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 Childcare. The government issued its response to the recent consultation on the extension of the early years funding entitlement, and confirmed the funding available for the rollout of its free childcare programme for eligible working parents of 2-year-olds who will be able to register from January. Young workers. The TUC called for greater employment protection for young people as it published new analysis showing that 16-24 yr olds are more likely to be employed on zero-hours contracts and to miss out on key employment rights. Education and voting. The Social Market Foundation published an authored report looking into how far levels of education affect voting behaviour, suggesting a changing education divide, driven largely by a rising graduate cohort, as a key factor in both the EU referendum and the last two general elections and likely to remain so for future elections.
SCHOOLS Minimum service levels. The government launched consultation on setting minimum service levels in schools in the event of future industrial action by teachers, putting forward two proposals, one prioritising attendance for specific groups such as vulnerable children and exam groups, and the other prioritising all primary pupils and some key groups in secondary, with schools using rotas for extended strike action and heads deciding on staffing levels needed during strikes. Gen AI in education. The government reported on its recent Call for Evidence on how GenAI was being used in education, finding that many teachers were using it to help with lesson planning, developing resources and with admin tasks and were keen to adopt its safe use, but that there were also concerns about its potential for misuse, privacy risks and how far it might replace face-to-face teaching. Technology survey. The government published a commissioned survey report into the current use of technology in schools finding it increasingly being adopted in schools and with most schools now having a digital strategy in place to support this but with concerns about training, procurement, costs and the appreciation of wider benefits.
FE/SKILLS AI on LSIPs. The government reported on its trial use of AI techniques in simplifying the mass of data in Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), finding that such techniques could help pull together themes and insights into a manageable form but that there were limitations to their use and validation was needed in many cases to ensure accuracy. AI and jobs (1). The government published an initial report from the Unit for Future Skills looking into the potential impact of AI on the UK jobs market suggesting that those with higher level qualifications and in professional jobs such as in finance and insurance which are notably concentrated in London and the S.E. remain most susceptible to AI coverage. AI and jobs (2). Pearson also looked into the impact of generative AI on jobs, based on how far automation could replace repetitive tasks, equally suggesting that in many countries AI exposure may have less impact on blue-collar roles such as painter and decorator which are often creative, than on more routine white-collar professional jobs.
HE MSL in HE. The government included a call for evidence on the impact of recent strike action in HE in its consultation this week on minimum service levels (MSL) for schools and colleges, suggesting that it might yet consider whether similar legislation was needed for HE as well. Report response. The Office for Students (OfS) responded to a recent Report from the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee which had raised a number of issues around the OfS, acknowledging the points raised, reinforcing the importance of their role and committing among other things to review its engagement with students and to enhance its relationship with providers. Student finances. The government published its latest commissioned research into the income and expenditure of full and part-time students in England in 2021/22 with a range of data on such factors as levels of student debt (£43,000 for those in the final year of a three-year or longer course) savings (of the full-time students with savings, the median was £3,000 at the start of the year) and housing cost (£4,820).
Resolution Foundation launch ‘A New Economic Strategy for Britain’ (Monday 04 December). Launch of the UK PISA 2022 Results (Tuesday 05 December). Education Committee Accountability session with the Education Secretary (Wednesday 06 December). UCAS End of Cycle data (Thursday 07 December).
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MONDAY 04 DECEMBER On this day in 1123 Persian mathematician, philosopher, astronomer and poet, Omar Khayyam died at the age of eighty-three. On this day in 1791 British newspaper 'The Observer' became the first newspaper in the world to be published and read on a Sunday. On this day in 2018 research published in 'Nature' and 'Science' claimed Native Americans had just one migration from Siberia to the New World at most 23,000 years ago.
TUESDAY 05 DECEMBER On this day in 771 Charlemagne became the sole King of the Franks after the death of his brother Carloman. On this day in 1766 art auction house Christie's held their first auction in their permanent sales room in Pall Mall, London. On this day in 1945 five US Navy torpedo-bombers comprising Flight 19 were lost east of Florida in the supposed Bermuda Triangle.
WEDNESDAY 06 DECEMBER On this day in 1865 the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution was ratified abolishing slavery across the US and its territories except as a criminal punishment. On this day in 1933 'Ulysses' by James Joyce was ruled not obscene by a federal judge after the book had been banned immediately following publication in both the US and England. On this day in 2006 NASA revealed photographs taken by the Mars Global Surveyor suggesting the presence of liquid water on the surface of Mars.
THURSDAY 07 DECEMBER On this day in 43 BC Roman orator and politician, Marcus Tullius Cicero, was assassinated in Formiae following a longstanding conflict with Marc Antony. On this day in 1909 inventor Leo Baekeland patented the first thermo-setting plastic, Bakelite, sparking the birth of the plastics industry. On this day in 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy bombed the US fleet at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii, killing 2,403 people.
FRIDAY 08 DECEMBER On this day in 1542 Mary Queen of Scots was born in Linlithgow Palace, Scotland, and ascended to the Scottish throne when the king died just six days after her birth. On this day in 1965 Pope Paul VI closed the final session of the Second Vatican Council, an influential ecumenical council that significantly modernised church practices. On this day in 1980 John Lennon, former member of the Beatles, was shot and killed by an obsessed fan in New York City.
Awareness days from around the world
DECEMBER IS UK: Decembeard. WORLDWIDE: Safe Toys & Gifts Month, International Sharps Injury Prevention Awareness Month, World Twin To Twin Transfusion Syndrome Awareness Month, Tomato And Winter Squash Month, Quince And Watermelon Month, Learn A Foreign Language Month, National Car Donation Month, National Pear Month, Worldwide Food Service Safety Month, Universal Human Rights Month, Spiritual Literacy Month, Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruits Month, Operation Santa Paws, National Tie Month, Write A Business Plan Month, National Human Rights Month, National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month, Bingo's Birthday Month, A Blue Christmas, Gift Of Sight Month.
THIS WEEK IS UK: National Grief Awareness Week, Illumination Street Week, National Tree Week. WORLDWIDE: 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence, National Influenza Vaccination Week, National Pet Suffocation Awareness Week, National Hand Washing Awareness Week, Crohn's And Colitis Awareness Week, Clerc-Gallaudet Week, National Cookie Cutter Week, Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, International Day of Banks.
MONDAY 04 DECEMBER UK: Tree Dressing Day. WORLDWIDE: Santa's List Day, Cabernet Franc Day, International Cheetah Day, World Wildlife Conservation Day, National Sock Day, National Dice Day, National Cookie Day, Wear Brown Shoes Day, Walt Disney Day.
TUESDAY 05 DECEMBER WORLDWIDE: World Soil Day, International Volunteers Day, Krampusnacht, National Repeal Day, World Trick Shot Day, Sacher Torte Day, International Ninja Day, Bathtub Party Day, National Repeal Day.
WEDNESDAY 06 DECEMBER WORLDWIDE: Mitten Tree Day, National Day Of Remembrance And Action On Violence Against Women, National Gazpacho Day, Saint Nicholas Day, National Miners' Day, National Pawnbrokers Day, Put On Your Own Shoes Day.
THURSDAY 07 DECEMBER UK: Christmas Jumper Day. WORLDWIDE: International Civil Aviation Day, National Cotton Candy Day, National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, National Slime Day, National Illinois Day, start of Hanukkah, Day of Hope, Letter Writing Day.
FRIDAY 08 DECEMBER WORLDWIDE: National Crossword Solvers Day, Bodhi Day, National Salesperson Day, National Brownie Day, Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day, Lost & Found Day, National Lard Day, Pansexual Pride Day.
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