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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: Chancellor’s presentation. Rachel Reeves expanded on her concept of ‘Securonomics’ as she delivered the Mais lecture, outlining how, despite the current difficult global context, she intended to pursue economic growth by focusing on building a closer economic relationship with the EU, supercharging AI and unlocking regional growth.
Quantum steps. The government pledged funding to build large scale Quantum computers in the UK by 2030, promising up to £2bn to help position the UK as a lead player in such technology which it argued ‘would revolutionise the health and welfare of people across the UK.’
Low Pay. The government issued its 2026 remit to the Low Pay Commission calling on it to take into account the need to support employment prospects for young people along with government plans to remove discriminatory age bands and align the National Minimum Wage for 18-20 yr olds with the National Living Wage.
Media Literacy. The government set out how it planned to strengthen media literacy over the next three years under its Media Literacy Action Plan, focusing on four priorities including building awareness and digital skills, preparing future generations, boosting local programmes and developing a coherent model.
AI. Pearson outlined the concept of the ‘augmented knowledge worker’ in a new report on the potential of AI, setting out a model of learning which it described as DEEP (Diagnose, Embed, Evaluate, Prioritise) to help embed the necessary skills for such workers to flourish.
AI at work. The British Chambers of Commerce published new research looking into AI in the workplace, finding over half of firms now actively using it, albeit with no impact on headcount, but with adoption uneven across businesses, and with recommendations for more skills training and monitoring.
Childcare. The children’s charity Coram published its latest annual report into childcare provision, acknowledging the positive impact of the government’s funded childcare policies especially for working families but indicating that gaps still remain in provision for SEND children and for those without access to the funded entitlements.
Vulnerable children. The Centre for Young Lives announced the creation of a new Vulnerability Index that will bring together enhanced data on the scale and nature of risks facing children and young people, in turn creating a new Early Intervention Evidence Policy and Impact Centre.
Screentime. The Education Policy Institute published evidence on screentime for 9-month-old babies from its Children of the 2020’s cohort study, showing that three-quarters (72%) experience at least some screentime while 28% don’t watch any, with the most negative impact tending to occur when screentime hits two hours or more a day.
World Book Capital. UNESCO designated Medellín, Columbia, which has seen a 542% rise in bookstores over the past seven decades, as its World Book Capital for 2027. SCHOOLS: Teachers. The NFER published its latest annual school teachers workforce report showing an improved picture on recruitment and retention including among traditional shortage subjects but workloads are still a concern and the pay offer needs to be upped.
Qualifications market. Ofqual published its report on the regulated qualifications market in England for 2024/5, showing a slight increase to 10k in the number of ‘active’ qualifications available as well as the number of certificates issued last year, albeit with a slight drop in the number of GCSE, AS, A level certificates issued.
Reading together. The National Literacy Trust called for more support for early years as it published new research showing a notable decline in the numbers of families getting involved in the sorts of daily activities with young children that could support their early literacy development.
KS2 predictors. FFT Education Datalab reported that low reading and other attainment at KS2 tended to reduce pupil outcomes at KS4 and beyond
EdTech. The Chartered College highlighted in a new blog its EdTech Check tool, designed as an evaluative tool ‘to help educators make better-informed decisions about ‘EdTech products.’ FE/SKILLS: Youth employment. The government announced a new package to help tackle NEETs and youth unemployment with measures including a new Jobs Grant and Apprenticeship Incentive for employers to take on eligible young people, a widening of the Youth Guarantee, and an expansion of foundation apprenticeships.
AI Apprenticeship. Skills England announced the launch of a new L4 ‘AI and automation practitioner apprenticeship’, intended to help businesses and individuals adopt requisite AI skills and to sit alongside the AI Skills Boost programme and government planned AI apprenticeship unit to help “upskill millions by 2030.”
FE Workforce. The NFER examined the latest collection of data on the FE workforce finding a teaching workforce that’s older, evenly split gender wise and more p/t than the secondary teacher workforce but one with a wide variety of roles and sub-roles and paid significantly less than those in schools.
Cyber security. JISC highlighted the cyber challenges facing FE noting that a lack of capacity and complex structures make them highly vulnerable, pointing to improved monitoring of threats and strengthened identity security as two areas that should be prioritised.
Numeracy. Lord Agnew, Chair of the House of Lords Numeracy for Life Committee, raised concerns about levels of adult numeracy, acknowledging that while many students are doing well in maths, many adults aren’t, announcing as a result the launching of a Committee Inquiry with a call for evidence by 27 April 2026. HE:
Using AI in applications. Jo Richards, Insight Lead at UCAS, reported in a blog on the Wonkhe site on their recent survey looking into how those applying to university were using AI, finding most using it to support their research into different types of course and institution, supplementing rather than replacing traditional sources of information and guidance.
The student vote. The PLMR Group reported on its latest polling of student voting intentions 20 months or so on from the last general election, concluding that many students were opting out altogether worried particularly by the cost of living and that if there were to be a general election tomorrow Reform would secure the most votes.
Universities and populism. Two leading experts called in a report on the HEPI website for the HE sector to refresh its image with the wider populace, including the new populist parties which may be less favourable to them, offering a new three-part framework to enable this to happen.
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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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Annual Shakespeare Week for primary children (Monday 23 – Sunday 29 March)
Education Committee evidence session on ‘Delivering the Child Poverty Strategy’ (Tuesday 24 March)
Civil Service World webinar on ‘How Do You Solve a Problem Like Youth Unemployment?’ (Thursday 26 March)
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Conferences and CPD opportunities
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Monday 23 March: Next steps for freedom of speech in higher education institutions in England | Westminster Forum (online event)
Monday 23 March: The PIE High Europe 2026 | The PIE (in-person event)
Tuesday 24 March: The Schools white paper: implications for SEND in colleges webinar | AoC (online event)
Tuesday 24 March: HEPI / Kortext Roundtable dinner on Educating tomorrow: Educating the AI Generation | HEPI / Kortext (in-person event)
Tuesday 24 - Wednesday 25 March: The PIE Live Europe 2026 | The PIE (in-person event)
Wednesday 25 March: The Ways of Knowing Toolkit: Confident Classroom Practice – Primary | NATRE (online event)
Wednesday 25 - Thursday 26 March: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2026 | Advance HE (in-person event)
Thursday 26 March: National Career Guidance Show - London | Optimus Education (in-person event)
Thursday 26 March: Next steps for AI in higher education | Westminster Forum (online event)
Thursday 26 March: Evaluation, Evidence & Impact: Turning Insight into Change | Children & Young People Now (in-person event) |
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MONDAY 23 MARCH
On this day in 1743 George Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah premiered at the Royal Opera House in London.
TUESDAY 24 MARCH
On this day in 1882 Robert Koch discovered the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis and established germ theory.
WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH
On this day in 1960 USS Halibut completed the first successful launch of a guided missile by a nuclear-powered submarine.
THURSDAY 26 MARCH
On this day in 2015 Richard III of England was reburied at Leicester Cathedral after his remains were discovered under a carpark in Leicester in 2012.
FRIDAY 27 MARCH
On this day in 1905 fingerprint evidence was used for the first time to solve a British murder case.
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