Follow this link to view the full version of Steve Besley's popular policy round-up - including an overview of all the important stories, his top headlines of the week, tweets and posts of note, the most memorable quotes, not-to-be-missed statistics and what to look out for next week. As your starter for ten, we've chosen three items from each phase below ...
GENERAL Cyber Strategy. The government published a progress report on its National Cyber Strategy a year and a half on, outlining key achievements against its five priority areas, including working with 2,000+ schools on developing Cyber Explorers. Labour Market Outlook. The Resolution Foundation examined the issues around the current waves of industrial action in its latest Labour Market Outlook arguing that pay and conditions had worsened over the last decade for many public sector employees and that this was an area the government needed to address. Digital exclusion. The Centre for Social Justice highlighted issues around digital exclusion in a new report, suggesting it wasn’t just the elderly who were missing out when it came to digital capacity but many poorer households as well, calling among other things for a ‘rebooted’ digital inclusion strategy and a long-term digital skills programme to help improve things.
SCHOOLS A level results. Ofqual published a guide to this year’s AS and A level results confirming broad grade alignment with 2019 as planned along with a range of links to centre specific data. A level results analysis. The Education Policy Institute provided its analysis of this year’s A level results suggesting that the move to align grading distribution this year with that of the pre-pandemic year had largely been achieved albeit with differences by region and gender with competition for places at more selective universities remaining high. Grading reliability. Former assessment and UCAS chief executive Mary Curnock Cook tackled two common issues around grading reliability in a blog on the HEPI site ahead of the release of A level results, arguing that while reliability could always be improved, ‘our current system has been shown to be reliable consistently over time’.
FE/SKILLS Vocational qualifications. Ofqual published a guide to this summer’s L3 qualification results indicating an increase in the proportion of learners taking such qualifications with Business administration and law, and health public services and care as the subject areas with the most certificates issued. T level facts and figures. The government published the results for this year’s T levels showing a Pass rate of 90.5% but with a reduced final cohort compared to last year. Skills Hubs. The Local Government Association (LGA,) with support from government, announced a programme of skills hubs and support to help local councils deal with occupational shortages in such areas as civil engineering, ICT and environmental health.
HE University entry. UCAS outlined the current position on university admissions following this year’s exam and assessment results confirming an increase on acceptances on the last pre-pandemic year of 2019 although a decrease on last year but with increased numbers of Clearing courses and apprenticeships available meaning numbers may yet change. Higher fees. Director of the Social Market Foundation, James Kirkup, called in an article for The Times for an increase in tuition fees using perhaps a system of stepped loan repayments that increase with income, arguing that otherwise universities will be forced to look for cost saving measures such as running cheaper or remote courses or looking to increase recruitment from high paying international students. HE funding. The consultancy firm, London Economics, announced that it had been awarded Nuffield Foundation funding to examine the UK’s HE fees and funding system and potential alternative approaches, with a view to extending levels of understanding of this key issue ahead of a general election.
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MONDAY 21 AUGUST On this day in 1888 American inventor William Seward Burroughs patented the adding machine. On this day in 1911 Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" was stolen from the Louvre by Vincenzo Perugia. On this day in 1942 Walt Disney's animated movie "Bambi", based on the book by Felix Salten, was released.
TUESDAY 22 AUGUST On this day in 565 St Columba reported seeing a monster in Loch Ness. On this day in 1849 the first air raid in history was attempted when Austria launched pilotless balloons to bomb Venice. On this day in 1932 the BBC began experimental regular TV broadcasts.
WEDNESDAY 23 AUGUST On this day in 1305 Scottish patriot William Wallace was executed for high treason by Edward I of England. On this day in 1856 Eunice Foote's research about the possibility of global warming was publicly presented in New York. On this day in 1966 the first photograph of the Earth was taken from the orbit of the Moon.
THURSDAY 24 AUGUST On this day in 1456 Johannes Gutenberg completed printing of what is today known as the Gutenberg Bible. On this day in 1662 England's Act of Uniformity required enforced adherence to the Book of Common Prayer for public worship. On this day in 2006 Pluto was declassified as a planet and reclassified as a dwarf planet.
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST On this day in 1609 Galileo demonstrated his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers. On this day in 1835 the first installment of the "Great Moon Hoax" was published announcing the supposed discovery of life on the Moon. On this day in 1944 French General Charles de Gaulle walked the Champs Elysees in Paris after liberation of the city from Nazi occupation.
Awareness days from around the world
AUGUST IS UK: National Road Victim Month. WORLDWIDE: Psoriasis Awareness/Psoriasis Action Month, National Immunization Awareness Month, National Fishing Month, National Dog Month, National Hair Loss Awareness Month, National Wellness Month, MedicAlert Awareness Month, Children’s Eye Health And Safety Month, National Brownies At Brunch Month, Black Business Month, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month, Motorsports Awareness Month, International Peace Month, Get Ready For Kindergarten Month, National Panini Month, National Goat Cheese Month, National Sandwich Month, Happiness Happens Month, National Back To School Month, National Crayon Collection Month, National Golf Month, National Eye Exam Month, National Catfish Month, National Water Quality Month, Romance Awareness Month, Family Fun Month, National Peach Month, National Inventors Month, National Anti-Frizz Month.
THIS WEEK IS WORLDWIDE: World Water Week.
MONDAY 21 AUGUST WORLDWIDE: International Day Of Remembrance And Tribute To The Victims Of Terrorism, Brazilian Blowout Day, National Senior Citizens Day, National Spumoni Day, Poet’s Day.
TUESDAY 22 AUGUST WORLDWIDE: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day, World Plant Milk Day, National Surgical Oncologist Day, Never Bean Better Day, National Bao Day, National Pecan Torte Day, National Tooth Fairy Day, National Be An Angel Day, National Eat A Peach Day.
WEDNESDAY 23 AUGUST WORLDWIDE: Black Ribbon Day, National Cuban Sandwich Day, International Day For The Remembrance Of The Slave Trade And Its Abolition, National Sponge Cake Day, National Ride The Wind Day, Valentino Day.
THURSDAY 24 AUGUST UK: GCSE Results Day. WORLDWIDE: National Maryland Day, National Waffle Day, National Peach Pie Day, Kobe Bryant Day, Burger Day, Pluto Demoted Day, National Knife Day, Vesuvius Day, International Strange Music Day, Internaut Day.
FRIDAY 25 AUGUST WORLDWIDE: National Banana Split Day, National Park Service Founders Day, National Secondhand Wardrobe Day, National Kiss And Make Up Day, National Whiskey Sour Day.
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