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GENERAL Cost-of-living. The Youth Select Committee which comprises young people aged 13 – 18 and which is supported by the Dept for Culture, announced it would hold an Inquiry into the impact of the cost-of living on young people’s health and wellbeing. Youth employability. The think tank Demos called for a big push on extracurricular activities in schools and colleges as it published a new report, sponsored by the Scout Association, highlighting the importance for young people’s employability of both transferable as well as technical skills. Childcare concerns. The childcare body Coram Family and Childcare – in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation – raised concerns in a new report that the recent announcement of extra investment by the government will not benefit the most needy and not improve the quality of provision, calling instead for wider system reform including directly funded childcare places and investment in staff training.
SCHOOLS National Tutoring Programme. The government confirmed that it will now meet half the costs for schools for the National Tutoring Programme for next year as it published new guidelines on delivery next year, covering the costing, planning, delivery and reporting of the Programme. School buildings. The schools minister confirmed to MPs in a debate in Westminster that data on the condition of school buildings which had been formally collated in 2019 and which Opposition MPS, unions and others had been pressing for release, would be published ‘by the summer recess. Children missing school. The children’s commissioner highlighted the issue of looked after children missing school, pointing in a new report to particularly vulnerable groups including those with special needs, ethnic groups and boys, and calling for better monitoring, data, accountability and support for such groups generally.
FE/SKILLS Local skills fund. The government invited FE providers to apply (one per improvement plan and by midday 20 June) for funding from the local skills improvement fund which will provide £80m for each of the next two years to enable providers to respond to priorities identified in local skills improvement plans. Apprenticeship reform. The think tank Policy Exchange published a new report on reforming the apprenticeship levy with a range of recommendations around three key areas: a broader levy, support for small businesses, and increased opportunities for young people. WorldSkills competition. WorldSkills UK announced that the National Finals events, which will bring together 500 competitors from across the UK, will be hosted in Greater Manchester.
HE Visa restrictions. The government announced a number of changes to international student visa routes to come in from January 2024 including removing the right of postgraduates on non-research programmes to bring in dependants and preventing international students from switching to work route visas before the completion of their course. Freedom of Speech. The Times Higher reflected on the recently enshrined HE Freedom of Speech Bill with various commentators indicating it was likely to force the issue up the agenda for university managers although many might be waiting for the promised new guidance from the OfS along with the new free speech director. Transnational education. The Office for Students (OfS) reported on the scale and characteristics of English transnational education for 2021/22, showing 455,000 students, largely undergraduates and largely In Asia being taught by 146 English universities and colleges often through a collaborative arrangement.
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MONDAY 29 MAY On this day in 1453 Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, fell signalling the end of the Byzantine Empire. On this day in 1886 American pharmacist John Pemberton began to advertise his patent medicine Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. On this day in 1953 Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest.
TUESDAY 30 MAY On this day in 1431 Joan of Arc was burned at the stake after being found guilty of heresy. On this day in 1911 the first Indianapolis 500 was held. On this day in 1971 the unmanned US space probe Mariner 9 departed for Mars.
WEDNESDAY 31 MAY On this day in 1669 Samuel Pepys, citing poor eyesight, recorded the last event in his famous diary. On this day in 1859 Big Ben rang out over London for the first time. On this day in 1961 South Africa became an independent republic.
THURSDAY 1 JUNE On this day in 1495 the first written record of Scotch Whisky appeared in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. On this day in 1831 British explorer James Clark Ross discovered the Magnetic North Pole. On this day in 1974 the Heimlich manoeuvre for rescuing choking victims was published in the Emergency Medicine journal.
FRIDAY 2 JUNE On this day in 1847 Felix Mendelssohn's iconic Wedding March was used at a wedding for the first time. On this day in 1953 Queen Elizabeth II was formally crowned monarch of the United Kingdom in Westminster Abbey. On this day in 1979 Pope John Paul II became the first pontiff to visit a communist country.
Awareness days from around the world
MAY IS UK: Local And Community History Month, National Share A Story Month, National Walking Month, Make May Purple/Action On Stroke Month, National Smile Month. WORLDWIDE: National Clean Air Month, National Teen Self Esteem Month, Zombie Awareness Month, May Measure Month, Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Maternal Mental Health Month, National Barbecue Month, National Bike Month, National Hamburger Month, National Get Caught Reading Month, National Photography Month, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Month, National Military Appreciation Month, Golf Month, Better Speech and Language Month, National Deck Safety Month, Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month, Lupus Awareness Month, National Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, Tourettes Awareness Month.
JUNE IS UK: SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity) Awareness Month, National Age Without Apology Month, National Candy Month, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. WORLDWIDE: National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, National PTSD Awareness Month, National Homeownership Month, National Give A Bunch Of Balloons Month, National Pollinators Month, National DJ Month, National Safety Month, African-American Music Appreciation Month, National Soul Food Month, National Papaya Month, National Iced Tea Month, National Great Outdoors Month, National Dairy Month, National Country Cooking Month, National Camping Month, National Fresh Fruit And Vegetables Month, National Adopt A Cat Month, National Accordion Awareness Month, Turkey Lovers Month, National Rose Month, LGBTQIA Pride Month, Fight The Filthy Fly Month, Aquarium Month, Care For Your Grandparents Month, Guitars On The Beach, Audiobook Month, International Mud Month.
THIS WEEK IS UK: National Children’s Gardening Week, National Patient Participation Week, Volunteers Week, British Tomato Fortnight, National BBQ Week. WORLDWIDE: National CPR and AED Awareness Week.
MONDAY 29 MAY UK: Spring Bank Holiday, Oak Apple Day, Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling. WORLDWIDE: National Biscuit Day, International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, World Digestive Health Day, National 529 Day, National Coq Au Vin Day, National Paperclip Day, Memorial Day, Whit Monday, Put a Pillow on your Fridge Day, International Everest Day, Learn About Composting Day.
TUESDAY 30 MAY WORLDWIDE: National Mint Julep Day, World Multiple Sclerosis Day, National Creativity Day, Loomis Day, National Hole In My Bucket Day, National Water A Flower Day.
WEDNESDAY 31 MAY WORLDWIDE: World No Tobacco Day, World Parrot Day, National Utah Day, Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Day, National Smile Day, National Autonomous Vehicle Day, National Flip Flop Day, National Senior Health & Fitness Day, National Macaroon Day, National Speak In Complete Sentences Day, National Save Your Hearing Day, World Otter Day, Infidelity Hurts Awareness Day, Web Designer Day.
THURSDAY 1 JUNE UK: Global Day of Parents. WORLDWIDE: World Milk Day, World Hypopara Awareness Day, International Children’s Day, National Game Show Day, Global Day Of Parents, World Reef Awareness Day, National Nail Polish Day, National Hazelnut Cake Day, National Pen Pal Day, National Say Something Nice Day, National Go Barefoot Day, National Heimlich Maneuver Day, Dinosaur Day, National Olive Day, Wear a Dress Day, Pen Pal Day, International Tabletop Day.
FRIDAY 2 JUNE UK: National Fish and Chip Day. WORLDWIDE: International Volkswagen Bus Day, National Rotisserie Chicken Day, National Bubba Day, National Leave The Office Early Day, National Doughnut Day, National Rocky Road Day.
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