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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: Life Sciences. The government launched its Life Sciences Sector Plan, one of the eight key sectors featured in the Industrial Strategy, with the Plan promising ‘six bold actions to kickstart change’ including helping doctors use cutting edge tech, backing British manufacturing, and helping companies invest and grow.
Unpaid internships. The government issued a ‘Call for Evidence’ on unpaid internships, with the 12-week call designed to gather evidence that could protect young people from being exploited and ensure ‘fair career pathways’ for all.
Young Futures. The government announced that the first Young Futures Hubs, designed to bring local services together to prevent young people being drawn into gangs and knife crime, would be set up later this year.
Labour market picture. The ONS published latest quarterly data on the UK labour market showing unemployment up and vacancies down but the economic inactivity rate lower and average earnings up but slowing.
Recruitment update. The British Chambers of Commerce pointed to a flat recruitment picture as it published its latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook showing 60% of firms surveyed retaining current staffing levels and only 25% expecting to increase their workforce over the next three months.
EU Budget. The EU put forward its budget for the next seven years from 2028, proposing a sum of €1.816 trillion focused on building and protecting a stronger Europe, fostering education and democratic values, and investing in people and places.
Online protection. The EU Commission announced new guidelines for the protection of minors online along with the prototype of an age-verification app which would allow users to prove they’re over 18 when accessing restricted content and which will be trialled and further developed in the coming months.
Early years. The innovation agency, Nesta, set out a blueprint for early years support for families and children, comprising ten elements including a national early years core offer with complementary digital service and local delivery, which it argued could act as a further layer to the government’s recent Best Start strategy. SCHOOLS: Inspection reassurance. Ofsted outlined a further set of measures intended to reassure users about the new inspection regime due in from November, listing among other things a tighter quality assurance model involving selected lead inspectors, reduced scheduling and roundtable feedback.
Exam results 2025. Ofqual and UCAS reminded exam students awaiting results this year of key issues of importance including how exams are marked, how to appeal where necessary and what to do if results aren’t as good as hoped for, as part of an annual reassurance message to candidates.
Relationship and sex education. The government published updated guidance on relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) in schools following recent consultation, meaning primary school pupils will learn among other things about positive relationships and secondary pupils about consent and respect.
Disadvantage gap. The Education Policy Institute published its annual report for 2025 pointing to growing concerns about widening disadvantage gaps opening up across the education system, with early years, SEND pupils and 16-19 yr olds among the worst hit and with calls for better targeted funding and support generally.
Digital divide. The Sutton Trust called for all schools to have a staff member responsible for AI and for pupil premium students to be provided with digital tools as it published a new report showing how an AI digital divide was ‘rapidly’ opening up between more advantaged schools and the rest.
Tackling the digi divide. The government set out plans for all schools to be able to meet its six digital standards covering connectivity, cyber security, digital leadership and online protection, by 2030.
Questioning workloads. The government set out a series of questions, drafted by its Improving Education Together Board, to be used by leaders, governors and others to help confront issues of workload and wellbeing for staff.
Supporting vulnerable children. The government launched a new ‘world-leading’ £500m partner Fund to provide specialist support for up to 200,000 children and their families, particularly the most vulnerable, over the next ten years as part of its ‘Better Futures programme.
Early years. The Education Endowment Foundation reported on the findings from a series of projects looking at what works best in building language and numeracy skills in early learning, summarising the impact of seven programmes in particular.
Home-to-school transport. The Public Accounts Committee announced a new inquiry into the costs of home-to-school transport following concerns about rising costs, especially for local councils with high numbers of SEND pupils. FE/SKILLS: World Youth Skills. UNESCO hosted this year’s World Youth Skills Day, its tenth, focusing on ‘youth empowerment through AI and digital skills with evidence showing that just under half (48%) of students globally don’t feel adequately prepared for an AI enabled workplace, calling as a result for global action to ensure young people aren’t left behind.
Youth of today. The think tank Policy Exchange published a new report on young people indicating many disillusioned with their current social offer, proposing instead a new youth contract built around access to housing, apprenticeship and training opportunities, reduced tuition fees and childcare vouchers.
Top apprenticeship employers. The Sunday Times published its latest listing of top UK Apprenticeship Employers where rankings are based on the number of new starts, finishers and diversity of apprentices, with the armed services again heavily featured in a top ten that also includes a nursery and a number of professional consultancies. HE:
UCAS applications 2025. UCAS published an update on UCAS applications as of the 30 June deadline, indicating a rise in the total number of applications so far compared to last year, including for UK 18 yr olds and for international students.
Falling worth. The Russell Group published a new briefing highlighting the fall in real-terms value of both the undergraduate tuition fee and the Strategic Priorities Grant, with both badly hit in recent years by rising costs and inflation leaving universities under mounting financial pressure.
AI have a complaint. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator reported on the growing issue of academic misconduct related to the use of AI, referencing a number of recent case studies to make the point that institutions need to work with students on agreed practice.
Higher level skills. The Social Market Foundation highlighted the importance of higher level skills to government growth plans but argued in a new report that its approach was ‘muddled’ and poorly understood, calling for clearer planning and collaboration between employers, universities and government.
Reform or. The outgoing President of the British Academy called for radical reform of the HE sector including a new regulator and a cross-party commission to determine the way forward for British universities as the government seemed ‘unclear’ about how to proceed.
Quality Code. The QAA published the first three collections of advice and guidance designed to accompany its latest Quality Code for UKHE, covering issues like adopting a strategic approach to managing quality and standards, engaging with students and working in partnerships.
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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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MPs Education Questions (Monday 21 July)
Centre for Young Lives report on vulnerable children (Monday 21 July)
Education Committee ‘Deep Dive’ evidence session on school absences (Tuesday 22 July)
MPs start summer recess (Tuesday 22 July – Monday 1 September)
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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 21 JULY
On this day in 356 BC Herostratus set fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
TUESDAY 22 JULY
On this day in 1942 the systematic deportation of Jewish people from the Warsaw ghetto to a new concentration camp at Treblinka in Poland began.
WEDNESDAY 23 JULY
On this day in 1829 William Austin Burt patented America's first typographer, an early version of the typewriter.
THURSDAY 24 JULY
On this day in 1567 Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate and her one-year-old son became King James VI of Scotland.
FRIDAY 25 JULY
On this day in 1978 the world's first test tube baby conceived using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) was born.
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