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 AI governance. The Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee called for a ‘tightly focussed’ Bill on AI in the King’s Speech as it published an interim report on AI governance, listing twelve related challenges including bias, privacy, access and liability. Sports strategy. The government published an updated sport and physical activity strategy that would aim to have 2.5m more adults and 1m+ more children active by 2030, as new data revealed increases in obesity and inactivity over recent years. Care strategy. The TUC called for a new care workforce strategy with ‘decent’ pay, conditions and training as it published new figures showing that workers in both childcare and social care suffered from poor pay and support leaving both sectors struggling to recruit.
SCHOOLS School attendance. The Children’s Commissioner released a series of blogs ahead of the return to school highlighting the importance of full attendance for pupils and the work being done to meet ‘the ambitious target of 100% attendance.’ School buildings. The government published new guidance for schools likely to have been affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) or crumble-risk concrete, promising a dedicated caseworker, funding for essential immediate works and clarification on responsibilities where necessary but potentially leaving 100+ schools having to move rooms or even relocate at short notice. Youth violence. Ofsted and partners spelt out the guidance to be used by inspectors conducting a joint targeted area inspection (JTAI) of multi-agency responses when children have been affected by serious youth violence, where the inspection focus will be on how partners have responded at a strategic level, the nature of any intervention and how far the issues are clearly understood.
FE/SKILLS FE workforce. The government published initial data on the FE workforce for 2021/22 revealing a total workforce of 205, 200 with just over 81,000 being teaching staff, 50% teaching vocational subjects and a vacancy rate of 5.4 per 100 teaching positions at the end of the year. 2023 exams. The AoC published a helpful summary briefing on this summer’s exam results covering T levels, L2 and 3 qualifications and GCSEs, noting for instance that more than 23,000 top grades were awarded at L3 while on the flip side the issue of GCSE English and maths resits has remained a concern. Education and training. The AoC highlighted some of the challenges around skills training for young people ahead of a parliamentary debate on the matter next week, calling among other things for a pause on proposed defunding of existing L3 qualifications such as BTECs, a rebalancing of apprenticeship levy monies to young people and a long-term strategy for post-16 education and skills.
HE Student accommodation. The CEO of the student housing charity Unipol outlined in a blog on the HEPI site the current situation around their student accommodation, pointing to a long list of challenges including demographic and recruitment spikes that have generated demand pressures, providing latest survey evidence on room vacancies and concluding that things will be ‘difficult’ this year. University funding. The Russell Group called for ‘a more sustainable funding model’ as it highlighted the challenges research-universities face in trying to make ends meet, the costs of core areas of provision and the impact of trying to make further efficiencies or dip into reserves in an effort to maintain quality activity. VC’s Pay. The HE Policy Institute (HEPI) published a new report looking into vice-chancellor’s pay, acknowledging some of the issues but pointing out that universities are complex ‘high-revenue’ organisations that need to pay comparable salaries to be able to attract top talent and making a number of recommendations around the determination of remuneration to ensure equity.
Parliament returns (Monday 4 September). Parliamentary Adjournment on ‘Education, employment and training for young people’ (Monday 4 September). Resolution Foundation event on ‘Can new labour market institutions drive good work?’ (Monday 4 September). Education Committee pre-appointment hearing for the new Ofsted Chief Inspector (Tuesday 5 September). Westminster Hall debate on the Turing Scheme (Tuesday 5 September). UCU College strike ballot (Tuesday 5 September). Westminster Hall debate on financial education in schools (Wednesday 6 September).
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MONDAY 4 SEPTEMBER On this day in 476 Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor, abdicated after forces led by German barbarian, Odoacer, invaded Rome. On this day in 1888 George Eastman patented the first roll-film camera and registered the brand name "Kodak". On this day in 1998 Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
TUESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER On this day in 1889 German Christine Hardt patented the first modern brassiere. On this day in 1944 the political and economic union of Benelux was founded consisting of three countries: Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. On this day in 1972 eleven Israeli athletes were taken hostage and later killed by a Palestinian Black September group at the Munich Olympics.
WEDNESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER On this day in 1651 King Charles II of England spent a day hiding in an oak tree during his escape after losing the Battle of Worcester. On this day in 1966 South African prime minister and architect of apartheid, Hendrik Verwoerd, was assassinated in Cape Town On this day in 2007 the Israeli air force conducted Operation Orchard to destroy a suspected nuclear reactor in the Deir el-Zor region of Syria.
THURSDAY 7 SEPTEMBER On this day in 1936 Benjamin, the last surviving Tasmanian Tiger, died in captivity at the Hobart Zoo in Tasmania. On this day in 1940 "The Blitz" began as the German Luftwaffe bombed London for the first of fifty-seven consecutive nights. On this day in 1977 the United States agreed to transfer control of the Panama Canal to Panama at the end of the 20th century.
FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER On this day in 1504 Michelangelo's statue of David was unveiled to the public in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence. On this day in 1970 the Black September hijackings began with three airliners hijacked and blown up by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. On this day in 2022 Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Awareness days from around the world
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 UK: National Payroll Week, Know Your Numbers Week (Blood Pressure UK), Air Ambulance Week, Zero Waste Week. WORLDWIDE: National Waffle Week.
MONDAY 4 SEPTEMBER WORLDWIDE: National Spice Blend Day, National Macadamia Nut Day, National Newspaper Carrier Day, National Wildlife Day, Labor Day, Mouthguard Day, National Eat an Extra Dessert Day, National Wildlife Day.
TUESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER WORLDWIDE: International Day of Charity, National Be Late For Something Day, National Cheese Pizza Day, National Another Look Unlimited Day, World Samosa Day.
WEDNESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER WORLDWIDE: National Read A Book Day, National Coffee Ice Cream Day, National Color Blind Awareness Day, Global Talent Acquisition Day, Fight Procrastination Day.
THURSDAY 7 SEPTEMBER WORLDWIDE: National New Hampshire Day, National Grateful Patient Day, National Beer Lover’s Day, National Salami Day, National Acorn Squash Day, National Grandma Moses Day, National Neither Snow Nor Rain Day, National Buy a Book Day, Superhuman Day, World Duchenne Awareness Day.
FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER WORLDWIDE: International Literacy Day, Star Trek Day, World Ampersand Day, National Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day, Actors’ Day, Stand Up to Cancer Day, National Iguana Awareness Day, World Physical Therapy Day, Pardon Day.
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