GENERAL:
Setting the record straight. The PM highlighted a list of the government’s achievements to date, from cutting NHS waiting lists to providing school breakfast clubs, as he set out to defend the government’s economic policies, and to point to areas like regulation, welfare and trade where they were rebuilding for the future.
Alternative view. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) argued in a new report that many working households end up with worse take home pay than their non-working neighbours on benefits, calling among other things for the withdrawal of UC health and PIP from those with mild anxiety, a 30% tax cut of a NEET’s salary to businesses hiring them, and using part of the international student levy to fund construction apprentices, to help improve access to the labour market.
Child Poverty. The government launched its anticipated Child Poverty Strategy bringing together a number of new, such as extended eligibility on childcare costs and capping b and b stays, and current, initiatives such as the lifting the two-child cap, with the aim of lifting ‘550,00 children out of poverty by 2030.’ Business confidence. The Institute of Directors (IoD) reported that business confidence had largely fallen post Budget with revenue expectations, headcount expectations and investment intentions all down in their latest poll of members.
Financial risks. The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee published its latest Financial Stability Report pointing to an increase in risk over the year largely due to ‘geopolitical tensions and fragmented financial market,’ generating fears of cyber-attacks and company defaults.
Economic Outlook. The OECD projected that global growth will slow over the next 18 months to 2.9% and for the UK to 1.2% as ‘underlying fragilities remain,’ albeit with inflation in the UK at least dropping 1% to 2.5% next year. SCHOOLS:
SEND conversation. The government announced the launch of a ‘national conversation’ around SEND that will run at least until the end of January and aim to capture the views of parents, teachers and experts on many of the key issues such as early intervention and shared working, ahead of the expected white paper.
Annual Report. Ofsted published its Annual Report for 2024/25 covering just under 6,000 school/early years inspections over the year, generating a similar level of ratings to the previous year but with profiteering among children’s homes, school absence and pupil behaviour signalled as top concerns.
ITT latest. The government published latest figures for initial teacher training in England this year, showing an increase among both undergraduate and postgraduate recruits and targets met in a number of subjects, albeit with some secondary recruitment still struggling
Report card explainer. Ofsted put out a little explainer for parents about its (new) report card system and what the various new grades mean in practice.
Absence rates and GCSE results. FFT Education Datalab looked into how far pupil absences in Yr 10 and 11 affect GCSE performance, concluding that while not the only factor in pupil attainment, those with high rates of absence are at greater risk of low attainment.
To phone ban or not. The Digital Poverty Alliance argued in a new report that any form of phone ban in schools should be accompanied by ‘extensive media literacy education’ to ensure young people are equally equipped with the necessary digital skills for future life.
4-Day Week. The 4-Day Week Foundation reported on its scoping research on the potential for a 4-Day Working Week in schools in England, noting that while some flexibilities are possible, detailed research in this area so far comes from the US, calling accordingly for more work to be done here first.
Free schools. The New Schools Network highlighted the positive role that Free Schools can play and called on the government to clarify future plans for them. FE/SKILLS:
Annual Report. Ofsted published its Annual Report for 2024/25 covering 640 visits and inspections of FE and skills providers from over the year, resulting in similar ratings to last year but with some challenges over the provision of work experience and the adoption of AI tools.
FE/HE regulation. The Office for Students (OfS) launched a consultation on reducing duplication in the regulation for colleges offering HE by taking out five initial conditions of registration and four of the general ongoing conditions of registration where the DfE already has ‘robust oversight.’
Apprenticeships. Edge and partners called on the government to do more to help SMEs take on apprentices, calling in particular for targets, incentives and a dedicated brokerage service.
Social Value in FE. The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) called for better data and a common measurement system around capturing social value as it published the results of its commissioned survey into the impact of FE and skills provision, not only for learners but also for communities. HE:
Financial challenges. The Innovation and Research Caucus (IRC) highlighted the extent of financial challenges facing English higher ed, indicating from recent research that some 85% of institutions were facing difficulties, with low research institutions and some creative disciplines the most exposed to risk and with staffing and research notably feeling the pinch.
No strike action. The Times Higher reported that a recent ballot by UCU members for national strike action over pay and job cuts had failed because the turnout fell short of required numbers.
Civic University Agreement. The OU announced the launch of a new Civic University Agreement for Milton Keynes involving the local college, Cranfield University and the OU itself, designed to strengthen skills and research opportunities not just around MK but also for the wider Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
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