Steve Besley's Education Eye: week ending 12 June 2026
- Welcome to Education Eye, a regular update detailing the policies and stories happening in UK education, compiled by Steve Besley.
- Welcome to Education Eye, a regular update detailing the policies and stories happening in UK education, compiled by Steve Besley.
What's happened this week?
Important stories across the board:
The top headlines this week.
The government gave schools tips on how to speak with families about school absences with so-called ‘birthday bunk offs’ cited as a big culprit. The National Literacy Trust reported a ‘modest’ rise in children’s reading engagement. M&S announced a new retail training scheme for young people saying, “You do not need a degree to succeed here; you need attitude, energy, resilience and the willingness to learn.” Deloitte reported that 76% of UK workers reckoned their wellbeing had suffered due to being tired from too many changes at work. And a think tank came up with 40 recommendations for university reform.
Elsewhere, ministers raced to give out positive messages about the UK’s role in high tech as part of London Tech Week, with the PM said to be poised to issue a statement on social media restrictions for young people.
And as the World Cup kicks off, HR body CIPD offered some advice to employers.
“Flexibility around working hours, such as earlier finishes or later starts to accommodate evening or early-morning games can often be appreciated, however any flexibility should be proportionate and aligned with business needs.”
Here’s some of the detail behind these headlines.
In schools, the debate around screens and smartphones has continued this week with the government launching a further call for evidence on the impact and use of screen time for 5-16 yr olds.
It all comes as the as the government prepares to set out a range of measures on online safety following the recent major consultation which closed last month.
The latest consultation as the Education Secretary explained is for a hesitant government to be able to issue “clear, practical guidance” for parents not just on screen time but on when children should first get a smartphone as well.
This will not be the end of the consultations.
One on “a new independent safety certification for some types of technology used in schools” is promised for later this year.
In other news, ‘birthday bunk offs’ were singled out as a villain in new data and guidance from the government on pupils being off school.
Apparently young people are ‘55% more likely to miss school on their birthday’ with Yr 8s the biggest culprits.
Medical and dental appointments, religious observances, agricultural events and concerts also feature as factors. The report highlights for instance the rise in absence among Yr 9 and 10 girls in Liverpool in June 2024 when Taylor Swift just happened to be on stage there.
The data came with guidance for schools on best ways for communicating with parents about attendance, complete with ten top tips, nine principles, a comms calendar and even a phone call script for when talking to a parents about a child’s absence.
Reinforce expectation positively: “We’d really like to see them back as soon as possible,” it says among its prompts for how to address concerns when on the phone.
The NAHT welcomed the focus on school attendance tools pointing to the new heat map as being particularly useful.
In other news, the Education Endowment Foundation invited applications for what looks like an interesting research project looking into the impact of GenAI on young people’s learning.
“The EEF is especially interested in how GenAI may lead learners to “offload” thinking tasks like recall, planning, reasoning, or drafting on to GenAI tools.”
Cognitive offload, as it’s known, has become an important source of debate.
It’s looking to commission ‘a range of rigorous studies’ with findings due next year.
And Ofqual published provisional data on GCSE, AS and A level exam entries for this summer.
Overall entries were up slightly on last year apart from for AS level, based on data submitted by mid-April, with some recognisable trends.
Maths, English Language and Statistics entries were all notably up at GCSE but modern and ancient languages, along with computing and other sciences all down.
At A level, where increased numbers of 18 yr olds played a part, Political Studies, Economics and Law were all up at A level with Classical Studies, Drama and English Lit all down.
In FE, with the NEET issue remaining a huge live challenge, important news came this week with an announcement by M&S of a new retail training scheme aimed at 18-24 yr olds.
The aim is to provide six months of training in stores around the country with successful participants able to move up the ladder and with further training progress to Store Manager.
1,000 places will be available over the next 18 months. Applications open on 27 July.
“This programme is about opening doors for the next generation and giving talented young people the chance to thrive.”
It sits alongside other work with the Kings Trust, Sir Gareth Southgate and others in providing support, including an AI platform, for young people from next year, along with planned mentorship schemes and other opportunities and resources.
Talking of AI, Skills England and partners reported this week on best practice in AI skills development, using case studies from different employer early adopters as evidence.
“Good AI training,” they wrote, “must be practical and task based. It must build technical, non-technical and responsible AI skills together. It must also help staff know when AI should, and should not, be used.”
And still on training, City and Guilds offered free functional skills in English and maths for eligible (new) apprentices and the AoC outlined plans for delivering government funded training from this autumn to providers of the new post-16 qualification pathways.
As the Chief Exec of the AoC explained, “The introduction of V Levels and new Level 2 qualifications, alongside the ongoing delivery of T Levels, is a massive undertaking for the sector and it’s important that providers are fully supported and equipped to deliver high-quality technical and vocational education that meets the needs of learners and industry.”
In HE, another week, another excoriating report on the English university system.
This one came from the Policy Exchange think tank with a sweeping review of what was claimed of a system in meltdown “with job losses, course closures and restructuring initiatives across the sector, alongside a wholesale collapse in outcomes, standards and the graduate premium.”
The finger, or rather two fingers, were firmly pointed at mass expansion and marketisation, ‘two sacred cows’ that it claimed needed slaying.
The report came up with a long list of recommendations, some immediate, some more long term including broadly cutting the system to size through number controls, freezing fees, increasing the teaching grant and creating a fairer funding system, re-establishing quality controls, clarifying employment that needed degrees and establishing student contracts.
Others had different views.
The Russell Group said it welcomed ‘robust debate’ while Universities UK said, “the authors of this report have some good ideas, but they are wrapped up in a familiar and wrong-headed analysis.”
A more positive picture emerged from the latest annual Student Academic Experience Survey from HEPI and Advance HE published this week.
“More students reporting good value for money and feeling positive about their choice of university than at any point in over a decade, even as financial pressures continue to shape the student experience,” according to the authors.
Based on the views of more than 10,000 full-time undergraduates in UKHE institutions, the Survey acknowledged that life was hard for many students with for example 65% combining study with paid work, those on vocational qualifications less satisfied and new evidence of reported harassment for some students but in essence:
“Two-thirds of students (66%) say they are happy with their choice of course and institution and would not change anything, a marked increase from 56% in 2025.”
Still on the positives although perhaps not for all, the OfS found most first year students in England happy with their accommodation options and experiences.
61% experienced at least one issue, “commonly relating to appliances, maintenance, facilities or cleanliness,” according to the commissioned report, but 87% were happy.
Although Jim Dickinson at Wonkhe reckoned it was more a case of ‘students internalising low expectations with a product they have limited power to change.’
And finally to note for HE, the OfS announced changes to the Teaching and Excellence Framework (TEF) following recent consultation.
As explained by the Times Higher, “Under the biggest shake-up of the TEF since it first launched, the OfS plans to merge the exercise with its wider quality assessment regime in the hope of providing students with a clearer sense of where the best-quality teaching and learning lies. Ratings will be made public to help inform students’ decision making.”
Links to most of these stories below, starting with the week’s headlines.
The top headlines of the week:
- ’Starmer set to announce social media ban as ministers pledge screentime advice’ (Monday)
- ‘DfE highlights Taylor Swift gig in crackdown on one-off absences’ (Tuesday)
- ‘Children’s reading for pleasure is finally rising again’ (Wednesday)
- ‘Value for money ratings for university degrees hits 13-year high’ (Thursday)
- ‘UK school leavers and new students to be offered meningitis B vaccine’ (Friday)
The top headlines this week.
The government gave schools tips on how to speak with families about school absences with so-called ‘birthday bunk offs’ cited as a big culprit. The National Literacy Trust reported a ‘modest’ rise in children’s reading engagement. M&S announced a new retail training scheme for young people saying, “You do not need a degree to succeed here; you need attitude, energy, resilience and the willingness to learn.” Deloitte reported that 76% of UK workers reckoned their wellbeing had suffered due to being tired from too many changes at work. And a think tank came up with 40 recommendations for university reform.
Elsewhere, ministers raced to give out positive messages about the UK’s role in high tech as part of London Tech Week, with the PM said to be poised to issue a statement on social media restrictions for young people.
And as the World Cup kicks off, HR body CIPD offered some advice to employers.
“Flexibility around working hours, such as earlier finishes or later starts to accommodate evening or early-morning games can often be appreciated, however any flexibility should be proportionate and aligned with business needs.”
Here’s some of the detail behind these headlines.
In schools, the debate around screens and smartphones has continued this week with the government launching a further call for evidence on the impact and use of screen time for 5-16 yr olds.
It all comes as the as the government prepares to set out a range of measures on online safety following the recent major consultation which closed last month.
The latest consultation as the Education Secretary explained is for a hesitant government to be able to issue “clear, practical guidance” for parents not just on screen time but on when children should first get a smartphone as well.
This will not be the end of the consultations.
One on “a new independent safety certification for some types of technology used in schools” is promised for later this year.
In other news, ‘birthday bunk offs’ were singled out as a villain in new data and guidance from the government on pupils being off school.
Apparently young people are ‘55% more likely to miss school on their birthday’ with Yr 8s the biggest culprits.
Medical and dental appointments, religious observances, agricultural events and concerts also feature as factors. The report highlights for instance the rise in absence among Yr 9 and 10 girls in Liverpool in June 2024 when Taylor Swift just happened to be on stage there.
The data came with guidance for schools on best ways for communicating with parents about attendance, complete with ten top tips, nine principles, a comms calendar and even a phone call script for when talking to a parents about a child’s absence.
Reinforce expectation positively: “We’d really like to see them back as soon as possible,” it says among its prompts for how to address concerns when on the phone.
The NAHT welcomed the focus on school attendance tools pointing to the new heat map as being particularly useful.
In other news, the Education Endowment Foundation invited applications for what looks like an interesting research project looking into the impact of GenAI on young people’s learning.
“The EEF is especially interested in how GenAI may lead learners to “offload” thinking tasks like recall, planning, reasoning, or drafting on to GenAI tools.”
Cognitive offload, as it’s known, has become an important source of debate.
It’s looking to commission ‘a range of rigorous studies’ with findings due next year.
And Ofqual published provisional data on GCSE, AS and A level exam entries for this summer.
Overall entries were up slightly on last year apart from for AS level, based on data submitted by mid-April, with some recognisable trends.
Maths, English Language and Statistics entries were all notably up at GCSE but modern and ancient languages, along with computing and other sciences all down.
At A level, where increased numbers of 18 yr olds played a part, Political Studies, Economics and Law were all up at A level with Classical Studies, Drama and English Lit all down.
In FE, with the NEET issue remaining a huge live challenge, important news came this week with an announcement by M&S of a new retail training scheme aimed at 18-24 yr olds.
The aim is to provide six months of training in stores around the country with successful participants able to move up the ladder and with further training progress to Store Manager.
1,000 places will be available over the next 18 months. Applications open on 27 July.
“This programme is about opening doors for the next generation and giving talented young people the chance to thrive.”
It sits alongside other work with the Kings Trust, Sir Gareth Southgate and others in providing support, including an AI platform, for young people from next year, along with planned mentorship schemes and other opportunities and resources.
Talking of AI, Skills England and partners reported this week on best practice in AI skills development, using case studies from different employer early adopters as evidence.
“Good AI training,” they wrote, “must be practical and task based. It must build technical, non-technical and responsible AI skills together. It must also help staff know when AI should, and should not, be used.”
And still on training, City and Guilds offered free functional skills in English and maths for eligible (new) apprentices and the AoC outlined plans for delivering government funded training from this autumn to providers of the new post-16 qualification pathways.
As the Chief Exec of the AoC explained, “The introduction of V Levels and new Level 2 qualifications, alongside the ongoing delivery of T Levels, is a massive undertaking for the sector and it’s important that providers are fully supported and equipped to deliver high-quality technical and vocational education that meets the needs of learners and industry.”
In HE, another week, another excoriating report on the English university system.
This one came from the Policy Exchange think tank with a sweeping review of what was claimed of a system in meltdown “with job losses, course closures and restructuring initiatives across the sector, alongside a wholesale collapse in outcomes, standards and the graduate premium.”
The finger, or rather two fingers, were firmly pointed at mass expansion and marketisation, ‘two sacred cows’ that it claimed needed slaying.
The report came up with a long list of recommendations, some immediate, some more long term including broadly cutting the system to size through number controls, freezing fees, increasing the teaching grant and creating a fairer funding system, re-establishing quality controls, clarifying employment that needed degrees and establishing student contracts.
Others had different views.
The Russell Group said it welcomed ‘robust debate’ while Universities UK said, “the authors of this report have some good ideas, but they are wrapped up in a familiar and wrong-headed analysis.”
A more positive picture emerged from the latest annual Student Academic Experience Survey from HEPI and Advance HE published this week.
“More students reporting good value for money and feeling positive about their choice of university than at any point in over a decade, even as financial pressures continue to shape the student experience,” according to the authors.
Based on the views of more than 10,000 full-time undergraduates in UKHE institutions, the Survey acknowledged that life was hard for many students with for example 65% combining study with paid work, those on vocational qualifications less satisfied and new evidence of reported harassment for some students but in essence:
“Two-thirds of students (66%) say they are happy with their choice of course and institution and would not change anything, a marked increase from 56% in 2025.”
Still on the positives although perhaps not for all, the OfS found most first year students in England happy with their accommodation options and experiences.
61% experienced at least one issue, “commonly relating to appliances, maintenance, facilities or cleanliness,” according to the commissioned report, but 87% were happy.
Although Jim Dickinson at Wonkhe reckoned it was more a case of ‘students internalising low expectations with a product they have limited power to change.’
And finally to note for HE, the OfS announced changes to the Teaching and Excellence Framework (TEF) following recent consultation.
As explained by the Times Higher, “Under the biggest shake-up of the TEF since it first launched, the OfS plans to merge the exercise with its wider quality assessment regime in the hope of providing students with a clearer sense of where the best-quality teaching and learning lies. Ratings will be made public to help inform students’ decision making.”
Links to most of these stories below, starting with the week’s headlines.
The top headlines of the week:
- ’Starmer set to announce social media ban as ministers pledge screentime advice’ (Monday)
- ‘DfE highlights Taylor Swift gig in crackdown on one-off absences’ (Tuesday)
- ‘Children’s reading for pleasure is finally rising again’ (Wednesday)
- ‘Value for money ratings for university degrees hits 13-year high’ (Thursday)
- ‘UK school leavers and new students to be offered meningitis B vaccine’ (Friday)
General:
- PM’s speech. The Prime Minister addressed the London Tech conference where he highlighted the role of the UK as a leading AI nation and spoke of some of the opportunities it offered, such as the creation of AI tutors and the new AI jobs tool but also the challenges that modern tech brought, calling in particular for tech companies here to develop controls to protect children from sexually explicit images.
- Tech Nation 2026. Tech Nation published its 2026 state of the nation report on UK tech, painting a dynamic picture of growth and opportunity with a growing UK tech market, increased numbers of AI startups and a surge of AI talent, pointing to finance, biotech, transport and defence tech as being among the next wave for AI growth.
- Economic Forecast. The CBI published its latest Economic Forecast revising down growth expectations to 1.1% and 0.9% for this year and next respectively with Middle Eastern tensions and resultant higher energy prices largely to blame.
- Food Report. The Food Foundation published a new report showing how hard it’s becoming for many families to find and afford ‘good food’ and the challenges this is creating for family life and health let alone to the environment.
- PM’s speech. The Prime Minister addressed the London Tech conference where he highlighted the role of the UK as a leading AI nation and spoke of some of the opportunities it offered, such as the creation of AI tutors and the new AI jobs tool but also the challenges that modern tech brought, calling in particular for tech companies here to develop controls to protect children from sexually explicit images.
- Tech Nation 2026. Tech Nation published its 2026 state of the nation report on UK tech, painting a dynamic picture of growth and opportunity with a growing UK tech market, increased numbers of AI startups and a surge of AI talent, pointing to finance, biotech, transport and defence tech as being among the next wave for AI growth.
- Economic Forecast. The CBI published its latest Economic Forecast revising down growth expectations to 1.1% and 0.9% for this year and next respectively with Middle Eastern tensions and resultant higher energy prices largely to blame.
- Food Report. The Food Foundation published a new report showing how hard it’s becoming for many families to find and afford ‘good food’ and the challenges this is creating for family life and health let alone to the environment.
More specifically ...
Schools:
- Screen use. The government launched a call for further evidence on how children and families manage and use screen time as well as some of the benefits and risks involved and how these vary by age, as it gears up to make further announcements on protecting children from online harm.
- Exam entries. Ofqual published provisional figures on entries for this summer’s GCSE, AS and A levels, showing an increase in overall entries at both GCSE and A level, with maths and statistics up and computing down at GCSE and at A level, political studies up and classical subjects down.
- School attendance. The government listed ‘ten top tips for communicating with parents about attendance,’ complete with template resources and calendar tips as it reported on some of the main reasons behind absence, pointing to term time birthdays and broken weeks as major culprits.
- Reading. The National Literacy Trust reported a slight but welcome rise in children’s reading engagement, albeit with an increase in the disadvantage gap as it published new data on children and young people’s reading habits.
- Mental health. The government claimed that nearly 6m learners now had access to mental health support through their school or college as it published updated information on the work of Mental Health Support Teams.
- Disadvantage Gap. The Education Policy Institute examined the disadvantage gap and how and why inequalities emerge across different stages of education, suggesting that prior attainment is a key factor along with school absence, special needs and ethnicity.
- AI impact. The Education Endowment Foundation invited applications for a new £2.5m research project, looking into the impact of Generative AI on young people’s learning processes, whether for instance it supports or reduces cognitive engagement and how far it affects different types of learners.
- Primary teacher effect. FFT Education Datalab examined how far an effective primary teacher in one subject can help add value in other subjects, suggesting that they can although this doesn’t stretch to outcomes elsewhere such as attendance.
- Being school ready. The Centre for Young Lives published a report looking at how different areas were working to help ensure young children were school ready, finding slow but important progress being made and calling for better integration and long term commitment to the early years.
- Children at Risk. The Youth Endowment Fund highlighted the challenges of providing support for children at risk of harm outside the home, pointing to ‘unequal oversight and visibility’ and setting out a number of recommendations including principally ‘one pathway, one plan, one owner’ for those at risk.
- Screen use. The government launched a call for further evidence on how children and families manage and use screen time as well as some of the benefits and risks involved and how these vary by age, as it gears up to make further announcements on protecting children from online harm.
- Exam entries. Ofqual published provisional figures on entries for this summer’s GCSE, AS and A levels, showing an increase in overall entries at both GCSE and A level, with maths and statistics up and computing down at GCSE and at A level, political studies up and classical subjects down.
- School attendance. The government listed ‘ten top tips for communicating with parents about attendance,’ complete with template resources and calendar tips as it reported on some of the main reasons behind absence, pointing to term time birthdays and broken weeks as major culprits.
- Reading. The National Literacy Trust reported a slight but welcome rise in children’s reading engagement, albeit with an increase in the disadvantage gap as it published new data on children and young people’s reading habits.
- Mental health. The government claimed that nearly 6m learners now had access to mental health support through their school or college as it published updated information on the work of Mental Health Support Teams.
- Disadvantage Gap. The Education Policy Institute examined the disadvantage gap and how and why inequalities emerge across different stages of education, suggesting that prior attainment is a key factor along with school absence, special needs and ethnicity.
- AI impact. The Education Endowment Foundation invited applications for a new £2.5m research project, looking into the impact of Generative AI on young people’s learning processes, whether for instance it supports or reduces cognitive engagement and how far it affects different types of learners.
- Primary teacher effect. FFT Education Datalab examined how far an effective primary teacher in one subject can help add value in other subjects, suggesting that they can although this doesn’t stretch to outcomes elsewhere such as attendance.
- Being school ready. The Centre for Young Lives published a report looking at how different areas were working to help ensure young children were school ready, finding slow but important progress being made and calling for better integration and long term commitment to the early years.
- Children at Risk. The Youth Endowment Fund highlighted the challenges of providing support for children at risk of harm outside the home, pointing to ‘unequal oversight and visibility’ and setting out a number of recommendations including principally ‘one pathway, one plan, one owner’ for those at risk.
FE/Skills:
- Youth training. M&S announced a new ‘graduate-style’ training scheme for young people aged 18-24 to undertake six months of training in their stores around the country, helping build retail management skills and personal confidence with a view to successful participants moving up the ladder to become Store Managers.
- Blair on NEETs. The Tony Blair Institute called for a stronger Youth Guarantee, rapid access to mental health treatment and better support for conditions that are non-work limiting, as it reiterated its case for tackling NEETs and ‘preventing a lost generation.’
- Training for new post-16 pathways. The AoC outlined its plans for providing professional support for providers transitioning to the new post-16 qualification pathways, with a mix of staff training and organisational support backed up by regional hubs and an advisory board of sector experts.
- AI training. Skills England looked into what makes for effective training in AI skills in a new joint report, using insights from over 150 employers to show how workforce skills in this area can best be developed.
- Free functional skills. City and Guilds announced it was offering free functional skills for eligible apprentices in English and maths, ‘for providers who switch to City and Guilds or who register for new apprentices between 1 June 2026 and 31 December 2026.’
- SEND support. The Education and Training Foundation reported on its recent work on helping practitioners support learners with special needs, setting out a range of actions both now and for the future and calling for training, professional standards and investment to help support early intervention where needed.
- JobsPlus Pilot. The IES and Learning and Work Institute published a detailed evaluation of the voluntary, community-led JobsPlus scheme designed to help people in social housing find jobs, suggesting that its model of local, joined up support was showing promise and helping reach those off the radar.
- Youth training. M&S announced a new ‘graduate-style’ training scheme for young people aged 18-24 to undertake six months of training in their stores around the country, helping build retail management skills and personal confidence with a view to successful participants moving up the ladder to become Store Managers.
- Blair on NEETs. The Tony Blair Institute called for a stronger Youth Guarantee, rapid access to mental health treatment and better support for conditions that are non-work limiting, as it reiterated its case for tackling NEETs and ‘preventing a lost generation.’
- Training for new post-16 pathways. The AoC outlined its plans for providing professional support for providers transitioning to the new post-16 qualification pathways, with a mix of staff training and organisational support backed up by regional hubs and an advisory board of sector experts.
- AI training. Skills England looked into what makes for effective training in AI skills in a new joint report, using insights from over 150 employers to show how workforce skills in this area can best be developed.
- Free functional skills. City and Guilds announced it was offering free functional skills for eligible apprentices in English and maths, ‘for providers who switch to City and Guilds or who register for new apprentices between 1 June 2026 and 31 December 2026.’
- SEND support. The Education and Training Foundation reported on its recent work on helping practitioners support learners with special needs, setting out a range of actions both now and for the future and calling for training, professional standards and investment to help support early intervention where needed.
- JobsPlus Pilot. The IES and Learning and Work Institute published a detailed evaluation of the voluntary, community-led JobsPlus scheme designed to help people in social housing find jobs, suggesting that its model of local, joined up support was showing promise and helping reach those off the radar.
HE:
- A Broken System? The Policy Exchange think tank suggested a university system in crisis as it published ‘a detailed examination’ of the current scenario, pointing to marketisation and over expansion as the root causes and coming up with a long list of recommendations around a smaller system with fairer funding and better balanced regulation.
- A more positive experience. HEPI and Advance HE published the latest major annual survey into Student Academic Experience, painting a more positive picture than the one often represented with more students positive about their choice of university and agreeing that a degree represented value for money and with contact hours remaining steady, albeit with students now routinely combining work with study.
- Student numbers. The Provost of UCL argued in a comment piece for Westminster’s House magazine that before concluding that too many people are going to university, we should look at the skills needed for the future, which point to more quality graduates with the higher level skills needed for the workplaces of the future.
- MenB vaccinations. The government announced a new vaccination programme for Yr 13s and under 25s staring university or residential FE this autumn with eligible students receiving their first vaccination in July and a second in August.
- TEF revisions. The OfS reported on decisions made following consultation on the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) with a focus on bringing quality assessment together and showing with a more nuanced rating system how institutions have exceeded minimum expectations and delivered on student experience and outcomes.
- Defence places. The government announced the 24 universities and colleges that will receive funding for places and training in areas such as cyber security, aerospace engineering and robotics, helping to develop the skills pipeline for the country’s defence and security industries.
- SHAPE sorter. The British Academy announced the launch of a new interactive data tool designed to help users understand trends, subject moves and regional patterns of SHAPE (social sciences, humanities, arts) participation in UKHE.
- Student accommodation. The OfS published a commissioned report looking into the accommodation experiences of first-year students in England, finding most (87%) happy with their overall experience, although typically more so for those on campus rather than rented options, and with most acknowledging that it represented good value for money despite the odd hiccup.
- Investment ambition. Universities UK outlined an ‘ambition’ to help double by 2035 the level of external investment going into university innovation, notably spinouts, startups and social enterprises.
- A system under strain. The Chief Exec of Universities UK and the president of the NUS discussed the financial pressures facing universities currently, calling for ‘a rebalancing of the investment.
- A Broken System? The Policy Exchange think tank suggested a university system in crisis as it published ‘a detailed examination’ of the current scenario, pointing to marketisation and over expansion as the root causes and coming up with a long list of recommendations around a smaller system with fairer funding and better balanced regulation.
- A more positive experience. HEPI and Advance HE published the latest major annual survey into Student Academic Experience, painting a more positive picture than the one often represented with more students positive about their choice of university and agreeing that a degree represented value for money and with contact hours remaining steady, albeit with students now routinely combining work with study.
- Student numbers. The Provost of UCL argued in a comment piece for Westminster’s House magazine that before concluding that too many people are going to university, we should look at the skills needed for the future, which point to more quality graduates with the higher level skills needed for the workplaces of the future.
- MenB vaccinations. The government announced a new vaccination programme for Yr 13s and under 25s staring university or residential FE this autumn with eligible students receiving their first vaccination in July and a second in August.
- TEF revisions. The OfS reported on decisions made following consultation on the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) with a focus on bringing quality assessment together and showing with a more nuanced rating system how institutions have exceeded minimum expectations and delivered on student experience and outcomes.
- Defence places. The government announced the 24 universities and colleges that will receive funding for places and training in areas such as cyber security, aerospace engineering and robotics, helping to develop the skills pipeline for the country’s defence and security industries.
- SHAPE sorter. The British Academy announced the launch of a new interactive data tool designed to help users understand trends, subject moves and regional patterns of SHAPE (social sciences, humanities, arts) participation in UKHE.
- Student accommodation. The OfS published a commissioned report looking into the accommodation experiences of first-year students in England, finding most (87%) happy with their overall experience, although typically more so for those on campus rather than rented options, and with most acknowledging that it represented good value for money despite the odd hiccup.
- Investment ambition. Universities UK outlined an ‘ambition’ to help double by 2035 the level of external investment going into university innovation, notably spinouts, startups and social enterprises.
- A system under strain. The Chief Exec of Universities UK and the president of the NUS discussed the financial pressures facing universities currently, calling for ‘a rebalancing of the investment.
Tweets and posts of note:
- “A little tip. If you child says their A level exam is in the afternoon and not the morning, double check the diary. Trust me, it will save you unbelievable stress and some very fast driving!” -@jslwilliamson.
- “If I have to send one more message asking the dear daughter if she is planning to return from university post Finals today/tomorrow/another week, I will feed the child to the fatted calf, not the other way Studental parents – send solidarity or negotiating tactics” -@annemcelvoy.
- “The old dividing line in education used to be progressive v traditional (discovery v explicit) but the new divide is rapidly becoming those who see AI as a potential tool for learning and those who see it as the end of days” -@C_Hendrick.
- “Dear Twitter, Please find me a primary school teacher who thinks their job & the wellbeing of their pupils has been improved by smart phones, Many Thanks Kirstie” -@KirstieMAllsopp.
- “Last year's teacher pay deal was published on the 22nd May. This year the Secretary of State (correctly) asked the STRB to bring forward their recommendations so that schools would be better able to plan ahead and "fully reset the timeline in 2026-27" -@StuartLock.
- “Skip the lunch queue on your birthday in order to improve attendance. What happens if you are born in August or perhaps have a birthday during other school holidays. Mine has fallen in autumn half term forever!” -@RachelOrr.
- “Brother printers are odd. You tell them to print and...they do. They don't make outlandish claims about what ink they do or don't have or need. They don't decide they can't connect to the computer they were literally just connected to. They act like, well, a printer. Weird” -@Helen_Barnard.
- “A little tip. If you child says their A level exam is in the afternoon and not the morning, double check the diary. Trust me, it will save you unbelievable stress and some very fast driving!” -@jslwilliamson.
- “If I have to send one more message asking the dear daughter if she is planning to return from university post Finals today/tomorrow/another week, I will feed the child to the fatted calf, not the other way Studental parents – send solidarity or negotiating tactics” -@annemcelvoy.
- “The old dividing line in education used to be progressive v traditional (discovery v explicit) but the new divide is rapidly becoming those who see AI as a potential tool for learning and those who see it as the end of days” -@C_Hendrick.
- “Dear Twitter, Please find me a primary school teacher who thinks their job & the wellbeing of their pupils has been improved by smart phones, Many Thanks Kirstie” -@KirstieMAllsopp.
- “Last year's teacher pay deal was published on the 22nd May. This year the Secretary of State (correctly) asked the STRB to bring forward their recommendations so that schools would be better able to plan ahead and "fully reset the timeline in 2026-27" -@StuartLock.
- “Skip the lunch queue on your birthday in order to improve attendance. What happens if you are born in August or perhaps have a birthday during other school holidays. Mine has fallen in autumn half term forever!” -@RachelOrr.
- “Brother printers are odd. You tell them to print and...they do. They don't make outlandish claims about what ink they do or don't have or need. They don't decide they can't connect to the computer they were literally just connected to. They act like, well, a printer. Weird” -@Helen_Barnard.
A selection of quotes that merit attention:
- “I am calling on tech companies operating in this country to introduce device controls that prevent children from sending and receiving sexually explicit images” – the PM throws down the gauntlet to tech companies.
- “Jobs will be created. Jobs will change. And some jobs will go. That is what happens with the introduction of every general purpose technology” – the Technology Secretary assesses the impact of AI on jobs.
- “The English Higher Education system is at breaking point” – the opening line from latest think tank report on English universities.
- “Good policy making requires analysis of all the facts, not only those you like” – Universities UK responds to the above think tank report.
- “Proportionately, our government makes the smallest financial contribution to our universities of any country in the OECD” – leading university figures make the case for a re-evaluation of government funding.
- “Over the summer we will be doing a lot of work behind the scenes to get the programme ready for the autumn” – the AoC sets out plans to provide training for providers of new post-16 qualification pathways.
- “Some will argue the answer is to turn back the clock and return to a world of only pens and paper. I disagree. Used well, technology can open up opportunities for children with SEND, personalise support and help more children succeed” – the Education Secretary unleashes more consultation on the use of screen time for families and young people.
- “Is there anything happening that might be making school difficult?” – one of the prompts suggested by government to be used in discussing with a parent a child’s absence from school.
- “The studies will focus on investigating the impact of using GenAI on outcomes such as knowledge acquisition, conceptual understanding, working memory, and problem-solving” – the Education Endowment Foundation launches a research project on the impact of GenAI on young people’s learning.
- “The GCSE curriculum as a whole must be reduced in size, and by more than the government’s reforms are proposing” – OCR MD Myles McGinley on making space in the curriculum for financial literacy.
- “After several years of decline, 2026 saw a small but important increase in both reading enjoyment and daily reading” – the National Literacy Trust publishes its latest report on young people’s reading for pleasure.
- “I am calling on tech companies operating in this country to introduce device controls that prevent children from sending and receiving sexually explicit images” – the PM throws down the gauntlet to tech companies.
- “Jobs will be created. Jobs will change. And some jobs will go. That is what happens with the introduction of every general purpose technology” – the Technology Secretary assesses the impact of AI on jobs.
- “The English Higher Education system is at breaking point” – the opening line from latest think tank report on English universities.
- “Good policy making requires analysis of all the facts, not only those you like” – Universities UK responds to the above think tank report.
- “Proportionately, our government makes the smallest financial contribution to our universities of any country in the OECD” – leading university figures make the case for a re-evaluation of government funding.
- “Over the summer we will be doing a lot of work behind the scenes to get the programme ready for the autumn” – the AoC sets out plans to provide training for providers of new post-16 qualification pathways.
- “Some will argue the answer is to turn back the clock and return to a world of only pens and paper. I disagree. Used well, technology can open up opportunities for children with SEND, personalise support and help more children succeed” – the Education Secretary unleashes more consultation on the use of screen time for families and young people.
- “Is there anything happening that might be making school difficult?” – one of the prompts suggested by government to be used in discussing with a parent a child’s absence from school.
- “The studies will focus on investigating the impact of using GenAI on outcomes such as knowledge acquisition, conceptual understanding, working memory, and problem-solving” – the Education Endowment Foundation launches a research project on the impact of GenAI on young people’s learning.
- “The GCSE curriculum as a whole must be reduced in size, and by more than the government’s reforms are proposing” – OCR MD Myles McGinley on making space in the curriculum for financial literacy.
- “After several years of decline, 2026 saw a small but important increase in both reading enjoyment and daily reading” – the National Literacy Trust publishes its latest report on young people’s reading for pleasure.
Not-to-be-missed numbers of the week:
- 1.7m. The number of workers who have received AI training over the past year, according to the PM.
- 15.5 hours. Typical weekly contact hours for UKHE students, according to the latest Student Academic Experience Survey from HEPI/Advance HE.
- 31%. The fall in summer jobs postings compared to last year, according to evidence from the recruitment company Indeed cited by FE News.
- 845,485. The provisional figure for this summer’s A level entries, up 2.9% on last year according to Ofqual.
- 5,840,185. The provisional figure for GCSE entries this summer, up 1.1% on last year according to Ofqual.
- 11,800. The number of schools and colleges currently supported by a Mental Health Support Team, according to latest government figures.
- 2.7%. The increase in overall absence rates for school sessions that coincide with a pupil’s birthday, according to the DfE.
- 36.1%. The number of children and young people aged 8-18 saying they enjoyed reading in their free time, up from 32.7% last year, according to the National Literacy Trust.
- £4,500. The amount of money that the government is promising early years graduates to work in early years settings in deprived areas, according to the DfE.
- 1.7m. The number of workers who have received AI training over the past year, according to the PM.
- 15.5 hours. Typical weekly contact hours for UKHE students, according to the latest Student Academic Experience Survey from HEPI/Advance HE.
- 31%. The fall in summer jobs postings compared to last year, according to evidence from the recruitment company Indeed cited by FE News.
- 845,485. The provisional figure for this summer’s A level entries, up 2.9% on last year according to Ofqual.
- 5,840,185. The provisional figure for GCSE entries this summer, up 1.1% on last year according to Ofqual.
- 11,800. The number of schools and colleges currently supported by a Mental Health Support Team, according to latest government figures.
- 2.7%. The increase in overall absence rates for school sessions that coincide with a pupil’s birthday, according to the DfE.
- 36.1%. The number of children and young people aged 8-18 saying they enjoyed reading in their free time, up from 32.7% last year, according to the National Literacy Trust.
- £4,500. The amount of money that the government is promising early years graduates to work in early years settings in deprived areas, according to the DfE.
Everything else you need to know ...
What to look out for in the next couple of weeks:
- Young Enterprise ‘My Money Week’ (Monday 15 - Sunday 21 June)
- Education Committee Evidence Session on Children’s Mental Health (Tuesday 16 June)
- Education Committee Evidence Session with the Education Secretary (Wednesday 17 June)
- National ‘Thank a Teacher Day’ (Wednesday 17 June)
- Young Enterprise ‘My Money Week’ (Monday 15 - Sunday 21 June)
- Education Committee Evidence Session on Children’s Mental Health (Tuesday 16 June)
- Education Committee Evidence Session with the Education Secretary (Wednesday 17 June)
- National ‘Thank a Teacher Day’ (Wednesday 17 June)
Other stories
- National wellbeing. The ONS’s latest report into our national wellbeing was published this week. It looks at progress and performance across ten areas to build a picture of how we’re doing. Or rather feeling. On personal wellbeing for instance, “Levels of low life satisfaction, happiness and anxiety have improved, compared with October to December 2020” with 64.4% of adults feeling hopeful about their future and 18.2% feeling unhappy with their lot. 85.8% were satisfied with their social relationships although 6.1% reported feeling lonely, often. 73.6% were ‘fairly or very satisfied’ with their main job while outside work, levels of physical activity have increased. 24.6% of adults reported finding it fairly or very difficult getting by financially and health outcomes have worsened with increases in depression and anxiety. A link to the report is here.
- Regrets, I have a few. According to the HR software provider Cipr, most of us have career regrets. 35-44 yr olds are more likely to have them than older or younger workers, while managers tend to regret not prioritising their work-life balance better. The evidence comes from a survey of some 2,000 UK employees conducted in February this year which found overthinking and/or worrying about things as the main regret most people had when it came to their work. Others up there in the long list of regrets included, staying in a job for too long, playing things too safe, not saving into a pension soon enough and putting up with a bad manager for too long. Nods of agreement all round perhaps. The full list can be seen here.
You can sign up here to receive Education Eye straight to your inbox on publication.
If you find my policy updates useful, please consider donating something, however small, to help support its publication. EdCentral is a not-for-profit social enterprise and relies on donations to continue its work.
- National wellbeing. The ONS’s latest report into our national wellbeing was published this week. It looks at progress and performance across ten areas to build a picture of how we’re doing. Or rather feeling. On personal wellbeing for instance, “Levels of low life satisfaction, happiness and anxiety have improved, compared with October to December 2020” with 64.4% of adults feeling hopeful about their future and 18.2% feeling unhappy with their lot. 85.8% were satisfied with their social relationships although 6.1% reported feeling lonely, often. 73.6% were ‘fairly or very satisfied’ with their main job while outside work, levels of physical activity have increased. 24.6% of adults reported finding it fairly or very difficult getting by financially and health outcomes have worsened with increases in depression and anxiety. A link to the report is here.
- Regrets, I have a few. According to the HR software provider Cipr, most of us have career regrets. 35-44 yr olds are more likely to have them than older or younger workers, while managers tend to regret not prioritising their work-life balance better. The evidence comes from a survey of some 2,000 UK employees conducted in February this year which found overthinking and/or worrying about things as the main regret most people had when it came to their work. Others up there in the long list of regrets included, staying in a job for too long, playing things too safe, not saving into a pension soon enough and putting up with a bad manager for too long. Nods of agreement all round perhaps. The full list can be seen here.
You can sign up here to receive Education Eye straight to your inbox on publication.
If you find my policy updates useful, please consider donating something, however small, to help support its publication. EdCentral is a not-for-profit social enterprise and relies on donations to continue its work.
Steve Besley
Disclaimer: Education Eye is intended to help colleagues keep up to date with national developments in the education sector. Information is correct at the time of writing and is offered in good faith. No liability is accepted by Steve Besley or EdCentral for decisions made on the basis of any information provided.
Disclaimer: Education Eye is intended to help colleagues keep up to date with national developments in the education sector. Information is correct at the time of writing and is offered in good faith. No liability is accepted by Steve Besley or EdCentral for decisions made on the basis of any information provided.
