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LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEK THAT WAS
The main stories from the papers
Guardian: University of Sussex’s record fine sparks confusion over freedom of speech rules
 
Herald: 'Critical' funding needed for Scotland's colleges
 
Sky: Cardiff University's nursing course may continue despite threat of major cuts
 
Guardian: More than 90% of schools in England ban mobile phone use, survey shows
 
Independent: Police warned ‘there will be more knives’ as teachers fear plan to take officers from London schools
 
Independent: Former principal to lead expert taskforce set up to help Dundee University
 
BBC: Rise in serious care incidents reported by nurseries

 
Visit EdNews to view all this week's education news
The latest announcements and policy news
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.
GENERAL:
Quango alert. The government set out the principles behind its major review of quangos with each dept called on to justify every quango in scope or see them “closed, merged, or have powers brought back into the department.”
Cyber security. The government announced the launch of the Cyber Governance Code of Practice along with a Cyber Security Toolkit and Governance Training designed to provide free support and guidance for boards and directors of medium and large organisations.
EU AI Plan. The EU Commission set its sights on the EU becoming ‘a global  leader in AI’ as it presented its AI continent plan aiming to mobilise €200 billion investment with initiatives in 5 areas including increasing access to high-quality data, strengthening AI skills and talents, and building a large-scale AI computing infrastructure.
AI developments. The IPPR think tank called on the government to take a stronger lead in shaping how AI is deployed as it published results from its ‘first of a kind’ AI database, showing that too many companies are focused on improving existing business processes rather than pursing innovations to help tackle societal concerns in areas like health, transport and climate change.
Industrial strategy. Former minister David Willetts offered a practical guide to developing an Industrial Strategy in an essay for the Resolution Foundation, putting forward 20 tools that might help including getting senior ministers to work closely with top companies, promoting a mix of public/private investment for skills training and developing technology roadmaps.
Recruitment. The British Chambers of Commerce reported a drop to 20% in the number of firms looking to recruit as its latest Recruitment Outlook Survey showed firms concerned about labour costs notably in sectors like manufacturing, hospitality and construction.
Flexi working. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) highlighted the importance of flexi work options to employees as it published the results of a business survey conducted in February showing employers concerned about the impact of rising sickness rates on productivity and the need for flexible approaches.
Children’s centres. The Centre for Young Lives pointed to a worrying decimation of children’s support and family hub services as it published FOI survey evidence showing council cuts to spending in these areas in recent years, calling as a result for ringfenced funding to secure future family support.

SCHOOLS:
Attainment and disadvantage. Shadow Education Minister Neil O’Brien questioned the government’s approach to school system and accountability reform in a new Substack this week, arguing the case for school-led improvement generally through trusts rather than the government’s centrally driven model.
Exams 2025. Ofqual published a guide, complete with video explainer, on the marking and grading of this summer’s GCSE and A levels, confirming as in previous years the importance of maintaining standards over time.  
Cost cutting. The Sutton Trust published commissioned NFER research undertaken last month and showing schools cutting budgets and having to cut back on staffing, tutoring programmes and other activities as budget pressures mount with schools using the Pupil Premium to help plug gaps.
Wellbeing and attainment. The SMF think tank called for a reduction in the number of high-stake exams along with a Young Peoples Wellbeing Measurement programme as it published a new briefing aimed at securing a better balance between wellbeing and attainment.
Expressive Arts. The Cultural Learning Alliance published its ‘Report Card’ for 2025 looking at what’s happening to Expressive Arts in state schools in England pointing to a clear link between family deprivation and ‘a trajectory of decline’ generally in Arts subjects with A level Dance showing the biggest drop in take-up.
School partnerships. The Education Policy Institute examined partnership models between state and independent schools in a report funded by the HMC, looking at two in detail and finding some constraints around funding, staffing and culture but equally lots of benefits around extended learning and experiences.

FE/SKILLS:
Digital skills. NCFE reported on the findings from its Digital Skills Initial Assessment exercise undertaken over a few weeks last autumn and revealing a mixed picture on digital proficiency among participants with the majority reaching basic skill levels but equally some 20%, including many younger people, lacking the basic digital skills needed for modern life.
STEM skills. The STEM consultancy, SThree, and the CEBR published the results of their inaugural STEM Skills Index, pointing to the importance of such skills and looking more deeply at how countries were developing their respective workforces accordingly, showing Switzerland, Singapore and the Nordic nations leading the way with the UK ranked 7th in the top ten, with strengths in biotech and Life Sciences.  
Technical education careers. The Career Development Institute (CDI) announced the launch of its Technical Education Resource Hub, an online platform supported by Gatsby and bringing together information and resources on tech ed pathways for careers advisers.
Adult skills. Dr Susan Pember, Policy Director at Holex, highlighted in a paper for the Campaign for Learning, the importance of adult skills to the government’s growth agenda, pointing to the impact of recent budget cuts along with fears of possible future cuts, and calling for the government to secure investment in this area under the forthcoming Spending Review.

HE:
Augar returns. The Times Higher reported that Sir Philip Augar, Chair of the last major HE funding review, argued that it would be ‘unthinkable’ for a university to fail but also that government support should be coupled with an institutional governance review, as he gave evidence to the Education Committee’s session on HE finances.
Committee evidence. The Russell Group and Universities UK outlined their joint concerns and call for action as they posted their summary of the Education Committee’s session on HE finances, drawing attention to the fact that the first report from UUK’s Efficiency Taskforce is expected shortly.
Grounds for appeal. Sussex University confirmed that it intended to appeal against the recent judgement and fine issued by the OfS in relation to Freedom of Speech, setting out eight grounds for appeal including the fact that the fine was ‘unreasonable and disproportionate’ and that the OfS had ‘misdirected’ itself in a couple of areas.
Strike action protections. The Office for Students (OfS) pointed to concerns about the impact of industrial action on students, setting out ‘six expectations’ that it expects providers to adopt including communicating clearly with students and prioritising education provision where necessary.
Language skills and research. The British Academy pointed in a new report to the importance of language skills as a tool in research, calling for these to be recognised in REF submissions and for investment to be made available for language training to avoid UK researchers from being cut off.
Subject benchmarks. The QAA published this year’s batch of Subject Benchmark Statement setting out expected standards in specific subject areas with updates in a number of subjects including Accounting and Physics and a new Statement for Public Policy and Public Admin.
Student survey. The QAA’s Student Strategic Advisory Committee announced the launch of a survey among current students and recent graduates about value for money and its importance to them, with a closing date for responses of 25 April 2025.
Top marks. The Times Higher reported on latest HESA research showing a further fall in the number of universities awarding top degree awards, with Russell Group students generally receiving the largest number.
Access all issues of Steve Besley's Education Eye
Research, reports and studies published this week
Promoting good mental health in children and young adults | OECD
Secondary pupils in England among the least emotionally engaged with school | UCL
We used to have it all: is there a trade off between wellbeing and attainment in schools? | SMF
#BeeWell: The state of young people’s mental health in England | SMF
New FOI data reveals funding cuts to Family Hubs and children’s centres could put Government’s Opportunity Mission at risk | Centre for Young Lives
Independent-state school partnerships deep dive | EPI
Ethnic disparities and apprenticeship participation – qualitative research findings | Youth Futures Foundation
School phone policies in England: Findings from the Children’s Commissioner’s School and College Survey | Children's Commissioner
School Funding and Pupil Premium 2025 | Sutton Trust
Search our education research section
COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK
Important reports, deadlines and government events
NEU Annual Conference (Monday 14 – Thursday 17 April)
Primary School National Offer Day (Wednesday 16 April)
IHEC/PIE Webinar ‘UKHE at a Crossroads’ (Wednesday 16 April)
World Creativity and Innovation Day (Monday 21 April)
Parliament returns (Tuesday 22 April)
Conferences and CPD opportunities
Monday 14 – Thursday 17 April: NEU Annual Conference 2025 | NEU (in-person event)
Wednesday 16 April: UK higher education at a crossroads: join the defining conversation on its future | The Pie (online event)
Wednesday 16 April: AELP Spotlight: Live | AELP (online event)
Thursday 24 April: A Fairer Start Local: how to support early years innovation in local authorities | Nesta (online event)
Thursday 24 April: Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Conference 2025: Innovate, Inspire, Include | Government Events (online event)
Thursday 24 April: Priorities for the creation of the National Youth Strategy | Westminster Forum (online event)
Friday 25 April: Next steps for initial teacher education in England | Westminster Forum (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. If we believe it's relevant to our readers we will consider publishing it.
See all upcoming events
A fact for each day
MONDAY 14 APRIL
On this day in 1865 US President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre in Washington and succumbed to his injuries a day later.
 
TUESDAY 15 APRIL
On this day in 1755 Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language was first published in London.
 
WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL
On this day in 1943 Swiss scientist Dr Albert Hofmann discovered the psychedelic effects of LSD.
 
THURSDAY 17 APRIL
On this day in 1387 Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales characters began their pilgrimage to Canterbury.
 
FRIDAY 18 APRIL
On this day in 1506 construction began on the current St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.
 
 
 
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