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: Labour market. The Office for National Statistics published the latest (provisional) quarterly figures for the UK labour market showing it slowing, with the employment rate down, the economic inactivity rate up and real wage growth up. Labour market commentary. The Institute for Employment Studies provided its regular commentary on the latest labour market figures, suggesting they were ‘poor all round’ and arguing that growth was being held back by a weak labour market and a need to look again at employment support and services. Global economy. The IMF issued its latest world economic outlook, downgrading slightly growth projections for the UK economy for this year and next, albeit improving against Euro zone countries for 2025, and calling on policy makers generally to prioritise greater economic resilience amid continuing global tensions.
SCHOOLS: Summer exams 2024. Ofqual wrote to schools and colleges ahead of this summer’s exams with details on exam security, grading processes, support arrangements and results days. Secondary accountability. The government issued details on accountability arrangements for secondary schools in England, confirming no replacement for Progress 8 until 2026/27 but continued use of other measures including headline attainment and destination data. School funding. The Sutton Trust published its latest poll undertaken by NFER on school funding showing ‘increasing’ numbers hit by cuts with primary schools among the hardest hit and having to reduce the numbers of TAs and other support.
FE/SKILLS: System reform. The Association of Colleges (AoC) set out an impressive blueprint for reform of the FE and skills system with a series of 14 different papers covering everything from apprenticeships to the workforce, each with detailed analysis and respective list of actions. College intervention. The government updated its guidance around support and intervention for colleges, clarifying among other things issues around non-compliance and potential escalation actions. Staffing. Data analysts SchoolDash along with the Gatsby Foundation examined teacher recruitment in colleges before, during and after the pandemic, suggesting that trends have now largely returned to normal with recruitment tending to happen in the first half of the year and subject areas like construction and digital remaining most in need.
HE: 100 Faces campaign. Universities UK reported on those students who were ‘first in the family’ (FitF) to go to university, highlighting the positives the experience brought both them and often wider society and calling among other things for a return of maintenance grants to help such students in future. Graduate working. Prospects reported on its recent survey of graduates entering the workplace, finding that while many recognised the benefits of being in the office for some of the time at least, the majority (60%) preferred hybrid working but felt that managers wanted them in full time. Student vote. The NUS published details of its survey of students ahead of the next general election reporting that while 89% were now registered to vote with the cost-of-living, health, education and housing were among their top concerns, nearly a third hadn’t decided which party to vote for yet.
Edge webinar on ‘Navigating the next decade of 16-19 reform’ (Monday 22 April). Education Committee evidence session on the Disabled Students’ Allowance (Tuesday 23 April).
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MONDAY 22 APRIL On this day in 1876 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky completed the composition of his ballet 'Swan Lake'. On this day in 1915 the first military use of poison gas occurred when Germany used chlorine gas against the Allies at Ypres in World War I. On this day in 2016 the Paris Agreement on climate change was signed in New York.
TUESDAY 23 APRIL On this day in 1597 William Shakespeare's 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' was first performed with Queen Elizabeth I in attendance. On this day in 1984 French virologists Luc Montagnier and Françoise Barré-Sinoussi announced their discovery of the HIV virus. On this day in 2005 the first YouTube video was posted by co-founder Jawed Karim showing him at San Diego Zoo.
WEDNESDAY 24 APRIL On this day in 1916 the Easter Rising of Irish republicans against British occupation began in Dublin. On this day in 1990 the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit by Space Shuttle Discovery. On this day in 2023 India surpassed China as the world’s most populous country according to UN estimates.
THURSDAY 25 APRIL On this day in 1792 the guillotine was first used in France for the execution of highwayman Nicolas Pelletier. On this day in 1953 Francis Crick and James Watson's discovery of the double helix structure of DNA was published in 'Nature' magazine. On this day in 1983 the German news magazine 'Stern' announced the discovery of Hitler's diaries later exposed as forgeries.
FRIDAY 26 APRIL On this day in 1925 Franz Kafka's landmark novel 'The Trial' was published posthumously. On this day in 1986 the worst nuclear disaster in history occurred when the fourth reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power station exploded. On this day in 1994 Germany passed legislation criminalising both denial of the Holocaust and promotion of Nazi ideology.
Awareness days from around the world
APRIL IS UK: Stress Awareness Month, Active for April, National Pet Month. WORLDWIDE: Jazz Appreciation Month, Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, Move More Month, IBS Awareness Month, Parkinson’s Awareness Month, International Cesarean Awareness Month, National Pickleball Month, Limb Loss And Limb Difference Awareness Month, National Afternoon Tea Month, Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month, National Brunch Month, National Tar Syndrome Awareness Month, Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, National Financial Literacy Month, National Alcohol Awareness Month, English Language Month, National Month Of Hope, National Volunteer Month, Distracted Driving Awareness Month, National Landscape Architecture Month, Scottish-American Heritage Month, Canine Fitness Month, Occupational Therapy Month, National Internship Awareness Month, Month Of The Military Child, National Donate Life Awareness Month, National Fair Housing Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, National Cannabis Awareness Month, National Safe Digging Month, National Welding Month, National Pecan Month, National Poetry Month, Straw Hat Month, National Soy Foods Month, National Soft Pretzel Month, National Humor Month, National Garden Month, National Fresh Celery Month, National Decorating Month, National Couple Appreciation Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Records And Information Management Month, National Lawn And Garden Month, Keep America Beautiful Month, International Guitar Month, National Autism Awareness Month, FOP Awareness Month.
THIS WEEK IS UK: National Stop Snoring Week, Allergy Awareness Week, MS Awareness Week. WORLDWIDE: World Immunisation Week, World PI Week, Global Intergenerational Week, Administrative Professionals Week, Sky Awareness Week, National Princess Week, Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, Every Kid Healthy Week, Preservation Week, National Volunteer Week, Coin Week, American Quilters Society Week, Intergenerational Week.
MONDAY 22 APRIL UK: Stephen Lawrence Day. WORLDWIDE: National Jelly Bean Day, Girl Scout Leader’s Day, International Mother Earth Day, Passover, In God We Trust Day, National Pinup Day, National Baseball Day, Earth Day, National Beagle Day.
TUESDAY 23 APRIL UK: National Asparagus Day, St George's Day. WORLDWIDE: World Book Day, English Language Day, School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, National Lost Dog Awareness Day, National Cherry Cheesecake Day, National Take A Chance Day, National Picnic Day, National Talk Like Shakespeare Day, National English Muffin Day, Spanish Language Day, National Email Day, World Table Tennis Day, National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, National Lover’s Day, National Take a Chance Day, World Book Night, German Beer Day.
WEDNESDAY 24 APRIL WORLDWIDE: National Bucket List Day, Stop Food Waste Day, National Pigs-in-a-blanket Day, National Administrative Professionals Day, Scream Day, World Day For Animals In Laboratories, National Skipping Day, International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, Denim Day, Help Animals Day, International Guide Dog Day, Firefly Day.
THURSDAY 25 APRIL WORLDWIDE: National DNA Day, Parental Alienation Awareness Day, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, World Penguin Day, World Malaria Day, National Hug A Plumber Day, National Teach Children To Save Day, National Zucchini Bread Day, National Telephone Day, International Girls in ICT Day, Red Hat Society Day, International Amigurumi Day, National East Meets West Day, Anzac Day, Thank you Thursday, National Lingerie Day, National Financial Awareness Day, Love Your Thighs Day.
FRIDAY 26 APRIL UK: Brake Zebra’s Beep Beep Day. WORLDWIDE: National Richter Scale Day, National Arbor Day, National Historic Marker Day, National South Dakota Day, National Dissertation Day, National Help A Horse Day, National Hairball Awareness Day, National Pretzel Day, National Kids And Pets Day, National Audubon Day, Your First Kiss Day, National South Dakota Day, National No Makeup Day, Alien Day, National Pretzel Day, World Intellectual Property Day, Get Organized Day, Hug an Australian Day, International Chernobyl Remembrance Day, World Burlesque Day.
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