GENERAL:Child protection. The government launched consultation on proposed changes to the statutory framework, including Working Together, for helping and protecting for children and families, with a view to strengthening multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.
Generational change. The Resolution Foundation called for help with housing and employment opportunities as it assessed the living standards of younger Millennials and Gen Zs to see if one group was faring better than another, finding a mixed picture with ‘generational, cohort-by-cohort income progress returning’ but with home ownership and generational support for this as key factors.
Social mobility. The Social Mobility Commission opened up applications for a new ‘AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize,’ intended to encourage leading ventures using AI and other emerging technologies to improve social mobility for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds,’ with a showcase event in Parliament set for this October.
Children in care. The County Councils Network examined children’s journeys through the care system in a new report, concluding that early intervention and multi-agency support could have helped prevent children from entering care, calling for greater upfront investment to help keep families together.SCHOOLS:Handling the heat. The NAHT noted that there are no legally set rules on temperatures for workplaces including schools but offered a number of practical measures and guidelines for school leaders as it published its advice to schools for coping during the heatwave.
Inclusion bases. The government set out plans to enable more children and young people with SEND to attend their local school or college by encouraging schools to create inclusion bases, in effect a dedicated space for those with special needs, using case study and good practice principles for how these should be established.
Careers guidance. The government updated its statutory guidance for schools and colleges on careers guidance, taking in recent changes to Ofsted inspections, responses to the curriculum and assessment review, and the continuing importance of the Gatsby benchmarks.
Work Experience. The Education and Employers charity which supports young people with skills and opportunities, published a new report highlighting the importance of work experience for young people, arguing that those with the most such experience are less likely to become NEET later on but equally making the point that the current 10-day guarantee isn’t working properly for many.
Teacher recruitment. The Gatsby Foundation reported on its recent commissioned research into teacher recruitment and retention, suggesting a confusing picture with a notable drop in advertised posts but equally a number of schools reporting challenges in securing all the qualified teachers needed.
Tackling the disadvantage gap. FFT Education Datalab examined the extent of the challenge involved in meeting the government’s ambition to halve the disadvantage gap at KS4 by 2040, using 2025 pupil data to suggest this would require ‘an average increase of 9.4 in disadvantaged pupils’ A8 scores by 2040.’
Falling numbers. The NFER looked into some of the early consequences of falling numbers in primary schools finding the more disadvantaged schools facing the largest falls, leading to drops in funding, staffing and available options locally, calling as a result for better managed distribution of resources and available places.
Nursery inspections. The government announced funding and support for Ofsted to be able to undertake stronger checks, including more unannounced visits and faster action when inspecting nurseries as part of the government’s review of nursery regulation.FE/SKILLS:New deal for young people. The government announced that it was drawing up legislative options for limiting degree courses that fail to deliver for students and to direct the funding instead towards apprenticeships and other opportunities for young people.
Apprenticeships. The skills minister called on Skills England to identify which apprenticeship standards should be prioritised for a funding band review and to report back by July with a list, and by October with advice on preferred rates.
Skills for the future. The government published data on the proportion of learners starting courses in key priority growth sectors as identified in the Industrial Strategy, showing from 2023/24 data, Skills Bootcamps, T levels and apprenticeships as the main sources of provision but with full L2/3 as the lowest.
AI and VET. The OECD reported on the growing use of AI in vocational education and training (VET,) putting forward five principles including human-centred use, accountability, transparency, data quality and inclusiveness, to support future development.HE:
Graduate returns. The IfS indicated that the financial returns on degrees had held up well for at least three-quarters of graduates, particularly those with degrees in medicine and economics, as it published its latest government commissioned analysis into the economic returns on degrees with a more mixed picture for those who went to university with lower GCSE grades.
Degree course limits. The government announced that it was looking at legislative measures that would limit the growth of some degree courses with poor returns, as well as making it easier for prospective students to access information on course outcomes and wage returns, with the aim of redirecting any funding saved towards apprenticeships.
What’s Sir Keir ever done for us? The Times Higher reported on reflections from across the sector about the PM’s departure and his impact on HE, with many indicating that despite initial promises, the Starmer government had failed to address many of the problems in the sector, leaving a deeper in-tray for his successor.
2026 Applicant Index. HEPI and Unite Students published their latest annual Applicant Index looking at university applicant attitudes and expectations ahead of university, finding many optimistic and looking forward to the experience but also acknowledging the need to combine study with p/t work.
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