GENERAL: AI MoU. The Dept for Science, Innovation and Technology agreed to work closely with Open AI, sharing information, opportunities and intent on areas like education technology, defence and security as part of an agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU.)
Local government finance. The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee reported on its Inquiry into local council financing finding councils being asked to do more than ever but without adequate resourcing, calling for an overhaul of the council tax system and for greater financial devolution for councils generally.
Pensions. The government announced that it was re-establishing the Pensions Commission to look into the long-term future of the pensions system and in particular how best to encourage more working-age adults, particularly those on low incomes and the self-employed, to save more for their futures with a final report promised for two years’ time.
Youth Strategy. The Youth Futures Foundation published its strategic plan for the next three years calling for policy makers, funders and employers to come together and support more marginalised young people by 2028 and for the NEET rate in England to fall to the best in the OECD by 2050.
Childhood. The Centre for Young Lives published a new report on childhood vulnerability highlighting the long-term impact of the pandemic on children resulting in increases in school absence, childhood poverty, mental health and SEND and with promises of support ‘never fully met.’ SCHOOLS: Pay and conditions. The Education Secretary called on the School Teachers’ Review Body to help schools with budgeting by looking at a potential 3-year settlement, along with issues like salary safeguarding and workloads, as it issued its latest remit letter.
Physics teachers. The NFER reported for the Institute of Physics on the recruitment and retention of physics teachers, finding a slightly improving picture with recruitment up this year, notably from abroad, albeit still below target but with a number of smaller schools operating without any specialist physics teacher.
White working class educational outcomes. The consultancy Public First announced that it would be undertaking the role of secretariat to the independent Inquiry into white working-class educational outcomes, which now has a full set of board members and which will report next year.
Annual report and accounts. Ofsted published its annual report and accounts for 2024-25, running through its performance, changes, risks and budget for what it described as ‘an evolving year,’ revealing some concerns about staff turnover and delivering to target at a time of considerable change.
More annual report and accounts. Ofqual also published its annual report and accounts for 2024-25, running through its achievements over the past year including notably ensuring the release of over 7m results last summer and the launch of a new 3-year strategy on a budget of £31.3m.
Exams 2024. Ofqual reported on inter-subject comparability in last summer’s GCSE and A levels compared to recent years, concluding that despite evidence of some slight leniency in GCSE grading last summer compared to 2019, the overall picture closely matched that of 2019.
Oracy. Leading figures wrote to the Prime Minister calling on him to make good his commitment to making Oracy the 4th R in the national curriculum.
Digital Exclusion. The Digital Poverty Alliance and RM Technology warned that children in low-income families are missing out on learning and other opportunities because of limited access to devices and back-up at home, calling for hardware providers to help with access to IT equipment where possible. FE/SKILLS: BTECs and more. The Protect Student Choice Group raised concerns that many young people could be left without appropriate qualifications and future progression routes if the government went ahead with its current plans to scrap many Applied General Qualifications (AGQs) such as BTECs, calling for current options for young people to be retained.
Post-16 participation. The Institute for Policy Research, Edge and FFT Education Datalab examined the impact of the raising of the participation age (RPA) some ten years ago, reporting a pretty mixed set of outcomes with limited increases in participation and some improvement in English/maths resits and subsequent employment but evidence also of drop outs and careers guidance gaps.
Skills data. The government published data from its latest Employer Skills Survey showing a drop in skills gaps and shortages last year compared to two years previously, leading to a drop in training investment and volume.
Manufacturing skills. The Transport Committee issued a Call for Evidence on how best to support the transport manufacturing sector with the skills needed for the future particularly in areas like aerospace and automotive which have been singled out as key components of the government’s Industrial Strategy.
Devolving skills. FE Week reported on the recent guidance supporting the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill which has its Second Reading in the Commons in early September and which is intended to grant the new Strategic Authorities powers over areas like skills through an Adult Skills Fund and local skills commissioners. HE:
Subcontracting. The OfS launched consultation on a new condition of registration covering subcontracting that would require providers with 100 or more such students in a given year to publish information about the arrangements including funding, and ensure that risks were identified ahead and addressed.
Business Plan. The OfS published its Business Plan for 2025/6 highlighting quality, the wider student experience and sector resilience as key priorities and pledging to include ‘a new integrated approach on quality,’ evaluation of degree apprenticeships and financial health monitoring.
Student concerns. The APPG for Students published the results of its Commission looking into the issues and priorities for students today, highlighting student poverty, housing costs and mental health among the top concerns and listing the reintroduction of maintenance grants and a stepped repayment system among its top recommendations.
System under pressure. The Economist reflected on the challenges facing not just British universities but also the UK government as UKHE struggles to confront increasing financial pressures, arguing that a reset is urgently needed.
Cyber security. JISC set out a range of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ for institutions around cyber security and related interference, ahead of the busy clearing and enrolment period of the next few weeks and more.
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