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 One year on. Rishi Sunak reflected on his first year as PM pointing to his 16+ education reform, expansion of childcare, and ‘historic long-term workforce plan for the NHS’ as examples of domestic achievements and support for Ukraine, the Middle East and international partners as evidence of international achievements. Childcare. The government rolled out the next stage of its childcare plans providing additional funds to help local authorities ‘plug the market’ and providing parents with ‘an eligibility checker’ to see what they’re entitled to by way of support. Financial wellbeing in the workplace. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) and Aegon updated their research on financial wellbeing and productivity highlighting the extent to which financial worries were taking their toll on employees and productivity generally.
SCHOOLS Sex education. The Education Secretary told schools in England that they should make clear, and be prepared to share with parents, curriculum materials used in sex and health education classes. Pupil absences. The charity Action for Children called for better information and support services for parents and careers as it highlighted three issues raised by them around school refusal and anxiety, including the difficulty of accessing specialist support, not knowing where best to turn and the impact of the lockdown which had compounded some children’s reluctance to attend school. Elective home education. The government launched a consultation on proposed changes to the elective home education guidance for local authorities and parents which would see clarification on responsibilities and on terms like ‘suitable education’ but would not as yet require councils to complete formal registers as had been suggested earlier.
FE/SKILLS GCSE resits. The AoC highlighted the costs and impact for both colleges and students of increasing numbers of young people having to resit GCSE maths and English as grading returned to pre-pandemic ‘normal’ and the numbers of young people continued to rise. Apprenticeships. JIsc announced its revamped apprenticeship toolkit intended to help colleges and training providers embed digital technology in each stage of the apprenticeship ‘journey’ through from preparation to delivery and assessment. Digital skills. NCFE published the latest in its sector-based reports looking on this occasion at digital skills, offering case study evidence of the skills needed to ensure we have the digitally skilled workforce of the future, recommending among other things more training and integration of digital skills in other subjects.
HE University admissions. UCAS published the figures on 2024 undergraduate applications as of the October deadline, showing applications from UK 18-year-olds from disadvantaged areas at a record high but applications overall down at this stage on last year including from international students. Student accommodation. HEPI and the student housing company Unipol published their latest report on the student accommodation market pointing to it being in ‘crisis’ with large increases in rents swallowing up virtually all of a maintenance loan and rising development costs hindering new builds. International trust. The QAA published the latest in its series of papers looking into quality in HE in England, examining on this occasion the importance of ‘instilling international trust in English higher education,’ and calling in particular for re-aligning our current quality system with international best practice, honouring the terms of the signed up to Bologna Process and championing our HE sector on the wider stage more generally.
DfE AI hackathon (Monday 30 October and Tuesday 31 October). Deadline day for secondary school applications (Tuesday 31 October). UK government hosted global AI Safety Summit (Wednesday 01 November and Thursday 02 November).
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MONDAY 30 OCTOBER On this day in 1938 a radio broadcast of H G Wells's "The War of the Worlds", narrated by Orson Welles, allegedly caused mass panic with thousands in the vicinity of the 'landing sites' desperately trying to flee. On this day in 1961 the Soviet Union tested a 58-megaton hydrogen bomb named Tsar Bomba in the northern Arctic Circle, the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated. On this day in 1973 the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey was completed connecting the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus for the first time.
TUESDAY 31 OCTOBER On this day in 1541 Renaissance master Michelangelo Buonarroti finished painting "The Last Judgement" in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. On this day in 1926 celebrated magician and escape artist Harry Houdini died of peritonitis in a Detroit hospital. On this day in 1984 Indira Gandhi, the first female prime minister of India, was assassinated in New Delhi by two of her bodyguards.
WEDNESDAY 01 NOVEMBER On this day in 1814 the Congress of Vienna opened to re-draw the European political map after the defeat of France in the Napoleonic Wars. On this day in 1993 the Maastricht Treaty came into effect formally establishing the European Union (EU). On this day in 2012 scientists detected evidence of light from the universe's first stars predicted to have formed 500 million years after the big bang.
THURSDAY 02 NOVEMBER On this day in 1932 the Great Emu War began when armed Australian soldiers sought to cull the Emu population over crop destruction in the Campion district, Western Australia. On this day in 1960 the landmark obscenity case over DH Lawrence's “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” ended with the acquittal of Penguin Books. On this day in 2020 "Baby Shark" by Pinkfong became the most-watched video on YouTube with over 7.04 billion views.
FRIDAY 03 NOVEMBER On this day in 1534 English parliament passed the "Act of Supremacy" making Henry VIII and all subsequent monarchs the Head of the Church of England. On this day in 1906 the International Radiotelegraph Conference in Berlin approved the SOS distress signal (· · · – – – · · ·) as the worldwide standard for help. On this day in 1928 Turkey switched from Arabic to Roman alphabet in order to increase literacy and modernise the country.
Awareness days from around the world
OCTOBER IS UK: Lupus Awareness Month, National Cholesterol Month, Go Sober For October, Pituitary Awareness Month, Unblocktober, Stoptober, Menopause Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. WORLDWIDE: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Eye Injury Prevention Month, Anaphylaxis Awareness Week, CMT Awareness Month (Charcot-Marie-Tooth), International Babywearing Month, Black History Month, ADHD Awareness Month, The Big Draw, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, International Walk to School Month, International School Library Month, National Bullying Prevention Month, Eye Injury Prevention Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, National Pitbull Awareness Month, Mental Health Month, Mental Health Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Canadian Library Month, Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month, National Physical Therapy Month, Dysautonomia Awareness Month, Family History Month, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, National Fair Trade Month, Black Cat Awareness Month, National Pizza Month, SUDEP Action Month, Dyslexia Awareness Month, National Fire Prevention Month, Computer Learning Month, Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
NOVEMBER IS UK: Veg Pledge, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Mouth Cancer Action Month, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), Lung Cancer Awareness Month. WORLDWIDE: National Diabetes Month, COPD Awareness Month, National Family Caregivers Month, National Career Development Month, National Scholarship Month, Movember - Men's Health Awareness Month, National Military Family Month, National PPSI Aids Awareness Month, National Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Awareness & Appreciation Month, National Pet Cancer Awareness Month, National Hospice & Palliative Care Month, Stomach Cancer Awareness Month, Worldwide Bereaved Siblings Month, World Vegan Month, Sweet Potato Awareness Month, Spinach And Squash Month, PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month, Prematurity Awareness Month, National Roasting Month, National Raisin Bread Month, National Pomegranate Month, National Pepper Month, National Peanut Butter Lovers Month, National Family Literacy Month, National Native American Heritage Month, National Marrow Awareness Month, National Long-term Care Awareness Month, National Life Writing Month, National Inspirational Role Models Month, National Impotency Month, National Home Care & Hospice Month, National Fun With Fondue Month, National Alzheimer's Disease Month, National Adoption Month, Historic Bridge Awareness Month, Gluten-free Diet Awareness Month, Family Stories Month, Epilepsy Awareness Month, Diabetic Eye Disease Month, Banana Pudding Lovers Month, Aviation History Month, Adopt A Senior Pet Month, National Gratitude Month.
THIS WEEK IS UK: Museums At Night. WORLDWIDE: Global Prebiotics Week, National Red Ribbon Week, National Fig Week, Marzipan Week.
MONDAY 30 OCTOBER UK: RSPB Feed the Birds Day. WORLDWIDE: World Online Networking Day, Mischief Night, World Audio Drama Day, National Wicked Day, National Publicist Day, Speak Up For Service Day, National Candy Corn Day, National Text Your Ex Day, National Checklist Day, Create a Great Funeral Day, Haunted Refrigerator Night, Mine Rescue Day.
TUESDAY 31 OCTOBER UK: National Bug Busting Day. WORLDWIDE: Halloween, Reformation Day, National Doorbell Day, Girl Scout Founder's Day, National Magic Day, National Knock Knock Joke Day, National Caramel Apple Day, World Savings Day.
WEDNESDAY 01 NOVEMBER WORLDWIDE: National Brush Day, National Authors Day, World Vegan Day, Prime Meridian Day, Day Of The Dead, All Saints Day, Autistics Speaking Day, National Biologic Coordinators Day, National Cinnamon Day, National Calzone Day, National Stress Awareness Day, National Deep Fried Clams Day, National Cook For Your Pets Day, National Family Literacy Day, National Author's Day, National Vinegar Day, Extra Mile Day, Scented Candle Day, Wobbly Wednesday.
THURSDAY 02 NOVEMBER UK: National Stress Awareness Day, International Stout Day. WORLDWIDE: International Doge Day, All Souls Day, International Day To End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists, National Cash Back Day, National Ohio Day, National Men Make Dinner Day, National Broadcast Traffic Professional's Day, National Deviled Egg Day, International Project Management Day, Dynamic Harmlessness Day.
FRIDAY 03 NOVEMBER UK: National Sandwich Day. WORLDWIDE: One Health Day, World Jellyfish Day, National Jersey Friday, National Housewife's Day, National Sandwich Day, Japanese Culture Day, Love Your Lawyer Day, Smart Home Day, National Housewife Day, Cliché Day, Fountain Pen Day.
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