commissioned Teacher Tapp survey showing large numbers of schools reporting problems with heating, ventilation and broken windows among other things.
School system. The House of Commons Library Service published a useful primer on the state school system in England designed to help MPs field questions from constituents about school-related matters and covering everything from the role of the Secretary of State to school transport.
Tackling attendance. The NFER called for a more individualised approach to helping pupils missing school to return, suggesting from case study evidence that individual support worked better than relying on incentives or sanctions.
TAs. The Education Endowment Foundation published updated guidance on teaching assistants (TAs,) using evidence from recent studies to show how best to deploy their skills in supporting pupil attainment.
Music in schools. The Ed Sheeran Foundation and leading music stars called for ‘a £250m UK music education package’ for schools, pointing to music being a big contributor to the UK economy yet with school music education currently declining. FE/SKILLS: Construction skills. The Chancellor announced ahead of her spring statement a range of funded measures to help beef up the skills of the construction workforce with funding promised for new Technical Excellence Colleges, construction apprenticeships, placements and Bootcamps, along with a new Construction Skills Mission Board.
Post-16 NICs. The government confirmed that its 2025/26 £155m grant to help support post-16 institutions with the extra costs arising out of increased NIC costs would be based on 16-19 programme funding, would be confirmed in May and paid in September.
Apprenticeship progress. The Skills Minister praised the sector for its work in securing a major increase in apprenticeship achievement rates and for the strength of its provision across the board, indicating that she was keen to build on this through simpler apprenticeship systems, more flexible provision, and stronger support.
T levels. The NAO reported on the introduction of T levels pointing to a number of teething problems and calling on the government to consider issues such as industry placements, student take-up and their positioning within the qualification framework before ‘making wider strategic decisions’ around tech qualifications. College-based HE. The Lifelong Education Group and Mixed Economy Group (MEG) of Colleges called for strengthened funding and support along with ‘a functional credit transfer network’ as it outlined proposals for a national network of FE colleges equipped to deliver higher-level skills.
EY Teacher Degree Apprenticeships. The government issued guidance and regulations covering areas such as eligibility criteria, design and standards, for training providers looking to deliver the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship 2025/26.
Tech careers. The NFER and Hg Foundation examined careers and job adverts in the tech sector pointing to a ‘sizeable drop’ in adverts for roles in areas such as software development with many being relocated abroad or reworked ahead of AI, suggesting careful thinking was needed for those seeking career opportunities in the sector in the future. HE:
Spring Statement Vacuum. The Times Higher reported on concerns from across the sector that the Chancellor had offered nothing in her Spring Statement for UKHE, with university finances, R/D and the importance of higher-level skills all largely ignored.
Student loans concerns. The Education Secretary responded to weekend media concerns about potential fraud in the student loans system by pointing the finger at the previous administration and announcing an immediate inquiry by the Public Sector Fraud Authority.
Funding in Scotland. The Carnegie Trust published the results of a commissioned survey into views on funding HE in Scotland as concerns about funding pressures mount, finding broad support for some form of help with fee costs but based on need and on employment outcomes.
Credit transfer system. QAA reported on the potential for developing a credit-transfer system at scale for UKHE, finding considerable survey evidence support for the concept but equally recognition of the barriers facing any implementation.
Freedom of speech. The OfS reported on its findings into the application of freedom of speech and academic freedom at the University of Sussex in light of recent concerns, concluding that the university ‘had breached two OfS conditions of registration,’ resulting in a hefty fine.
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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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The think tank Onward hosts a conversation with the shadow education secretary Laura Trott (Monday 31 March)
Westminster Hall debate on Relationship Education in Schools (Tuesday 1 April)
Westminster Hall debate on the impact of university finances on jobs in HE (Wednesday 2 April)
British Academy Conference in support of SHAPE subjects (Wednesday 2 April)
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Conferences and CPD opportunities
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Monday 31 March: Priorities for children’s food and nutrition policy in England | Westminster Forum (online event)
Monday 31 March - Tuesday 01 April: HashtagHigherEd UK 2025 | THE (in-person event)
Tuesday 01 April: Trusted Global Research Conference 2025 | UUK (in-person event)
Tuesday 01 April: National Career Guidance Show - London | Optimus Education (in-person event)
Tuesday 01 - Thursday 03 April: Digital Universities UK 2025 | THE (in-person event)
Wednesday 02 April: Next steps for qualifications and assessment reform in Scotland | Westminster Forum (online event)
Wednesday 02 April: Leading with authenticity and confidence | BTS Spark (in-person event)
Wednesday 02 - Thursday 03 April: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2025 | Advance HE (in-person event)
Thursday 03 April: Capability for change – preparing for digital learning futures | Wonkhe (online event)
Thursday 03 April: Partnerships unlocked: Northumbria and Ulster share the key to market agility | The Pie (online event)
Saturday 05 April: Reflective practice and support for educators | The Working Group (online event) |
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MONDAY 31 MARCH
On this day in 1889 the Eiffel Tower, designed by French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, was officially opened.
TUESDAY 01 APRIL
On this day in 1748 the ruins of Pompeii were rediscovered by Spanish architect Roque Joaquín de Alcubierre.
WEDNESDAY 02 APRIL
On this day in 1935 Scottish physicist Robert Watson-Watt was granted the British patent for radar.
THURSDAY 03 APRIL
On this day in 1973 the first public mobile telephone call was placed on a Manhattan sidewalk.
FRIDAY 04 APRIL
On this day in 1968 civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated by James Earl Ray in Memphis, Tennessee.
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