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 Top pay. The High Pay Centre published its latest report into the pay of CEO’s in top companies showing that pay for the median CEO was now 118 times higher than that of the median UK f/t worker, calling as a result for wider representation on remuneration committees and more use of profit shares so that all staff could benefit from profits made. Returning to work. The New Economics Foundation (NEF) called for a rethink on the role of Jobcentre work coaches following research indicating an undue focus on policing benefits as opposed to helping people return to work. Early Years. Leading organisations, charities and bodies including Save the Children, UNICEF and the Early Years Alliance came together to form a new Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EEC) with the aim of prioritising early years issues among political parties ahead of the next general election.
SCHOOLS GCSEs 2023 (1). Ofqual outlined the key points and associated documentation for this year’s GCSE results. Special needs. The government outlined plans to test out its planned special needs reforms in agreed places across the country, along with funds to create more special free school places and more training and support generally. Social care. The charity Action for Children called for greater help for children under social care in England as it published new data from FFT Education Datalab showing that such children tended to have poorer GCSE outcomes, were more than twice as likely as other children to fail English and maths GCSE and to be persistently absent from school generally.
FE/SKILLS GCSEs 2023. FE Week pointed to a fall in the pass rate this year for resits in English and maths, over 4% in each case on 2019 although with the number taking resits in 2019 being much smaller. English and maths resits. The AoC commented on this year’s results for GCSE English and maths resits showing that although the overall percentage achievement had dropped compared to last year, the number of students actually achieving a result had improved 16-19. The government announced the creation of three Eton Star Sixth Form Colleges, to open over the next 3/4 years in Dudley, Teeside and Oldham respectively with support, both financial and curricular, from Eton College.
HE 2023 University entry. The Times Higher reflected on how admissions figures for UKHE were looking one week on from A level/L3 results day, pointing to a potential fall in the number of UK entrants likely to affect some universities and creating in the words of Data expert Mark Corver ‘strategic uncertainty’ for the sector generally. Tuition fees. The Student Loans Company followed up the government’s recent statement by setting out the latest rates and repayment thresholds for various forms of student loan this year, including the new Plan 5 for undergraduate loans which will see the maximum interest rate held at 7.3% but the repayment threshold at £25,000. Soft-Power. The HE Policy institute (HEPI) published its latest Soft-Power Index listing the number of serving world leaders educated at a higher level in a country other than their own, with the UK coming in at second place by providing for 58 such leaders and closing the gap on the top provider, namely the US.
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MONDAY 28 AUGUST On this day in 1189 the Siege of Acre took place in the first major battle of the Third Crusade under Guy of Lusignan. On this day in 1845 the first issue of Scientific American magazine was published. On this day in 1963 Martin Luther King Jr delivered his "I have a dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
TUESDAY 29 AUGUST On this day in 1533 Atahuallpa, the thirteenth and last emperor of the Incas, was executed by Pizarro’s conquistadors On this day in 1883 the eruption of Krakatoa created seismic waves causing a rise in the English Channel thirty-two hours after the explosion. On this day in 1949 the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb at a test site in Kazakhstan.
WEDNESDAY 30 AUGUST On this day in 1146 European leaders outlawed the crossbow intending to end war for all time. On this day in 1918 Vladimir Lenin survived an assassination attempt by a member of the Social Revolutionary party. On this day in 1979 the first recorded instance of a comet colliding with the sun occurred.
THURSDAY 31 AUGUST On this day in 1888 the body of Jack the Ripper's first victim, Mary Ann Nichols, was found in Whitechapel in London's East End. On this day in 1994 a Pentium computer beat world chess champion Garry Kasparov in the first round of the Intel World Chess Grand Prix. On this day in 1997 Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car crash in a road tunnel in Paris.
FRIDAY 1 SEPTEMBER On this day in 1715 King Louis XIV of France died in Versailles after a reign of seventy-two years. On this day in 1962 the United Nations announced that Earth's population had hit three billion. On this day in 1985 the wreck of RMS Titanic was found in the North Atlantic Ocean seventy-three years after it sank.
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.
SEPTEMBER IS UK: Oddfellows Friendship Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month / A Month of Movement, Urology Awareness Month, Vascular Disease Awareness Month, Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month, Organic September, World Alzheimer’s Month, Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Secondhand September, East and South East Asian Heritage Month, Bear Necessities Month, National Organic Month, Sleeptember. WORLDWIDE: Move More September, Sourdough September, World Fun Fair Month, Alopecia Areata Awareness Month, National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, National Pain Awareness Month, Prostate Health Month, Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Whole Grains Month, National Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month, National Blood Cancer Awareness Month, National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, National Recovery Month, National Disease Literacy Month, National Square Dance Month, Better Breakfast Month, Fall Hat Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, National Suicide Prevention Month, National Library Card Sign-up Month, National Americana Month, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, National Italian Cheese Month, Self-care Awareness Month, International Update Your Resume Month, Save Your Photos Month, National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Month, National Sewing Month, National Preparedness Month, National Mortgage Professional Month, National Rice Month, National Potato Month, National Piano Month, National Mushroom Month, National Courtesy Month, National Chicken Month, Self-improvement Month, National Little League Month, Baby Safety Month, Classical Music Month, National Guide Dog Month, Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month, Read A New Book Month, Sepsis Awareness Month, National Honey Month, Chiari Awareness Month, Happy Cat Month, Shake Month, Hunger Action Month.
THIS WEEK IS WORLDWIDE: National Composites Week, Be Kind To Humankind Week.
MONDAY 28 AUGUST UK: Late Summer Bank Holiday. WORLDWIDE: National Bow Tie Day, Makaton International Awareness Day, International Read Comics In Public Day, National Thoughtful Day, National Red Wine Day, National Power Rangers Day, National Bow Tie Day, Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, National Cherry Turnover Day, Radio Commercials Day, Race Your Mouse Around The Icons Day, National Heroes’ Day, Crackers Over The Keyboard Day.
TUESDAY 29 AUGUST UK: Potteries Bottle Oven Day. WORLDWIDE: National Sport Sampling Day, International Day Against Nuclear Tests, According To Hoyle Day, National Chop Suey Day, Individual Rights Day, More Herbs Less Salt Day, National Lemon Juice Day.
WEDNESDAY 30 AUGUST WORLDWIDE: National Toasted Marshmallow Day, International Day of the Disappeared / International Day Of The Victims Of Enforced Disappearance, International Whale Shark Day, National Beach Day, National Grief Awareness Day, National Holistic Pet Day, Frankenstein Day, National Slinky Day, Amagwinya Day.
THURSDAY 31 AUGUST UK: National Zoo Awareness Day, International Cabernet Day, National Burger Day. WORLDWIDE: National Eat Outside Day, International Overdose Awareness Day, National South Carolina Day, National Trail Mix Day, National Diatomaceous Earth Day, National Matchmaker Day, We Love Memoirs Day, Daffodil Day, Love Litigating Lawyers Day.
FRIDAY 1 SEPTEMBER WORLDWIDE: National Forgiveness Day, National Hotel Employee Day, National Burnt Ends Day, National Acne Positivity Day, National Chianti Day, National Food Bank Day, National Lazy Mom’s Day, National No Rhyme (nor Reason) Day, National Chicken Boy Day, National College Colors Day, National Cherry Popover Day, Building and Code Staff Appreciation Day, Bring Your Manners To Work Day, National Chicken Boy Day, National Tofu Day, World Letter Writing Day, Ginger Cat Appreciation Day, National Emma M Nutt Day, American Chess Day, National Child Identity Theft Awareness Day, National Little Black Dress Day.
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