GENERAL:
NEET figures. The ONS published the latest unconfirmed NEET figures showing an increase in the number of 16-24 yr olds NEETs for the first quarter of this year to just over 1m for the first time in 13 years.
Childcare costs. The Education Secretary called on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to look into how the childcare market was operating and in particular the creep of additional costs for things like nappies and suncream as well as the role of different providers and cost transparency generally, and to report back next spring.
Employment Rights. The Institute of Directors (IoD) called on the government ‘to rethink its approach to the Employment Rights Act,’ arguing it will restrict recruitment and hamper economic growth, proposing instead exemptions for smaller employers and a lengthier implementation schedule generally. SCHOOLS:
Falling rolls. The House of Lords Public Services Select Committee announced a call for evidence and a series of evidence sessions in June for its ‘short’ inquiry into falling primary school rolls, designed to look at the impact of the fall on schools, academic outcomes, children, and their families and communities.
Financial education. Former PM Rishi Sunak’s Richmond Project which focuses on raising levels of financial literacy, published a new report highlighting gaps in financial literacy across all ages, calling for better financial education from an early age and setting out a best practice model for schools, built around ‘seven core domains’ ranging from saving and investing to risks and scams.
14-16 qualifications. Cambridge OCR announced a review of 14-16 vocational provision to be led again by former Education Secretary Charles Clarke with a report expected later this year. FE/SKILLS: NEETs Review. Alan Milburn published his interim report into NEETs and youth employment highlighting a growing crisis of young people without jobs, opportunities and in some cases hope, calling for a ‘radical reset’ to avoid the human and economic costs of ‘a lost generation’ in the future.
Costs of being NEET. The IPPR think tank reported on its recent conversations with young people about the human costs of being NEET, citing four in particular including the fear of being left behind, the loss of routine, a loss of social capital and being unable to move forward.
TUC NEET response. The TUC published its response to the Milburn Review into young people and work, highlighting among other things the number of young people without L2 English and maths and calling on the government to expand the jobs guarantee for young people, reform education funding and drive up apprenticeships.
Skills Network. Skills England explained in a new blog how it will work with stakeholders through an ‘Expert Network’ comprising two ‘time-limited’ groups, an Occupational Group focused on occupational standards and assessment, and an Insight Group focused on wider issues and related decision making. HE:
Mergers. Universities UK highlighted the impact of current financial pressures on members as it published the results of a recent survey, showing many considering some form of merger/collaboration along with cutting back on staffing, student support and research to help manage such pressures.
Twin threats. The President of HEPI pointed in a new briefing to a sector at risk from two main threats, a decline in the ‘recruitment pool’ of young people notably from 2030, and the emerging impact of ‘predatory recruitment practices’ that could leave non-higher-tariff universities particularly vulnerable.
Student loans. The Treasury Committee summarised the responses to its recent call for evidence for its inquiry into student loans and graduate taxation, showing most of the responses coming from those with a Plan 2 loan and most not happy with the rates of interest and repayment terms involved.
Franchising. The QAA examined its latest data and research on franchising suggesting that rapid growth, particularly by a handful of large-scale providers, rather than franchising itself had created issues of poorer outcomes, arguing that many small providers deliver positive outcomes and that risk identification and intervention should focus on the handful of large-scale providers.
Registration fees. The government launched consultation on the structure of the fee system used by the OfS, including the annual registration fee, calling for views on options such as a flat fee but ‘variable’ on the size of the provider, and charges for other services such as for initial application or for name changes.
AI survey. The OfS and Advance HE announced a new joint survey to understand better the potential and impact of AI on staff and students as well as share good practice and see what else is needed in terms of support with a report due later this year.
Freedom of speech. The OfS reported on its You Gov research into how students viewed freedom of speech, finding most aware that they had some rights in this area although not all were sure what they were, and some were concerned about the consequences of raising contentious topics.
New name. The OfS confirmed that it had approved the use of the word ‘university’ for the University of Greenwich to use in its merger with the University of Kent. It will become ‘London and South East University Group’ once the merger is complete from this August.
Graduate recruitment. The IfS published a new working paper looking at the extent which graduates from top universities were shunning jobs in the public sector in favour of more attractive opportunities in finance, tech and consulting, using evidence from over the past decade to suggest public sector destinations remain ‘important’ for most.
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