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GENERAL
 
New PM’s Statement. Liz Truss identified three immediate priorities in her acceptance speech as PM on the steps of Number 10, including ‘getting Britain working again,’ dealing with the energy crisis, and ‘putting the health service on a firm footing.’
Cabinet backgrounds. The Sutton Trust provided its regular analysis of where new cabinet members had been educated showing 68% had been privately educated, up 4% on Boris Johnson’s first cabinet, and 35% who had been to Oxbridge.
Energy Price Guarantee. The government announced a new subsidised energy price guarantee for UK households to run for two years, along with a scheme offering equivalent support for businesses and public sector organisations like schools and colleges but currently only for six months.

SCHOOLS

Key Stage 2 results. The government published the provisional results from this summer’s KS2 assessments showing a drop in the number of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths compared to the last assessments in 2019, and a further widening of the disadvantage gap.
National Tutoring Programme. The government updated its guidance for schools on the National Tutoring Programme for the 2022/23 year to include further details on safeguarding and supporting pupils with SEND as well as confirmation of data collection arrangements.
Oak National Academy. The Oak National Academy set out its thinking as it began its first day as an independent public body providing lesson plans and curriculum resources for schools, and with plans to roll out new minted lesson materials in many subjects from next autumn.

FE/SKILLS
 
Dear Chancellor. The Association of Colleges (AoC) and college leaders called on the new Chancellor to help tackle current funding concerns in FE listing three priorities for consideration: a review of the current funding rates, a workforce fund to tackle staffing issues and looking at the opportunity to remove VAT liabilities on colleges.
Capacity Fund. The government launched the second round of bidding for the Post-16 Capacity Fund which provides funding for eligible post-16 institutions to help meet the needs of growing numbers of 16-19 yr olds 2023/24.
The case for colleges. Ian Pretty, CEO of the Collab Group, argued in a blog on the Group’s website that colleges had a lead role in delivering the skills that the country needs and that the current obsession with university risked ‘stifling’ the delivery of such skills.

HIGHER EDUCATION

President’s address. Steve West, President of Universities UK, outlined the challenges facing universities as he addressed the organisation’s annual conference highlighting such issues as energy price rises, academic freedom, fair admissions and global positioning but pointing equally to the importance of the sector to the country and the progress being made in areas such as closing the gap and student mental health support.
Chief executive’s address. Vivienne Stern, the new chief executive at Universities UK set out her priorities at the organisation’s annual conference listing growth, quality and value, financial sustainability, and climate change, as the organisation prepares to work up a new strategy.
Student Panel. The Office for Students (OfS) announced the names of the eight new members joining the current Student Panel, offering thoughts and a student perspective on approaches to regulation.

Bringing educational isolation into focus: Identifying non-urban schools and targeting resources to improve educational outcomes | BERA
Can we really trust socioeconomic measures used in PISA tests? | BERA
Digging further into the Key Stage 2 attainment gap | FFT Education Datalab
Does educational disadvantage persist among children of care leavers? | IOE
Moving forwards and mobilising metacognition | Education Endowment Foundation
Spacing retrieval is more important than extra retrieval | Learning Scientists

TUC Conference (Sunday 11 to Wednesday 14 September).
Pissarides Review into ‘The Future of Work and Wellbeing Conference’ (Monday 12 September).
Employment and Skills Convention 2022 (Tuesday 13 September).
Westminster Hall debate on Apprenticeships and Teacher Training (Wednesday 14 September).

Tuesday 13 September: Next steps for early years education and childcare provision in England, and the implementation of the EYFS | Westminster Forum Projects (online event).
Wednesday 14 September: Supporting Afghan Refugee Children in Schools | The Bell Foundation (online event).
Wednesday 14 September: Bridging research, policy and practice in education – celebrating the legacy of Geoff Whitty | UCL/IOE (face-to-face event in London).
Thursday 15 September: Graduate Employability Conference 2022 | Inside Government (face-to-face event in London).

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MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER
On this day in 1878 Cleopatra’s Needle was erected on the Thames Embankment, London.
On this day in 1970 Concorde landed for the first time at Heathrow, giving rise to complaints about noise.
On this day in 1992 the US space shuttle Endeavour took off with a crew that included the first married couple in space.
 
TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
On this day in 1672 John Bunyon was released from Bedford Prison after 12 years imprisonment for non-conformist preaching.
On this day in 1788 New Yor was declared the first federal capital of America
On this day in 1845 English chemist Michael Faraday discovered the ‘Faraday effect’, the influence of a magnetic field on polarised light.
 
WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER
On this day in 1682 Bishop Gore School, one of the oldest schools in Wales, was founded.
On this day in 1741 George Frideric Handel finished his Messiah oratorio after working on it non-stop for 23 days.
On this day in 1812 the Great Fire of Moscow began as Napoleon approached the city and retreating Russians burned it.
 
THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER
On this day in 1616 the first non-aristocratic, free public school in Europe was opened in Frascati, Italy.
On this day in 1656 England and France signed a peace treaty.
On this day in 1830 the Duke of Wellington opened the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. William Huskisson, MP for Liverpool became the world’s first railway fatality after an accident at the opening.
 
FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER
On this day in 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers set sail from Plymouth on the Mayflower.
On this day in 1861 the Post Office Savings Bank was established.
On this day in 1977 pop star Marc Bolan of T Rex died in a car accident, aged 29.
 
SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER
On this day in 1394 Jews were expelled from France by order of King Charles VI.
On this day in 1598 Dutch Sailors discovered the island of Mauritius.
On this day in 1737 Georg-August University opened in Gottingen.
 
SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER
On this day in 1502 Christopher Columbus landed at Costa Rica on his fourth and final voyage.
On this day in 1635Emporer Ferdinand II declared war on France.
On this day in 1981 France abolished capital punishment and the guillotine.

SEPTEMBER IS:
 
UK:
Urology Awareness Month, Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Organic September, Festival of Learning Have a Go Month, Vascular Disease Awareness Month.
 
INTERNATIONAL:
Read A New Book Month, Oddfellows Friendship Month, Piano Month, Sourdough September, Sepsis Awareness Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, World Alzheimer’s Month, Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15).
 
US:
Suicide Prevention Month, Piano Month, Honey Month, Chicken Month, Mushroom Month, Chiari Awareness Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Sewing Month, Happy Cat Month, Preparedness Month, Library Card Sign-up Month, Shake Month, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, Hunger Action Month.

THIS WEEK IS:
Migraine Awareness Week (UK), Pension Awareness Week (UK), Sexual Health Week (UK), Eczema Week (UK), European Mobility Week (EU – from 16 September), Balance Awareness Week (International – from 18 September), World Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week (International – from 18 September), Pitru Paksha: a time when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors (International, from 10 to 25 September), Maori Language Week (New Zealand), Housekeepers Week (US).

MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER
Day for South-South Cooperation (UN), Day of Conception (Russia), Boss/Employee Exchange Day (US), Chocolate Milkshake Day (US), Day of Encouragement (US), Video Games Day (US), Police Woman Day (US).

TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
Roald Dahl Day (UK), Positive Thinking Day (UK), Chocolate Day (International), World Sepsis Day (International), Fortune Cookie Day (US), Celiac Disease Awareness Day (US), Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day (US), Supernatural Day (US), Defy Superstition Day (US), Peanut Day (US), Ants on a Log Day (US), Programmers Day (US), Uncle Sam Day (US), Hug Your Boss Day (US).
 
WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER
Hindu Day (India), Cream Filled Donut Day (US), Eat a Hoagie Day (US), Gobstopper Day (US), Quiet Day (US), Coloring Day (US).
 
THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER
Greenpeace Day (International), World Lymphoma Day (International), International Day of Democracy (International), International Dot Day (International), World Afro Day (International), Unity, Freedom and National Flag Day (Serbia), Return of Primorska to the Motherland (Slovenia), Felt Hat Day (US), Linguine Day (US), Online Learning Day (US), Double Cheeseburger Day (US), Cheese Toast Day (US), Butterscotch Cinnamon Pie Day (US), Make A Hat Day (US), Felt Hat Day (US), Crème de Menthe Day (US), Google.com Day (US).
 
FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER
Teaching Assistants Day (US), Great British Beach Clean Day (UK), Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (International), Grenache Day (International), Guacamole Day (International), POW/MIA Recognition Day (US), Play-Doh Day (US), Anne Bradstreet Day (US), Mayflower Day (US), Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day (US), Stepfamily Day (US), Teenager Workout Day (US), Locate an Old Friend Day (US), Concussion Awareness Day (US), 4:00 p.m. Finish Day (US), Working Parents Day (US), Collect Rocks Day (US), Trail of Tears (US), Trademen Day (US).

SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER
Arbaeen: a day of observance for Muslims that concludes the 40-day mourning period after the Day of Ashura (International), World Patient Safety Day (International), Eat an Apple Day (International), Eat a Dumpling Day (International), Red Panda Day (International), World Clean-up Day (International), Day of People’s Unity (Belarus), Oktoberfest (Germany), Teachers Day (Honduras), Constitution Day/Citizenship Day (US), Apple Dumpling Day (US), Dog Ownership Day (US), Puppy Mill Awareness Day (US), Dance Day (US), Gymnastics Day (US), Country Music Day (US), Big Whopper Liar Day (US), Boys’ and Girls’ Club Day for Kids (US), Table Shuffleboard Day (US), Monte Cristo Day (US), Pet Bird Day (US), Batman Day (US), Coastal Clean-up Day (US).
 
SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER
World Water Monitoring Day (International), Respect Day (US), Ric Krispies Treats Day (US), Hug A Greeting Card Writer Day (US), HIV/AIDS and Ageing Awareness Day (US), Wife Appreciation Day (US), Cheeseburger Day (US), First Love Day (US), Read An Ebook Day (US).