GENERAL: Social cohesion. The government published its Social Cohesion Strategy describing it as a ‘Call to Action to protect what matters in society’ through the four pillars of confident communities, cohesive communities, resilient communities and the creation of a Social Cohesion Taskforce.
National digital ID. The government set out its proposals for a national ID system that could be stored on phones or tablets and could help people access services such as tax returns and childcare, calling for views in another consultation and promising a ‘People’s Panel’ to help with any subsequent implementation.
Women in Tech. The government announced a package of measures to boost female participation in tech at all stages, with a new TechFirst Girls Competition, paid internships, returnship jobs pilots and the recently launched Women in Tech Taskforce launching a call for evidence.
Economic Forecast. The British Chambers of Commerce published its latest economic forecast, reflecting the current challenging global context and pointing accordingly to growth slowing to 1%, inflation peaking at 2.7% and unemployment rising to 5.5%.
Jobs survey. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation with KPMG published their latest report on jobs, suggesting that ‘the worst of the hiring slowdown may have passed’ with permanent placements falling only slightly last month and candidate availability rising.
Online safety. Ofcom called on tech firms to do more to keep children safe online listing four ‘clear demands for further action,’ including clear minimum-age policies, failsafe grooming protections, safer feeds for children and an end to product testing on children. SCHOOLS: AI use. Ofqual published resource materials for teachers and senior leaders to use with staff and students alike about the use and misuse of AI in coursework and the need to have appropriate policies and procedures in place for this.
Social media ban. The Centre for Young Lives took a strong line as it published a report ahead of an MPs’ vote on restricting social media use, calling not just for minimum age restrictions and controls on content and addictive apps but for social media platforms to prove their products are safe rather than researchers having to prove that they’re harmful.
Wellbeing Report. The TES published its 2026 Wellbeing Report based on survey evidence from 1,400+ staff highlighting the pressures many are facing over issues like SEND, workloads and pupil behaviour but equally the commitment on display as well.
Unauthorised absence. FFT Education Datalab looked into 2024/25 data on unauthorised absence and how far this was driven by individual pupils and the sorts of time being missed, concluding that while most absences tended to be short, typically a day, a small group, often disadvantaged and/or with an EHCP, collectively provided a large bulk, typically 15 days, of the unauthorised absences.
Parental engagement. ASCL President Jo Rowley highlighted growing concern about working with parents, pointing to recent Union research showing that many school leaders had faced ‘unreasonable behaviour’ from parent in recent months, calling for clearer guidelines from government to help.
Enrichment strategy. The consultancy Public First highlighted the benefits of enrichment activities for schools in a new report, setting out a 10-year vision for seeing extended days and different activities built into school programmes and funded through a multiyear settlement. FE/SKILLS: Post-16 qualifications. The government set out its plans for a reformed post-16 qualification system, building on proposals outlined in a consultation launched last autumn to confirm a framework of A levels, V levels and T levels at L3 with Foundation and Occupational Certificates at L2, with the first V levels due to start from 2027/28 and an implementation plan due this summer.
English and maths. The government followed up its plans for new 16-19 L1 English and maths ‘stepping stone’ qualifications, calling in yet another consultation for views on content, structure and grading, with consultation due to close on 2 June 2026.
T level numbers. The government published data on T level entrants for 2025/26 showing a drop in numbers at Foundation level but a rise for T levels generally with Education and Early Years, Health and Science, and Engineering and Manufacturing the most popular options.
16-19 funding. The government provided funding information for 2026/27 16-19 provision showing a marginal increase in the national funding rate to £5,133 per learner and some changes to funding bands for T levels albeit with the high value course premium for construction courses.
Pay and rations. The NFER called for improved investment and support for FE teachers, particularly those in shortage skills areas, as it published a new report showing the pay gap between school and FE staff widening and a decline in FE workforce pay generally.
Manufacturer’s report. The manufacturer’s organisation, Make UK, looked ahead to the next decade in a new report, pointing to a decade of transformation but in the face of skills shortages, calling on the government’s Industrial Strategy to prioritise skills and investment for the future. HE:
Loans Inquiry. The Treasury Committee announced a new Inquiry into the whole issue of student loans and associated taxation and interest rates, including the contentious Plan 2 scheme, with a call for evidence by 14 April 2026.
Whistleblowing body. The government set out a range of measures under its social cohesion strategy to keep staff and students safe amid growing global tensions, including enabling the OfS as a whistleblowing body, strengthening Prevent duties and developing a Campus Cohesion Charter.
Subcontracting. The OfS published new regulations around subcontracting following consultation, which will require lead providers with a 100 or more subcontracted students to identify likely risks and publish clear information on fee allocations.
AI survey. HEPI/Kortext published a new report on AI usage among students pointing to a mixed picture with AI now being widely used but not always supported by institutions and with concerns about it diminishing rather than improving learning in some cases.
AI paradox. Studiosity published its latest global report into HE student wellbeing with research by YouGov from across a number of countries suggesting paradoxically that increased use of AI was leading to greater anxiety about its agreed use and lower learning confidence.
International students. The British Council pointed to an apprehensive picture on international student recruitment as part of its latest report into key trends, indicating options for increased recruitment from US students and those from S.E. Asia but equally a growing trend of students opting to study in their own regions.
More on student loans. The FT examined the current debate around student loans, revealing that those on the contentious Plan 2 scheme each owe over £40,000 on average compared to the £10,000+ owed by those on the Plan 1 scheme, as the government considers possible options to ease the burden.
Pay. HE unions set out their claim for improved pay and working conditions for 2026/27, calling among other things for a pay uplift of ‘at least RPI+3% or £3,000 whichever is the greater,’ a review of the pay spine and joint working on workload and progression.
Shorter degrees. Anthony Finkelstein, president of City St George’s London, added his voice to the current debate about student courses and funding, calling for a 2+ model, with two years for an undergraduate course followed by two years of master’s study for those wishing to continue.
Top ranking. The FT published its latest Best Employers ranking with the University of Cambridge coming out on top, Oxford coming in at 7th and the University of Glasgow next in the listing at position 22.
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