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Our unique, hand-curated daily EdNews digest is:

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All the latest education news in one place - available to view from 9:00 a.m each weekday morning. 

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Manually compiled from over 300 sources - covering mainstream media, education press, education unions, professional bodies, government departments and agencies, and key education commentators and bloggers. 

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Filtered by phase, the new EdNews system also allows you to choose the topics you want to view. You can search the archives too, both from May 2022 onwards and prior to that via the historic archive page within the main EdNews menu tab. 

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Stay informed:
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LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEK THAT WAS
Three of the week's headlines ...
UK universities facing ‘staff exodus’ because of demoralised academics.
Read more
MPs accuse DfE of failing to control academy leaders’ excessive salaries.
Read more
Pandemic led to 270 million missed school days - prompting fears over exams.
Read more
View all this week's education news
Three pieces of policy news - by phase
GENERAL
 
Spring Statement. The Treasury published the complete set of documents to accompany the Chancellor’s Spring Statement including the full report, the Tax Plan and accompanying costings.
 
Spring Statement speech. The Chancellor outlined the current forecasts for the UK economy and set out proposals to secure both the economy and for working families as he delivered his Spring Statement which included announcements on fuel duty, the National Insurance threshold, and on incentivising employer investment in adult training in the future.
 
Economic Outlook. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) set out the economic and fiscal outlook for the UK economy as a scene setter for the Spring Statement, pointing to lower than forecast growth, higher inflation and more borrowing.
 
SCHOOLS

Digital developments. The Education Secretary welcomed a return to an in-person BETT Conference with an opening presentation setting out a number of ambitious plans around digital development in schools including new standards around technology application, upgrading Wifi connections, and exploring the potential of technology in school data returns and future forms of assessment.

 Academy accountability. The Public Accounts Committee raised concerns in a new inquiry report about financial transparency in the Academy system pointing to issues about financial variability, salary levels, and pupil access to resources, calling for the dept to come up with a clear plan for future Academy development.

Teacher recruitment. The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) reported on teacher recruitment in England pointing to emerging concerns about teacher shortages especially in secondary subjects such as English, maths and science, calling for improvements around pay, conditions and workloads to help with recruitment.

FURTHER EDUCATION & SKILLS
 
Spring Statement reaction. The Association of Colleges (AoC) issued a response to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, welcoming in particular an opportunity to reset apprenticeship funding through the proposed review of the apprenticeship levy.

Ofsted on apprenticeships. Ofsted Chief inspector Amanda Spielman addressed the Annual Apprenticeship Conference where she acknowledged the difficulties faced by many arising from the pandemic, reassured members over achievement rates, and pointed to some of the positive messages emerging from inspections.

Ofqual on apprenticeships. Catherine Large, Ofqual Director for vocational and technical qualifications addressed the Annual Apprenticeship Conference where she reported on some of the findings coming out of the review of end-point assessments, outlined the progress made in recognising end-point assessment organisations, and looked at further developments in regulating assessment.

HIGHER EDUCATION

3-year strategy. The Office for Students (OfS) launched its strategy for 2022-2025, identifying two main priorities: quality and standards, and equality of opportunity, along with potential changes to minimise the burden of regulation, with eleven goals listed for the future.

Entry requirements. The  government published a Q/A on its latest reform proposals for minimum entry requirements and student number controls, explaining the thinking behind both and pointing to current consultations while stressing the aim of ensuring fair access and affordability.

Staffing matters. The University and College Union (UCU) published the results of a new survey suggesting that some two-thirds of university staff were considering leaving over the next five years due to poor pay, pensions and working conditions, with 88% of respondents pessimistic about the future of UKHE generally.

You can catch up with previous policy round-ups and/or sign up to receive an email version every Friday via this link.
Read all the policy news for this week (compiled by Steve Besley)
Latest research, reports and studies
Exploring the representation of Black autistic people in children's picture books | BERA
The ShREC approach: 4 evidence-informed strategies to promote high quality interactions with young children | Education Endowment Foundation
Looking beyond access: How do graduate perceptions of their work vary by socioeconomic disadvantage? | HESA
Two years on: the UK funded research that shaped the pandemic | UKRI
Why focus on reading fluency? | Education Endowment Foundation
Teacher Labour Market in England - Annual Report 2022 | NFER
A spotlight on Design and Technology study in England | EPI
The complex and contested role of personalisation in online learning | BERA
How I use the debrief to support mathematical problem-solving | Education Endowment Foundation
Search our education research section
COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK
Parliament and elsewhere
Expected launch of the Schools White Paper (Monday 28 March).

Final consideration of the Skills and Post-16 Bill (Monday 28 March).

Launch of the Pissarides Review into the Future of Work and Wellbeing (Tuesday 29 March).

Res Publica Lifelong Learning Commission 1-year Anniversary Conference (Tuesday 29 March).

Start of the Parliamentary Easter Recess (Friday 1 April).
Events and CPD opportunities
Monday 28 March:Strategic SEND Conference | Forum Training

Tuesday 29 March:AoC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Conference | AoC

Tuesday 29 March: Next Steps for SEND Provision in England | Westminster Forum Projects

Wednesday 30 March: How to Teach Study Skills and Get Students Ready for Exam Season | TeacherToolkit

Running an education-related event that you'd like to see included in our calendar? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with details and a link to the booking info.
 
See all events
Three interesting daily facts
MONDAY 28 MARCH:
  1. On this day in 1854 Britain and France declared war on Russia, the start of the Crimean War.
  2. On this day in 1930 Constantinople changed its name to Istanbul.
  3. On this day in 1964 the Great Train Robbers were sentenced to a total of 307 years in prison. 
TUESDAY 29 MARCH:
  1. On this day in 1973 the last US troops left Vietnam, the conflict having claimed the lives of 58,000 Americans and 2 million Vietnamese.
  2. On this day in 1981 the first London Marathon was held.
  3. On this day in 1992 US presidential candidate Bill CLinton said he had smoked Marijuana but had not inhaled.
WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH:
  1. On this day in 1842 ether was used as an anaesthetic for the first time, by Dr Crawford Long.
  2. On this day in 1856 the Treaty of Paris ended the Crimean War.
  3. On this day in 1981 President Reagan survived an assassination attempt, the bullet being removed from his lung.
THURSDAY 31 MARCH:
  1. On this day in 1889 Alexander Gustavo Eiffel’s 984ft tower in Paris was officially opened.
  2. On this day in 1959 the Dalia Lama fled Chinese repression after an uprising in Tebet and was granted asylum in India.
  3. On this day in 1990 protests by 100,000 people against the poll tax erupted into London’s worst riots for a century.
FRIDAY 01 APRIL:
  1. On this day in 1875 The Times became the first British newspaper to publish a daily weather chart.
  2. On this day in 1908 Britain’s Territorial Army was formed.
  3. On this day in 1918 the RAF was founded, absorbing the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service.
SATURDAY 02 APRIL:
  1. On this day in 1725 Giacomo Casanova, author and famed lover, was born in Venice.
  2. On this day in 1881 during the Battle of Copenhagen, VIce-Admiral Lord Nelson put his spyglass to his blind eye to ignore an order commanding him to disengage from combat. 
  3. On this day in 1977 Red Rum won his third Grand National.
SUNDAY 03 APRIL:
  1. On this day in 1721 Sir Robert Walpole was appointed first lord of the Treasury and chancellor of the exchequer, effectively making him Britain’s first prime minister.
  2. On this day in 1922 Stalin was appointed general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party.
  3. On this day in 1987 jewellery belonging to the Duchess of Windsor wolf for £31 million, six times the estimated sum. 
Awareness days from around the world
APRIL IS:

UK:
Poetry Month, Garden Month, Child Abuse Awareness Month, Stress Awareness Month, Pet Month, Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

INTERNATIONAL:
World Autism Awareness Month, IBS Awareness Month,  Cesarean Awareness Month, Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

US:
Jazz Appreciation Month, Adopt a Ferret Month, Couple Appreciation Month, Decorating Month, Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, Move More Month, Poetic Earth Month, Active Dog Month, Summer Tire Changeover Month, Month of the Military Child.

MARCH IS:

UK: 
Brain Tumour Awareness Month, Marie Curie's Great Daffodil Appeal, National Bed Month, Dechox, Veggie Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Walk All Over Cancer, Endo The Night.
INTERNATIONAL: 
Endometriosis Awareness Month, International Ideas Month. 
US:
Music in our Schools Month, Irish-American Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Cheerleading Safety Month, Umbrella Month, Brain Injury Awareness Month, Nutrition Month, Frozen Food Month, Noodle Month, Flour Month, Peanut Month, Caffeine Awareness Month, Celery Month,  Sauce Month, Rising Star Month, Small Press Month, Haemophilia Awareness Month, Kidney Month, Credit Education Month, Asset Management Awareness Month, Social Work Month, Craft Month, Moustache March, Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, Save Your Vision Month, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Trisomy Awareness Month, National Athletic Training Month, Breast Implant Awareness Month. 

THIS WEEK IS:

UK: 
Salt Awareness Week (26 March to 01 April), Edinburgh Science Festival (30 Mary to 15 April), The Big Walk and Wheel (March 21 to April 1), Family Safety Week.
INTERNATIONAL: 
World Salt Awareness Week, World Autism Acceptance Week.
US:
Physicians Week, Cleaning Week, National Physicians Week (March 25-31), Nano Days (last weekend in March through to the first weekend in April).

MONDAY 28 MARCH IS:
Black Forest Cake Day (US), Something on a Stick Day (US), Triglycerides Day (US), Weed Appreciation Day (US).

TUESDAY 29 MARCH IS:
Mermaid Day (International), Lemon Chiffon Cake Day (US), Mom and Pop Business Owners Day (US), Nevada Day (US), VIetnam War Veterans Day (US), Lemon Chiffon Cake Day (US), Niagara Falls Runs Dry Day (US), PayDay it Forward Day (US), Smoke and Mirrors Day (US).

WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH IS:
World Piano Day (International), Doctors Day (US), I am in Control Day (US), Pencil Day (US), Take a Walk in the Park Day (US), Turkey Neck Soup Day (US), Virtual Vacation Day (US), Little Red Wagon Day (US), Pencil Day (US), Manatee Appreciation Day (US).

THURSDAY 31 MARCH IS:
Bunsen Burner Day (US), Clams on the Half Shell Day (US), Crayon Day (US), Prom Day (US), Tater Day (US).

FRIDAY 01 APRIL IS:
April Fool's Day (International), Walk to Work Day (International), World TB-303 Appreciation Day (International), World Purple Day (International), Fun Day (US), Good Hair Day (US), Epilepsy Awareness Day/Purple Day (US), Nougat Day (US), Spinach Day (US), Poet in a Cupcake Day (US), One Cent Day (US), Sourdough Bread Day (US), Reading is Funny Day (US),

SATURDAY 02 APRIL IS:
International Firewalk Day (International), Pillow Fight Day (International), World Autism Awareness Day (International), Children’s Book Day (International), Ferret Day (UK), DIY Day (US), Love your Produce Manager Day (US), Tangible Karma Day (US), Peanut Butter and Jelly Day (US).
 
SUNDAY 03 APRIL IS:
Ramadan (International), World Party Day (International), World Acquatic Animal Day (International), Geologists' Day (International), Find a Rainbow Day (US), Fish Fingers and Custard Day (US), Tweed Day (US), Chocolate Moose Day Day (US).
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