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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: Infrastructure Plan. The government published its 10-Year Infrastructure Plan promising £725bn over the next decade for infrastructure projects covering among other things house building, transport, energy, and digital connectivity along with the building and upgrading of hospitals, schools and colleges.
Welfare Bill. The government presented its welfare proposals in legislative form as the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Bill which will sit alongside an employment support package and a Right to Try (work) guarantee and aim to reform the social security system and encourage more people back to work but now with added protections.
Cyber Growth Action Plan. The government outlined a new Cyber Growth Action Plan that will examine the strengths of the UK cyber sector and draw up a roadmap for the sector later this summer as part of a longer-term National Cyber Strategy.
Council finances. The Public Accounts Committee reported that local councils were facing ‘a financial cliff edge’ as it published the outcome of its inquiry into local council finance, pointing to the rising costs of SEND provision and of increased NI contributions as major factors, and calling on the government to clarify transitional issues and future funding propositions.
Economic Forecast. The CBI downgraded UK growth projections for both this year and next, pointing to factors including higher employment costs, higher tariffs and continuing global uncertainty as it published its latest economic forecast.
Top pay. The High Pay Centre published its latest report showing that the pay gap ratio between ‘median’ bosses and ‘median’ employees had remained unchanged at just over 50%, with support emerging for the setting of a maximum wage.
Work and health. The Work Foundation called for better workplace support for those with health issues, particularly young workers many of whom are facing multiple challenges, as it published a new report showing one in four workers, often in the lowest paid jobs battling poor health, unable to access health care and likely to end up leaving employment as a result.
Childcare costs. London Economics reported on the costings needed to fill some of the gaps in childcare in a report for Save the Children, suggesting that despite the expansion of government support, the funding shortfall to providers amounted to over £388m and would be even higher if eligibility and pay were raised.
Publishing market. The Publishers Association reported slight drops in the academic and education markets for 2024 but an increase in UK Publishing’s overall market, with revenue up 1%, driven largely by digital formats but with fiction and audiobooks also performing strongly.
Digital Update. The EU Commission published its latest annual report into its Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 pointing to improvements in the adoption of AI by companies and ‘steady progress’ in digitalising public services but with the roll out of fibre networks still ‘lagging’ and weaknesses remaining in digi skills levels. SCHOOLS: Schools policy latest. The Education Secretary outlined her future plans for schools following last week’s spending announcements, listing SEND reform, increased numbers of teachers, modernisation of the school estate and expansion of the School Rebuilding Programme as key priorities.
AI skills. The cross-party think tank Policy Connect called for an AI Education Advisory Board to be set up to review the curriculum for AI skills on a regular basis and for AI Literacy to become a mandatory part of the curriculum as it published its latest report into the importance of digi skills for future generations.
Doing the maths. The charity Maths in Education and Industry (MEI) welcomed the latest provisional figures from Ofqual on exam entries this summer which showed a further rise in the numbers taking both A level and Further Maths.
Study leave. FFT Education Datalab examined data on study leave among Yr 11s, suggesting that it remains common among exam groups in many schools throughout the month of May with selective schools more likely to use it than non-selective schools. FE/SKILLS: Local skills deals. The government confirmed that it is consulting on arrangements that would require companies bidding for major infrastructure contracts to show how they would boost local economies, support local jobs and help develop skills such as apprenticeships in the local community as part of their contract.
Youth Guarantee. The APPG for Youth Employment reported on its recent work looking into how employers can best support the Youth Guarantee, hearing evidence of employer willingness but equally of system complexities, calling as a result for a greater focus on localised frameworks and delivery with strengthened brokerage services.
Comparing apprenticeship systems. The Sutton Trust called for tighter enforcement of training requirements, a named qualification for a successful apprenticeship pass and the retention of higher level apprenticeships for young people in key sectors, as it published a major report comparing the apprenticeship system in England with comparator countries and finding it wanting.
Skills ladder. Former Skills Minister Rob Halfon raised concerns about the cutting of funding for the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge (ASK) and L7 programmes as well as the flexing of functional skills, calling for unused levy funding to be re-distributed to colleges in a blog for the AoC.
Pricing. City and Guilds explained that most end-point assessments will remain at their current price rate and that its proposed new annual fee won’t be introduced in September, as it set out its thinking on its pricing structure ahead of further details due next month. HE:
Freedom of speech. The OfS published guidance for registered providers on managing free speech under new legislation coming in from 1 August 2025, using a range of examples to show what steps institutions can take to ensure lawful free speech and how to deal with provocative issues.
New registrations. The OfS announced that it was resuming its programme of assessments for new registrations, titles and degree awarding powers from 28 August, having had to temporarily suspend things last December to allow for efforts to be concentrated on financial concerns in the sector.
Prevent data. The OfS published data from its Prevent monitoring for last year showing an increase in both approved events/speakers over the year as well as those approved but with conditions.
Student loans. The Student Loans Company reported that loans for students finishing their degrees in England were up on average by 10% on last year with graduates typically paying back £1,100 pa as they published details of their latest loan figures.
AI-related misconduct. The Guardian reported a rise in the number of UK students ‘caught misusing ChatGPT and other AI tools in recent years,’ suggesting that the numbers caught might be just the tip of an iceberg and highlighting the importance of clear guidance and regulation where necessary.
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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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AELP National Conference (Monday 23 – Tuesday 24 June)
Education Committee take evidence from the Skills Minister for its FE Inquiry (Tuesday 24 June)
MPs’ Science and Tech questions (Wednesday 25 June)
Education Policy Institute/Capita webinar on teacher recruitment and retention (Wednesday 25 June)
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Conferences and CPD opportunities
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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.
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MONDAY 23 JUNE
On this day in 2006 Harriet a giant Galapagos tortoise resident at the Queensland-based Australia Zoo passed away at the age of one hundred and seventy-six.
TUESDAY 24 JUNE
On this day in 1509 Henry VIII was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.
WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE
On this day in 1978 activists hoisted a vibrant rainbow flag, the symbol of gay pride, made by Gilbert Baker during a march in San Francisco.
THURSDAY 26 JUNE
On this day in 1857 the first sixty-two recipients were awarded the Victoria Cross for valour in the Crimean war by Queen Victoria.
FRIDAY 27 JUNE
On this day in 1954 the world's first nuclear power plant opened near Moscow in Russia.
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